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ECONOMICS-YEC11 · Pearson Edexcel International A Level

ECONOMICS-YEC11/21

Paper 2

Economics · 2024 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Demanding · 3.8/5

Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.8 / 5

Total marks

320

Duration

450 min

Most tested topic

Business Behaviour and International Macroeconomics

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

320

Duration

450 min

Session difficulty

3.8 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

The January 2024 Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Economics series represents a high-standard, intellectually demanding assessment suite.

2

Units 1 and 2 maintain their accessible yet rigorous nature, while Units 3 and 4 push students to apply advanced analytical and evaluative frameworks to complex real-world case studies (such as Bangladesh SMEs, Greek debt crises, and global environmental costs).

3

Across the 320 marks available, the paper successfully discriminates between procedural regurgitation and genuine economic insight.

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

Knowledge and Understanding8
Application of7
Graphical Construction6
Economic & Critical Evaluation4
Analysis3
Critical Evaluation2

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Knowledge and UnderstandingKnowledge andUnderstandingApplication ofApplication ofGraphical ConstructionGraphicalConstructionEconomic & Critical EvaluationEconomic &CriticalAnalysisAnalysisCritical EvaluationCriticalEvaluation
SkillWeightShare
  • Knowledge and Understanding

    Weight: 8100%
  • Application of

    Weight: 788%
  • Graphical Construction

    Weight: 675%
  • Economic & Critical Evaluation

    Weight: 450%
  • Analysis

    Weight: 338%
  • Critical Evaluation

    Weight: 225%

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

CalculateFrequency: 12

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

ExplainFrequency: 16

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

DefineFrequency: 8

Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.

AnalyseFrequency: 12

Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.

ExamineFrequency: 8

Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.

EvaluateFrequency: 8

Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.

DiscussFrequency: 8

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

Types and sizes of businesses

30 marks this session

Government intervention in markets

24 marks this session

Balance of payments, exchange rates and international competitiveness

22 marks this session

Market structures and contestability

22 marks this session

Growth and development in developing, emerging and developed economies

21 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

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
2026
Σ

Measures of economic performance

31
30
47
108

Balance of payments, exchange rates and international competitiveness

22
42
64

Market failure

26
36
62

Government intervention in markets

25
24
13
62

Macroeconomic objectives and policies

26
30
56

Price determination

36
36

Consumer behaviour and demand

34
34

Poverty and inequality

34
34

Difficulty trend

How session difficulty has shifted across recent years

20232024202520252026
2023 2023 · 3.5/52024 2024 · 3.8/52025 June 2025 · 3.4/52025 Winter 2025 · 3.2/52026 Winter 2026 · 3.8/5

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

WEC11/01 Unit 1: Markets in Action: WEC12/01 Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy: WEC13/01 Unit 3: Business Behaviour: WEC14/01 Unit 4: Developments in the Global Economy:

80 marks105 min

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

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    The January 2024 Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Economics series represents a high-standard, intellectually demanding assessment suite.

  • 2Message

    Units 1 and 2 maintain their accessible yet rigorous nature, while Units 3 and 4 push students to apply advanced analytical and evaluative frameworks to complex real-world case studies (such as Bangladesh SMEs, Greek debt crises, and global environmental costs).

  • 3Message

    Across the 320 marks available, the paper successfully discriminates between procedural regurgitation and genuine economic insight.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

2024 2024

Economics

The January 2024 Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Economics series represents a high-standard, intellectually demanding assessment suite. Units 1 and 2 maintain their accessible yet rigorous nature, while Units 3 and 4 push students to apply advanced analytical and evaluativ

  • The January 2024 Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Economics series represents a high-standard, intellectually demanding assessment suite.

  • Units 1 and 2 maintain their accessible yet rigorous nature, while Units 3 and 4 push students to apply advanced analytical and evaluative frameworks to complex real-world case studies (such as Bangladesh SMEs, Greek debt crises, and global environmental costs).

  • Across the 320 marks available, the paper successfully discriminates between procedural regurgitation and genuine economic insight.

Total marks
320
Duration
450 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5

Session analysis

The January 2024 Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Economics series represents a high-standard, intellectually demanding assessment suite. Units 1 and 2 maintain their accessible yet rigorous nature, while Units 3 and 4 push students to apply advanced analytical and evaluative frameworks to complex real-world case studies (such as Bangladesh SMEs, Greek debt crises, and global environmental costs). Across the 320 marks available, the paper successfully discriminates between procedural regurgitation and genuine economic insight.

Updated Jun 12, 2026

Paper breakdown

WEC11/01 Unit 1: Markets in Action: WEC12/01 Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy: WEC13/01 Unit 3: Business Behaviour: WEC14/01 Unit 4: Developments in the Global Economy:

80 marks105 min

Top chapters

Types and sizes of businesses30 marks
Government intervention in markets24 marks
Balance of payments, exchange rates and international competitiveness22 marks
Market structures and contestability22 marks
Growth and development in developing, emerging and developed economies21 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Market failure25 marks
Government intervention in mark24 marks
Consumer behaviour and demand15 marks
Introductory concepts12 marks
Economic growth18 marks
National income12 marks
Macroeconomic objectives and po26 marks
Aggregate demand (AD)12 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

69% within easy or medium reach

80
140
100
Easy: 80 marksMedium: 140 marksHard: 100 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Calculate12 times
Explain16 times
Define8 times
Analyse12 times
Examine8 times
Evaluate8 times
Discuss8 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

320Marks
  • Evaluative Essay / Long Response

    152·8·48%

  • Data Response Analysis

    80·8·25%

  • Short Answer / Calculation

    64·16·20%

  • Multiple Choice

    24·24·8%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %Market Failure Dia…Subsidies and Indi…Circular Flow and …Oligopoly Payoff M…Poverty Indicators…

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Exchange Rate Regimes and the J-Curve

88%

88%

Public Sector Failures and Regulatory Capture

85%

85%

Labor Market Elasticity and Supply nuances

82%

82%

Overall Difficulty Verdict

The January 2024 Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Economics series represents a high-standard, intellectually demanding assessment suite. Units 1 and 2 maintain their accessible yet rigorous nature, while Units 3 and 4 push students to apply advanced analytical and evaluative frameworks to complex real-world case studies (such as Bangladesh SMEs, Greek debt crises, and global environmental costs). Across the 320 marks available, the paper successfully discriminates between procedural regurgitation and genuine economic insight.

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

ECONOMICS-YEC11/21 — Pearson Edexcel International A Level Economics (2024) | Revui