8136 · AQA GCSE
8136/21
How the Economy Works
Economics · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
160
210 min
Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2024 AQA GCSE Economics papers (8136/1 and 8136/2) offered a balanced, comprehensive assessment of the core microeconomic and macroeconomic specifications.
Overall, the papers represent a moderate difficulty (3 stars out of 5).
While the multiple-choice and short-answer sections provided plenty of accessible marks, the higher-tariff 9-mark and 15-mark questions demanded rigorous economic logic, calculations, and structured evaluations to secure top bands.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge & AO2:
Weight: 3100%Application (AO3)
Weight: 267%Analysis & E
Weight: 133%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 81% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 76% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 72% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 64% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 48% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 36% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 24% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Assess” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
23 marks this session
Policies to correct positive and negative externalities
17 marks this session
Inflation and price stability
13 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
Policies to correct positive and negative externalities
Inflation and price stability
Distribution of income
Economic growth
Externalities
The labour market
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: How Markets Work:
Paper 2: How the Economy Works:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
23 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPolicies to correct positive and negative externalities
17 marks this session
Practise in RevuiInflation and price stability
13 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2024 AQA GCSE Economics papers (8136/1 and 8136/2) offered a balanced, comprehensive assessment of the core microeconomic and macroeconomic specifications.
- 2Message
Overall, the papers represent a moderate difficulty (3 stars out of 5).
- 3Message
While the multiple-choice and short-answer sections provided plenty of accessible marks, the higher-tariff 9-mark and 15-mark questions demanded rigorous economic logic, calculations, and structured evaluations to secure top bands.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Economics
The June 2024 AQA GCSE Economics papers (8136/1 and 8136/2) offered a balanced, comprehensive assessment of the core microeconomic and macroeconomic specifications. Overall, the papers represent a moderate difficulty (3 stars out of 5). While the multiple-choice and short-answer
The June 2024 AQA GCSE Economics papers (8136/1 and 8136/2) offered a balanced, comprehensive assessment of the core microeconomic and macroeconomic specifications.
Overall, the papers represent a moderate difficulty (3 stars out of 5).
While the multiple-choice and short-answer sections provided plenty of accessible marks, the higher-tariff 9-mark and 15-mark questions demanded rigorous economic logic, calculations, and structured evaluations to secure top bands.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2024 AQA GCSE Economics papers (8136/1 and 8136/2) offered a balanced, comprehensive assessment of the core microeconomic and macroeconomic specifications. Overall, the papers represent a moderate difficulty (3 stars out of 5). While the multiple-choice and short-answer sections provided plenty of accessible marks, the higher-tariff 9-mark and 15-mark questions demanded rigorous economic logic, calculations, and structured evaluations to secure top bands.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: How Markets Work:
Paper 2: How the Economy Works:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
70% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Extended Evaluation
48·4·30%
Short Answer & Definition
36·18·23%
Analytical Writing
36·6·23%
Multiple Choice
20·20·13%
Quantitative & Diagrammatic
20·8·13%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A
0.76 m/minPaper 1 Section B
0.76 m/minPaper 2 Section A
0.76 m/minTotal marks
112
Total time
147 min
Avg pace
0.76
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Distribution of income
5%5%
Why countries trade and the importance of international trade to the UK
5%5%
Monetary policy
4%4%
2024 AQA GCSE Economics: In-Depth Examiner Analysis
The June 2024 AQA GCSE Economics papers (8136/1 and 8136/2) offered a balanced, comprehensive assessment of the core microeconomic and macroeconomic specifications. Overall, the papers represent a moderate difficulty (3 stars out of 5). While the multiple-choice and short-answer sections provided plenty of accessible marks, the higher-tariff 9-mark and 15-mark questions demanded rigorous economic logic, calculations, and structured evaluations to secure top bands.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 45min
- Total marks
- 80
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice, Short Answer & Definition, Quantitative & Diagrammatic, Analytical Writing, Extended Evaluation
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.