ECONOMICS-YEC11 · Pearson Edexcel International A Level
ECONOMICS-YEC11/21
Paper 2
Economics · 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
160
210 min
Macroeconomic Policies and Market Failures
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The October 2023 sitting for YEC11 (Units 1 & 2) represents a balanced but challenging assessment, earning a 3.5 out of 5 difficulty index.
Unit 1 tested students with demanding contexts on fertilizer externalities and asymmetric insurance markets, while Unit 2 required precise technical articulation on China's circular flow and the causes of deflation.
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 & Recall
Weight: 6100%Application &
Weight: 467%Analysis & Evaluation
Weight: 350%Transm
Weight: 233%Evaluation & Analysis
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
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level A*
Approx. 90% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 80% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 70% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% 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.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Measures of economic performance
31 marks this session
Market failure
26 marks this session
Macroeconomic objectives and policies
26 marks this session
Government intervention in markets
25 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
Measures of economic performance
Balance of payments, exchange rates and international competitiveness
Market failure
Government intervention in markets
Macroeconomic objectives and policies
Price determination
Consumer behaviour and demand
Poverty and inequality
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Markets in Action (WEC11/01): Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy (WEC12/01):
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
Measures of economic performance
31 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMarket failure
26 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMacroeconomic objectives and policies
26 marks this session
Practise in RevuiGovernment intervention in markets
25 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The October 2023 sitting for YEC11 (Units 1 & 2) represents a balanced but challenging assessment, earning a 3.5 out of 5 difficulty index.
- 2Message
Unit 1 tested students with demanding contexts on fertilizer externalities and asymmetric insurance markets, while Unit 2 required precise technical articulation on China's circular flow and the causes of deflation.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2023 2023
Economics
The October 2023 sitting for YEC11 (Units 1 & 2) represents a balanced but challenging assessment, earning a 3.5 out of 5 difficulty index. Unit 1 tested students with demanding contexts on fertilizer externalities and asymmetric insurance markets, while Unit 2 required precise t
The October 2023 sitting for YEC11 (Units 1 & 2) represents a balanced but challenging assessment, earning a 3.5 out of 5 difficulty index.
Unit 1 tested students with demanding contexts on fertilizer externalities and asymmetric insurance markets, while Unit 2 required precise technical articulation on China's circular flow and the causes of deflation.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
The October 2023 sitting for YEC11 (Units 1 & 2) represents a balanced but challenging assessment, earning a 3.5 out of 5 difficulty index. Unit 1 tested students with demanding contexts on fertilizer externalities and asymmetric insurance markets, while Unit 2 required precise technical articulation on China's circular flow and the causes of deflation.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Markets in Action (WEC11/01): Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy (WEC12/01):
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.
63% 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.
Essay / Extended Evaluation
56·4·35%
Structured Discussion / Examine
44·6·28%
Data Response Analysis
34·8·21%
Short Answer / Calculation
14·6·9%
Multiple Choice Questions
12·12·8%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Minimum Wage & Labor Market Intervention
88%88%
Supply-Side Policies & Global Competitiveness
85%85%
Tragedy of the Commons & Public Goods
82%82%
Difficulty Verdict
The October 2023 sitting for YEC11 (Units 1 & 2) represents a balanced but challenging assessment, earning a 3.5 out of 5 difficulty index. Unit 1 tested students with demanding contexts on fertilizer externalities and asymmetric insurance markets, while Unit 2 required precise technical articulation on China's circular flow and the causes of deflation.
Where the Marks Are
High-yield marks were concentrated in the 8-mark, 14-mark, and 20-mark evaluation questions in Sections C and D. In Unit 1, candidates who cleanly illustrated the MSC/MPC market failure diagram with a precise welfare loss triangle and defined behavioral economics concepts with real-world data scored heavily. In Unit 2, high marks were awarded to those who could accurately trace a reflationary fiscal injection through the circular flow of income mechanism rather than relying on generic AD/AS analysis.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.