0455 · Cambridge IGCSE
0455/11
Multiple Choice
Economics · June 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.0 / 5
120
180 min
Price determination and market equilibrium shifts
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
120
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May/June 2025 sitting of the Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455) exam presented a beautifully balanced and comprehensive test of candidates' microeconomic understanding and macroeconomic analysis.
Overall, the papers represent a solidly moderate difficulty level, earning a 3-star rating.
While the Multiple Choice paper (Paper 11) followed standard patterns (with Question 10 discounted during grading), Paper 21 challenged candidates to bridge the gap between basic economic theory and real-world application, notably in its African development case study.
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 and Understanding
Weight: 3100%Analysis (AO2)
Weight: 267%Evaluation (AO3)
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
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A*
Approx. 76% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 65% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 53% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 42% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 37% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 31% 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
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Price determination
11 marks this session
Workers
10 marks this session
Inflation and deflation
9 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
Fiscal policy
Workers
Market failure
Current account of balance of payments
Price determination
Inflation and deflation
Globalisation, free trade and protection
Firms
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 11 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 21 (Structured Questions):
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
Price determination
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiWorkers
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiInflation and deflation
9 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The May/June 2025 sitting of the Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455) exam presented a beautifully balanced and comprehensive test of candidates' microeconomic understanding and macroeconomic analysis.
- 2Message
Overall, the papers represent a solidly moderate difficulty level, earning a 3-star rating.
- 3Message
While the Multiple Choice paper (Paper 11) followed standard patterns (with Question 10 discounted during grading), Paper 21 challenged candidates to bridge the gap between basic economic theory and real-world application, notably in its African development case study.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2025 2025
Economics
The May/June 2025 sitting of the Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455) exam presented a beautifully balanced and comprehensive test of candidates' microeconomic understanding and macroeconomic analysis. Overall, the papers represent a solidly moderate difficulty level, earning a 3-sta
The May/June 2025 sitting of the Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455) exam presented a beautifully balanced and comprehensive test of candidates' microeconomic understanding and macroeconomic analysis.
Overall, the papers represent a solidly moderate difficulty level, earning a 3-star rating.
While the Multiple Choice paper (Paper 11) followed standard patterns (with Question 10 discounted during grading), Paper 21 challenged candidates to bridge the gap between basic economic theory and real-world application, notably in its African development case study.
- Total marks
- 120
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.0 / 5
Session analysis
The May/June 2025 sitting of the Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455) exam presented a beautifully balanced and comprehensive test of candidates' microeconomic understanding and macroeconomic analysis. Overall, the papers represent a solidly moderate difficulty level, earning a 3-star rating. While the Multiple Choice paper (Paper 11) followed standard patterns (with Question 10 discounted during grading), Paper 21 challenged candidates to bridge the gap between basic economic theory and real-world application, notably in its African development case study.
Updated Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 11 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 21 (Structured Questions):
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.
83% 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 Analytical & Discussion
(6-8 marks)
54·8·45%
Short & Medium Response
(1-5 marks)
36·15·30%
Multiple Choice
30·30·25%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Multiple Ch
0.67 m/minPaper 2 Section A (
0.67 m/minTotal marks
60
Total time
90 min
Avg pace
0.67
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Monetary policy and central bank functions
5%5%
Market failure and public/merit goods
4%4%
Trade unions and collective bargaining
4%4%
May/June 2025 Economics (0455) Exam Analysis
The May/June 2025 sitting of the Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455) exam presented a beautifully balanced and comprehensive test of candidates' microeconomic understanding and macroeconomic analysis. Overall, the papers represent a solidly moderate difficulty level, earning a 3-star rating. While the Multiple Choice paper (Paper 11) followed standard patterns (with Question 10 discounted during grading), Paper 21 challenged candidates to bridge the gap between basic economic theory and real-world application, notably in its African development case study.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 45min
- Total marks
- 30
- Weighting
- 30%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.