Skip to content

AQA Economics

Doing past papers?

Exam boards like to change things subtly year on year without changing the whole spec, so the more recent past papers will usually be more accurate to what your real A-Level paper would look like.

Tip

If you're on mobile, I would recommend viewing larger sections in landscape mode to avoid things being cut off.

Specification

Below is a brief summary of the AQA A-Level Economics specification. If you would like to, you can read the whole thing.

Paper Content Assessment Questions
Paper 1 [4.1]
Markets and market failure
(page 31-48)		 Topics 1-8
  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 80 marks
  • 33.3% of A-Level
    		•
  • Section A: data response questions requiring written answers, choice of one from two contexts worth 40 marks
  • Section B: essay questions requiring written answers, choice of one from three worth 40 marks
    		•
    Paper 2 [4.2]
    National and international economy
    (page 49-61)    		 Topics 9-14
  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 80 marks
  • 33.3% of A-Level
    		•
  • Section A: data response questions requiring written answers, choice of one from two contexts worth 40 marks
  • Section B: essay questions requiring written answers, choice of one from three worth 40 marks
    		•
    Paper 3 [4.1 & 4.2]
    Economic principles and issues
    (page 31-61)    		 All content (topics 1-14)
  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 80 marks
  • 33.3% of A-Level
    		•
  • Section A: multiple choice questions worth 30 marks
  • Section B: case study questions requiring written answers, worth 50 marks
    		•
    Paper Maximum raw mark Scaling factor Maximum scaled mark
    Paper 1: Markets and market failure 80 x1 80
    Paper 2: National and international economy 80 x1 80
    Paper 3: Economic principles and issues 80 x1 80
    Total scaled mark 240
    Assessment objective Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3 Overall weighting
    AO1 5-8% 5-8% 7-10% 20-23%
    AO2 7-10% 7-10% 9-12% 26-29%
    AO3 9-11% 9-11% 6-9% 26-29%
    AO4 7-10% 7-10% 5-8% 22-25%
    Overall weighting of components 40% 40% 20% 100%

    You can get more information on all these spec points by reading the specification!

    Resources

    Series Paper 1 Mark Scheme Paper 2 Mark Scheme Paper 3 Insert Mark Scheme Examiners' Reports
    2024 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2023 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2022 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2021 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2020 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    Sample Set 1 (2014) Click Click Click Click Click Click Click

    Warning

    Be warned that AS papers may have a different structure to A-Level papers (and therefore the info above doesn't apply to AS papers).

    Series Paper 1 Insert Mark Scheme Paper 2 Insert Mark Scheme Examiners' Reports
    2024 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2023 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2022 Click Click Click Click Click Click Click
    2020 Click Click Click Click Click Click
    Cover Title ISBN Author(s) Link Extras
    AQA A-level Economics Fifth Edition 9781398375192 Hachette
    James Powell
    Ray Powell
    David Horner
    Steve Stoddard    		 Click! Answers
    AQA A-level Economics Book 1 9781471829789 Hachette
    Ray Powell
    James Powell    		 Click! Answers
    AQA A-level Economics Book 2 9781471829840 Hachette
    Ray Powell
    James Powell    		 Click! Answers
    Aiming for an A in A-level Economics 9781510424210 Hachette
    James Powell    		 Click!
    Essential Maths Skills for AS/A Level Economics 9781471863509 Hachette
    Peter Davis
    Tracey Joad    		 Click! Answers
    Need to Know: AQA A-level Economics 9781510428492 Hachette
    David Horner
    Steve Stoddard    		 Click! Answers
    A-Level Economics: Year 1 & 2
    Complete Revision & Practice    		 9781782943471 CGP Click!