Skip to main content

Subject tutoring · A-Level

A-Level Economics tutor: Cambridge 9708, Edexcel IAL and AQA 7136

A-Level Economics in Gulf British schools is usually Cambridge International 9708 or Pearson Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Economics, with AQA 7136 in some UK-curriculum schools. Cambridge 9708 has four papers: a 30-question multiple-choice paper and a 2-hour data response and essay paper at both AS and A Level. Edexcel IAL has four 80-mark units, on markets, macroeconomics, business behaviour and the global economy, each mixing multiple choice, data questions and 20-mark essays. AQA is three 2-hour, 80-mark papers. In every version, top grades depend on accurate diagrams, analysis chains and evaluation, which can all be practised.

Facts checked:

At a glance

Cambridge code
9708
Edexcel IAL units
WEC11 to WEC14
AQA code
7136 (AS: 7135)
Essays
20 marks each at Cambridge and Edexcel
Grades
A* to E

Cambridge International 9708 assessment

From the 9708 syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Papers 1 and 2 are the AS Level.

PaperFormatLength and marksShare of A Level
Paper 1 AS Level Multiple Choice30 multiple-choice questions1 hour, 30 marks17% (33% of AS)
Paper 2 AS Level Data Response and EssaysOne data response (20), one micro essay (20) and one macro essay (20), essays in two parts2 hours, 60 marks33% (67% of AS)
Paper 3 A Level Multiple Choice30 multiple-choice questions1 hour 15 minutes, 30 marks17%
Paper 4 A Level Data Response and EssaysOne data response (20) and two unstructured essays (20 each)2 hours, 60 marks33%

Cambridge entries are in June and November.

Pearson Edexcel International A Level Economics

UnitFormatLength and marksShare of IAL
WEC11 Unit 1: Markets in action6 multiple choice, 5 short answers, a data question (34) and one 20-mark essay1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks25%
WEC12 Unit 2: Macroeconomic performance and policySame format as Unit 11 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks25%
WEC13 Unit 3: Business behaviour6 multiple choice, a data question (34) and two 20-mark essays2 hours, 80 marks25%
WEC14 Unit 4: Developments in the global economySame format as Unit 32 hours, 80 marks25%

Units 1 and 2 are the International AS. The specification lists January, June and October availability.

AQA A-level Economics 7136

PaperFormatLength and marksShare of A-level
Paper 1: Markets and market failureData response (one from two, 40) and essay (one from three, 40)2 hours, 80 marks33.3%
Paper 2: National and international economyData response (one from two, 40) and essay (one from three, 40)2 hours, 80 marks33.3%
Paper 3: Economic principles and issuesMultiple choice (30) and case study (50)2 hours, 80 marks33.3%

All papers are taken in one May/June series.

Where economics marks are lost

Diagrams are the first. Demand and supply, cost curves, AD/AS and market structures must be drawn accurately, labelled fully and then used in the written answer. A correct diagram that the answer never refers to earns little; an answer about a tax that does not show the tax on the diagram loses analysis marks.

Analysis is the second: examiners reward chains of reasoning (a change, its mechanism, its effect on the economy) and penalise jumps. The third is evaluation in the long essays. Students write "it depends" without saying on what. Strong evaluation weighs short run against long run, considers the size of elasticities or multipliers, and reaches a supported judgement.

Data questions add a fourth trap: calculating percentage changes or index numbers correctly, and quoting the data in the answer rather than describing the general theory.

How LiveTutor economics lessons run

Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one, in LiveTutor's online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard, so diagrams can be drawn and corrected live. The tutor works to your child's board and uses its past papers and mark schemes, so a Cambridge student practises the 9708 essay format and an Edexcel student works on the unit structure, including the 34-mark data questions.

A typical lesson reviews one essay or data answer your child has written, re-teaches the missing link in the analysis, then builds a plan for a new question together. Tutors also use current examples, including Gulf economies, oil prices and exchange-rate pegs, which give students fresh evidence for evaluation. You can see lessons and progress in your parent account.

When to start

  • First term of Year 12, to secure diagrams and definitions while microeconomics is taught.
  • Before AS exams, or before Edexcel units 1 and 2, for timed essays.
  • Autumn of Year 13, when predicted grades for university applications are set.
  • The final term, for full timed papers and evaluation practice.

Common questions

Does my child need A-Level Maths for Economics?

Not for A-Level Economics itself, which uses only basic calculations. Many university economics degrees ask for A-Level Maths, so check the courses your child is considering.

Can my child take Economics and Business together?

Yes, many schools allow it. There is some overlap, but Economics focuses on markets and the whole economy while Business focuses on how firms are run. Some universities treat them as related subjects; check if this matters for a specific course.

Is Edexcel IAL Economics more flexible than Cambridge?

It is unitised, so units can be sat in different series (January, June or October according to the specification) and resat individually. Cambridge allows the AS to be carried forward. Both lead to an A Level graded A* to E.

How much do A-Level Economics lessons cost?

$15 a lesson, the same for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.

How soon can lessons start?

Tutor matching normally takes up to 24 hours. Tell us the board and code, and we match a tutor who teaches that course.

Sources

Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.

Read next