ECONOMICS · HKDSE
ECONOMICS/21
(Written)
Economics · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA)
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
165
210 min
AD-AS output & price determination integrated with policy evaluations
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
165
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Level 5**
~93% of max
Level 5*
~87% of max
Level 5
~78% of max
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2024 HKDSE Economics examination leans toward the upper-medium difficulty spectrum. Candidates who relied on mechanical drilling without a deep, intuitive grasp of economic relationships were heavily penalised. The examiners increasingly design questions that test candidates'
In Paper 1, the performance was polarizing.
For instance, Question 18 (Perfect Competition) and Question 14 (Per-unit Sales Tax) registered extremely low correct rates.
In Paper 2, high-scoring candidates successfully distinguished themselves in Section B by demonstrating a rigorous command of the Alchian-Allen effect (Question 10d) and the mechanics of ineffective price floors under actual labor shortages (Question 13c).
Marks were commonly lost when students failed to explain changes in relative price, or when they mechanically drew a standard effective minimum wage diagram without checking the actual prevailing market wage from the data sources.
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.
Graphical Analysis
Weight: 6100%Mathematical & Calculation
Weight: 467%Theoretical Synthesis
Weight: 350%Analysis & I
Weight: 117%
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
Reporting source
HKEAA Subject Examination Report — comments on candidates’ performance with marking schemes
Level 5**
Outstanding — competitive JUPAS programmes (medicine, law, top faculties)
Level 5*
Excellent — strong JUPAS profile for selective programmes
Level 5
Good — meets most university entrance requirements
Level 4
Satisfactory — foundation programmes or less selective routes
Level 3
Pass threshold for many sub-degree and vocational pathways
Admission context
Levels feed JUPAS and non-JUPAS university applications; 5** and 5* are most selective
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
Match the expected response style for “Find” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “reasons” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.8
Min per mark: 1.2
Min per mark: 1.2
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
The determination of level of output and price
25 marks this session
Market intervention
16 marks this session
Fiscal policy and Monetary policy
16 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
The determination of level of output and price
Free trade and trade barriers
Fiscal policy and Monetary policy
Market intervention
Free trade and trade barriers (International Trade and Finance)
Interaction between demand, supply and price
Money
Monopoly pricing & price discrimination
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 2 (Written):
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
The determination of level of output and price
25 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMarket intervention
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiFiscal policy and Monetary policy
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2024 HKDSE Economics examination leans toward the upper-medium difficulty spectrum. Candidates who relied on mechanical drilling without a deep, intuitive grasp of economic relationships were heavily penalised. The examiners increasingly design questions that test candidates'
- 2Message
In Paper 1, the performance was polarizing.
- 3Message
For instance, Question 18 (Perfect Competition) and Question 14 (Per-unit Sales Tax) registered extremely low correct rates.
- 4Message
In Paper 2, high-scoring candidates successfully distinguished themselves in Section B by demonstrating a rigorous command of the Alchian-Allen effect (Question 10d) and the mechanics of ineffective price floors under actual labor shortages (Question 13c).
- 5Message
Marks were commonly lost when students failed to explain changes in relative price, or when they mechanically drew a standard effective minimum wage diagram without checking the actual prevailing market wage from the data sources.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Economics
In Paper 1, the performance was polarizing. For instance, Question 18 (Perfect Competition) and Question 14 (Per-unit Sales Tax) registered extremely low correct rates. In Paper 2, high-scoring candidates successfully distinguished themselves in Section B by demonstrating a rigor
The 2024 HKDSE Economics examination leans toward the upper-medium difficulty spectrum. Candidates who relied on mechanical drilling without a deep, intuitive grasp of economic relationships were heavily penalised. The examiners increasingly design questions that test candidates'
In Paper 1, the performance was polarizing.
For instance, Question 18 (Perfect Competition) and Question 14 (Per-unit Sales Tax) registered extremely low correct rates.
- Total marks
- 165
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
- Level 5**
- ~93% of max
- Level 5*
- ~87% of max
- Level 5
- ~78% of max
Session analysis
In Paper 1, the performance was polarizing. For instance, Question 18 (Perfect Competition) and Question 14 (Per-unit Sales Tax) registered extremely low correct rates. In Paper 2, high-scoring candidates successfully distinguished themselves in Section B by demonstrating a rigorous command of the Alchian-Allen effect (Question 10d) and the mechanics of ineffective price floors under actual labor shortages (Question 13c). Marks were commonly lost when students failed to explain changes in relative price, or when they mechanically drew a standard effective minimum wage diagram without checking the actual prevailing market wage from the data sources.
Updated Jun 11, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 2 (Written):
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.
79% 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.
Paper 2 Section B)
70·4·42%
Paper 2 Section A)
50·9·30%
Paper 1)
45·45·27%
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 MC
0.83 m/minPaper 2 Section A (…
0.86 m/minPaper 2 Section B (…
0.56 m/minTotal marks
120
Total time
150 min
Avg pace
0.80
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Monopoly Pricing and Price Discrimination
90%90%
Money Creation / Contraction and Deposit Multiplier with Leakages
85%85%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The 'Relative Price' omission: When analyzing the abolishment of a lump-sum surcharge, students often state that the price of both long and short flights decreases, but forget to explain that the relative price of long-distance flights has decreased, which is the core driver of the Alchian-Allen effect.
- Mechanical diagram plotting: In Q13c, the data showed the average wage of waiters was $62.4, while the minimum wage was $40. Drawing a binding minimum wage above the equilibrium is a classic rote-learning mistake; here, the floor is ineffective because it lies below the equilibrium.
- Confusing price-taking with absolute price stability: Many candidates falsely believed that under perfect competition, the market price cannot change over time due to overall demand/supply shifts.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h 30min
- Total marks
- 120
- Weighting
- 70%
- Question types
- Short Questions (Paper 2 Section A), Structured Questions (Paper 2 Section B), Elective Questions (Paper 2 Section C)
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.