ECONOMICS · HKDSE
ECONOMICS/21
(Written)
Economics · 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA)
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
165
210 min
Free trade and trade barriers
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
165
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Level 5**
~90% of max
Level 5*
~86% of max
Level 5
~76% of max
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2025 HKDSE Economics examination maintains a moderate to high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5), requiring candidates to demonstrate not only solid theoretical knowledge but also excellent data-response skills. The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distin
The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distinctions, while Paper 2 features a lengthy housing policy question that demands deep, multi-perspective policy analysis.
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.
Economic Calculation
Weight: 8100%Diagrammatic
Weight: 675%Policy
Weight: 563%Evaluation
Weight: 450%Conceptual Definitions
Weight: 338%Interpretation
Weight: 113%
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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Support your choice with specific evidence from data or the scenario given.
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: 1.1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Free trade and trade barriers
15 marks this session
Money
12 marks this session
Monopoly pricing & price discrimination
12 marks this session
Production and costs in the short run and long run
10 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
Free trade and trade barriers
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMoney
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMonopoly pricing & price discrimination
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiProduction and costs in the short run and long run
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2025 HKDSE Economics examination maintains a moderate to high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5), requiring candidates to demonstrate not only solid theoretical knowledge but also excellent data-response skills. The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distin
- 2Message
The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distinctions, while Paper 2 features a lengthy housing policy question that demands deep, multi-perspective policy analysis.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2025 2025
Economics
The 2025 HKDSE Economics examination maintains a moderate to high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5), requiring candidates to demonstrate not only solid theoretical knowledge but also excellent data-response skills. The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distin
The 2025 HKDSE Economics examination maintains a moderate to high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5), requiring candidates to demonstrate not only solid theoretical knowledge but also excellent data-response skills. The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distin
The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distinctions, while Paper 2 features a lengthy housing policy question that demands deep, multi-perspective policy analysis.
- Total marks
- 165
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
- Level 5**
- ~90% of max
- Level 5*
- ~86% of max
- Level 5
- ~76% of max
Session analysis
The 2025 HKDSE Economics examination maintains a moderate to high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5), requiring candidates to demonstrate not only solid theoretical knowledge but also excellent data-response skills. The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distinctions, while Paper 2 features a lengthy housing policy question that demands deep, multi-perspective policy analysis.
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.
82% 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)
60·3·36%
Paper 1)
45·45·27%
Paper 2 Section A)
44·8·27%
Paper 2 Section C)
16·1·10%
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 (Multiple C…
0.88 m/minPaper 2 Section A (…
0.75 m/minPaper 2 Section B (…
0.80 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.
Exchange rate and Balance of Payments
90%90%
Equity vs Efficiency (Tax reforms)
85%85%
Difficulty Verdict
The 2025 HKDSE Economics examination maintains a moderate to high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5), requiring candidates to demonstrate not only solid theoretical knowledge but also excellent data-response skills. The multiple-choice section in Paper 1 tests fine conceptual distinctions, while Paper 2 features a lengthy housing policy question that demands deep, multi-perspective policy analysis.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- QTM Calculations: In Q10(a), candidates often confuse percentage change calculations with absolute levels under the Quantity Theory of Money (QTM).
- Elasticity Application: In Q11(b)(ii), explaining the specific elasticity conditions required for rental payments to rise exactly by 10% requires precise demand elasticity logic, which many candidates struggle to articulate clearly.
- Tariff vs Trade Balance: In Q8(b), candidates must remember that tariff revenue is a domestic transfer and is excluded from the calculation of the trade balance.
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.