How to Score Good Grades in IGCSE Economics (2024)

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education, or IGCSE, is an international qualification for students between the ages of 14 to 16 years old. The coursework for this certification is typically two years and offers instruction in a number of subjects, including business studies, art and design, history, accounting and economics. Institutions throughout the world recognize the IGCSE as preparation for university and preuniversity level study. The economics course requires you to pass an exam to demonstrate proficiency. Obtaining a good score requires diligent study and a review of material on past tests.

Download a syllabus for the coursework. Visit sites such as the University of Cambridge International Examinations or IGCSE ICT.

Review the format of the economics exam, which is divided into three sections. The first section has 30 multiple-choice questions and spans 45 minutes. The second section requires you to answer four structured questions in two hours. The third section, which is 90 minutes in length, asks you to answer two questions and analyze economic data about a real-world situation.

Review the assessment requirements for the exam, which lists four objectives: knowledge with understanding, analysis, judgment and decision-making and critical evaluation. You must be able to do all four of these things in the context of economics.

Review the curriculum content. To do well on the exam you must be able to define basic economic problems, understand the allocation of resources, describe the functions of a producer, consumer and borrower in an economy, describe the role of government in an economy, explain economic indicators and state the reasons some countries are classified as developing economies.

Purchase books to help you learn the topics covered on the exam. Because there is no official course book for IGCSE economics, you must provide your own resources. However, some websites, such as the University of Cambridge International Examinations, provide a resource list of books relevant to the exam. A few examples include "Economics for GCSE" by AG Anderton, which includes data response questions, and "Economics for IGCSE" by Terry Cook, Jane King and Robert Dransfield.

Download previous economics exams, which you can obtain from various websites. Review these exams, focusing on the manner in which questions are asked and how candidates chose to answer.

Take a practice test to determine areas where you're proficient and areas where you need more study. Practice tests are found in many IGCSE study guides and also on the Internet.

Focus your study on your weak areas. Take a new practice test to evaluate your progress. When you have mastered a subject, shift your study to another area that requires extra attention.

Tip

Obtain the syllabus for the year in which you are going to take the exam. If you download a 2011 syllabus, but are planning to take the exam in 2012, testing requirements may change.

How to Score Good Grades in IGCSE Economics (2024)

FAQs

How can I improve my economics IGCSE? ›

Fret not, I am going to share three things that you should do to guarantee your A* for IGCSE Economics.
  1. Mindset Transformation. First and foremost, you need to transform your mindset. ...
  2. Syllabus Mastery. Next, you need to work on mastering the syllabus. ...
  3. Know Thy Opponent.
Feb 25, 2021

Is economics IGCSE difficult? ›

Is IGCSE Economics really that difficult? According to most students' personal opinions, IGCSE Economics is somewhat more difficult than A-level Economics (a higher level program than IGCSE). The main reason why IGCSE Economics is so difficult is that Economics is still a new knowledge for grade 9-10 students.

How do you get an A * in IGCSE? ›

Now that you know how IGCSE English exam takes place, let us share some useful tips on how to get ready for it.
  1. Know Your Stuff. ...
  2. Analyze While Reading. ...
  3. Look Past Content. ...
  4. Practice Your Craft. ...
  5. Develop Your Style. ...
  6. Focus on Grammar. ...
  7. Use Past Exam Papers. ...
  8. Call For Help When You Need It.
Jan 11, 2023

How to pass GCSE economics? ›

5 Useful GCSE Economics Revision Tips
  1. Make a Revision Timetable. It is quite tempting during revision to continue practising topics that you are comfortable with. ...
  2. Utilise Flashcards, Mind Maps and Revision Cards. ...
  3. Practice Your GCSE Past Papers. ...
  4. Master Your Definitions and Diagrams. ...
  5. Work With Economics Tutors.
Mar 22, 2021

How hard is economics at Cambridge? ›

Economics at Cambridge is thought to be a mathematics-heavy course, and this is certainly true. However, don't let this put you off; all the maths you need is taught alongside your modules, and there is no trigonometry.

Which is the hardest IGCSE subjects? ›

Top 10 Hardest IGCSE Subjects (2023 Edition):
  • IGCSE Additional Mathematics: IGCSE Additional Mathematics is considered one of the most challenging subjects. ...
  • IGCSE Physics: ...
  • IGCSE Literature: ...
  • IGCSE Computer Science: ...
  • IGCSE Chemistry: ...
  • IGCSE Modern Foreign Languages: ...
  • IGCSE English Language: ...
  • IGCSE Biology:
Apr 4, 2023

Which math is hardest in IGCSE? ›

Histograms are one of the hardest topics in maths, particularly when it comes to finding the mean, interquartile range and estimating for some value.

What is the easiest subject for IGCSE? ›

The easiest GCSEs as ranked by students
  • Geography.
  • Film Studies.
  • Religious Studies.
  • Media Studies.
  • Hospitality and Catering.
  • Business Studies.
  • Drama.
  • Physical Education.
Nov 17, 2021

Is 80% an A in IGCSE? ›

The Cambridge IGCSE is graded from A* to G. This grading scale has been used for almost 30 years and offers a good level of differentiation between student's performance.
...
The Grading.
GradePercentage uniform mark range
A*90-100
A80-89
B70-79
C60-69
4 more rows
Oct 12, 2021

What grade is a pass in IGCSE? ›

students scoring 360 - 420 points and above are awarded a Distinction. students scoring 250-359 points are awarded a Merit. students scoring 140-249 points are awarded a Pass.

Is 7 an A in IGCSE? ›

Universities do not make offers based on GCSE or IGCSE results – offers are based on A Levels or equivalent qualifications. Universities equate A to a grade 7, as the grade thresholds are identical.

How do you get an A in economics? ›

Contents: The 10 Tips to achieve an A or A*
  1. Time management.
  2. Do lots of practice questions.
  3. Conclusions should give a decision.
  4. Know essay structures.
  5. Know your real-world examples.
  6. Master evaluation.
  7. Get your work marked and view sample answers.
  8. Make revision notes as you go along.
Apr 8, 2022

Is economics a hard level? ›

A-Level Economics demands at least a grade C (4) in both GCSE English and GCSE Maths. Without these grades, you'll find that this A-Level becomes very demanding. The reason you need these grades is because you need to be able to cope with the amount of work A-Level Economics will ask of you.

What do you do in economics Igcse? ›

Students will also develop an understanding of economic concepts and apply these concepts to real-life situations.
...
The course covers the following topics:
  1. The market system.
  2. Business economics.
  3. Government and the economy.
  4. The global economy.

How to answer GCSE economics 6 mark questions? ›

For a 6 marker, you should be developing 2 distinct points, totalling 4 marks, and then providing a well reasoned evaluation as a conclusion for the last 2 marks. For the two distinct points, it is important to read the question carefully as it may not be simply a point for and against a certain topic.

Is AQA or Edexcel economics harder? ›

AQA – The difficulty of the paper may be the same, however, the grade boundaries would be higher compared to edexcel thus making it more difficult.

Is it harder to get into Oxford or Cambridge for Economics? ›

Cambridge Entry Requirements

Cambridge offers places to 1 in 6 applicants which is 17%. 84% of Oxford applicants accepted the offers.

Is it harder to get into Oxford or Cambridge? ›

Students around the world dream of studying at one of these prestigious universities. Check out our university profiles to learn more about Oxford and Cambridge.
...
Oxford vs Cambridge Application Overview.
OxfordCambridge
Overall Acceptance Rate16.7%19.6%
International Acceptance Rate9.3%12.1%
9 more rows
Dec 6, 2021

How hard is Harvard Economics? ›

Getting admission to Harvard is tough. Out of over 600 applicants, the Harvard economics department admits 40-44 students. With an acceptance rate of 5.3%, requirements include GRE scores ranged in the 97th percentile, an average GPA of 4.1 with A's in all your classes to stand a chance to be accepted.

What is the lowest IGCSE score? ›

Grade reporting

Cambridge IGCSE • A*(a*), A(a), B(b), C(c), D(d), E(e), F(f) or G(g). A*(a*) is the highest grade and G(g) the lowest.

What is the lowest passing grade in IGCSE? ›

IGCSE has passing grades from A* to G, with A* being the highest grade, followed by A to G. There is also a grade U which implies ungraded. A* is the best grade and G is the lowest.

What is the lowest level in IGCSE? ›

Cambridge IGCSE is aimed at a wide ability range of students, with a range of grades awarded from A* (highest grade) to G (lowest). There is a core (C to G) and extended (A* to C) curriculum available in some subjects.

What is the lowest common multiple Igcse? ›

The lowest common multiple, or LCM, of two numbers is the smallest number that is a multiple of both of them. Multiples of 5 are: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, … Multiples of 7 are: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, … and so on.

What is the pass rate for math Igcse? ›

English language: 99% pass rate. 63% A and B grades. Mathematics: 100% pass rate.

What is the hardest math class in the world? ›

Math 55 is a two-semester long freshman undergraduate mathematics course at Harvard University founded by Lynn Loomis and Shlomo Sternberg. The official titles of the course are Studies in Algebra and Group Theory (Math 55a) and Studies in Real and Complex Analysis (Math 55b).

What is the hardest exam board for Igcse? ›

  • 9) IGCSE History. ...
  • 8) IGCSE Biology. ...
  • 7) IGCSE English Language. ...
  • 6) IGCSE Modern Foreign Languages. ...
  • 5) IGCSE Chemistry. ...
  • 4) IGCSE Computer Science. ...
  • 2) - IGCSE Physics. On top of being regarded one of the hardest IGCSE subjects, Physics is also well-known for it's Maths content. ...
  • 1) IGCSE Additional Mathematics. Yes.
Jun 27, 2022

What is the least popular GCSE? ›

According to TES magazine, the five least popular GCSE subjects, based on the number of students sitting them are:
  • Welsh as a second language. If you live in Wales then Welsh is one of the compulsory subjects that every student must take. ...
  • Manufacturing. ...
  • Other sciences. ...
  • General studies. ...
  • Classical subjects.
Dec 23, 2022

Which Igcse series is the easiest? ›

Religious studies is said to be one of the easiest subjects in the IGCSE. After this comes Business Studies.

How much is an A * in IGCSE? ›

For example, if a student receives an A grade in IGCSE Mathematics, the percentage equivalent would be between 80-89%.

What is 90% in IGCSE? ›

For example, a student who gets the minimum mark necessary for a Grade A* obtains a percentage uniform mark of 90. A student who gets a mark halfway between the Grade D threshold and Grade C threshold achieves a percentage uniform mark of 55. is no Grade 'a*', the percentage uniform mark range for Grade 'a' is 80–100.

What is 78% in IGCSE? ›

According to this illustration, grade 4 requires 56 - 66 per cent, grade 5 requires 67 - 77 per cent and grade 6 requires 78 - 88 per cent.

Is IGCSE honor level? ›

Our IGCSE Courses allow students the opportunity to gain important insights into the teaching style of Cambridge as well as preparation for the more advanced AICE courses. They are honors level and offer a GPA boost of .

What is the highest score in IGCSE? ›

#In IGCSE, grades range from A* to G, with A* being the highest and awarded to top 10% of students across the world and G being the lowest.

What score is an A in IGCSE? ›

90 - 100

What grade is 9 in IGCSE? ›

What are 9–1 grades? 9–1 grades have been introduced by the UK government for GCSEs in state schools in England. Under this system, 9 is the top grade.

How to do well in IGCSE? ›

7 Steps to Ace IGCSE
  1. Make a Long-Term Study Plan. You might find yourself studying a day before your mock test or class test. ...
  2. Use a Variety of Sources to Study. ...
  3. Use Past Papers to Practice. ...
  4. Be Attentive While Taking a Class. ...
  5. Develop Your Ability to Learn on Your Own. ...
  6. Stay Ahead of the Curve. ...
  7. Set High Targets.

How is IGCSE percentage calculated? ›

To find “A as a percentage of B”: do A ÷ B to get a decimal, then x 100, e.g.

What is the GPA for economics? ›

Science majors tend to have lower GPAs on average, with chemistry being the major with the lowest average GPA. Meanwhile, education majors earn the highest GPAs on average.
...
GPAs by Major.
MajorAverage GPA
Psychology2.98
Economics2.95
Math2.90
Chemistry2.78
14 more rows
Oct 15, 2022

What GPA do you need for economics? ›

General studies covers such studies as liberal, interdisciplinary, university, and general. The overall undergraduate GPA for all majors is 3.24, or between a B and B+ letter grade. The GPA for economics majors is only slightly below the average at 3.16.

How many marks for an A in economics? ›

The A level maximum mark is 335 as this reflects the different weightings of the three A level papers.

Is economics hard if you're bad at math? ›

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), four important qualities economists should have are analytical skills, critical-thinking skills, speaking skills and writing skills. You cultivate strong skills in all of these areas even if you are “bad” at math.

Why is economics so hard for me? ›

A college-level economics class can be challenging because you need to grasp new concepts like supply and demand, scarcity, diminishing returns, and opportunity costs. It requires you learn new vocabulary and to use critical thinking skills.

Is economics one of the hardest degrees? ›

So why do people consider economics a difficult major? In this area, you will take a lot of math and statistics classes and do plenty of critical thinking and synthesizing of data – so it can definitely be hard!

Is economics a good GCSE? ›

Studying GCSE Economics allows you to explore this fascinating and practical subject in greater depth and build foundational knowledge. You'll gain a solid base of understanding to build upon through further education such as A Levels or higher.

What is the hardest part of economics? ›

The most difficult concept in economics is that if transaction cost. I do not know of anybody other than Ronald Coase to have any clue what it is. Definition: The transaction cost is the cost, after an object has already been produced, to send it from the original producer to the ultimate consumer.

Which is harder psychology or economics? ›

It'll be hard to stand out in a sea of psychology graduates all offering the same thing. Economics is more challenging in my personal opinion, and is incredibly useful. It can lead to so many fields and to a very successful, rewarding career.

How can I make my economics better? ›

Hints
  1. Be realistic. ...
  2. Make sure you get plenty of food, sleep, and relaxation.
  3. Try to study in the same place at the same time every day.
  4. At the beginning of each study, period review the last thing you studied for 10 minutes.
  5. Rewrite your notes. ...
  6. Read your notes out loud.
May 24, 2019

How can I improve myself in economics? ›

5 Steps to Improve Your Personal Economy
  1. Step 1: Know Where You Stand. As with any great challenge, knowing is half the battle. ...
  2. Step 2: Get Organized. The second step to improving your personal economy is probably the most important. ...
  3. Step 3: Stay Focused, Stay Busy. ...
  4. Step 4: Get Smart. ...
  5. Step 5: Pay, Save, and Invest.
Sep 5, 2018

How do you get an A * in economics? ›

To do well in economics, you must develop a deep understanding of economic theories, developments in the field, and applied math. Stay current by reading newspapers and magazines like the Financial Times and The Economist. To ace your classes, take good notes, form a study group, and ask for assistance when necessary.

What type of person should study economics? ›

If you have strong logical reasoning skills, consider yourself a good problem solver or ever find yourself thinking about how the world could run more efficiently, you might consider enrolling in an economics course.

Why is economics difficult? ›

The problem: why is economics so confusing? Economics is confusing to a lot of people because it deals with abstract concepts that are difficult to wrap your head around. In addition, the field of economics is constantly changing and evolving, which makes it hard to keep up with the latest thinking.

What are the methods of studying economics? ›

There are two types of economic study or economic analysis: Deductive Method and Inductive Method.

How do I know if economics is right for me? ›

How Do I Know if Economics Is a Good Fit for Me? You'd make a great economics major if you're interested in using analytical thinking to understand behavioral patterns, solve policy problems, or make business decisions. Some helpful skills for economics majors include: Mathematics.

What type of maths is used in economics? ›

Calculus can be a powerful tool for an economist when assessing economic performance and making projections. Using calculus to generate curves based on economic information allows you to identify trends and make more informed decisions.

What are the soft skills in economics? ›

Attention to detail, trustworthiness. Emotional intelligence. Reasoning, problem-solving and ideation. Leadership and social influence.

What should economics students do? ›

Graduates with a background in economics are particularly valued for roles in financial control, financial planning, risk analysis, data analysis and consultancy.

How do you take notes in economics? ›

Other pro tips to keep in mind while preparing Economics notes
  1. Use short forms that are understandable.
  2. Use a tick symbol for the area that has been done.
  3. Try and separate your notes subject wise, in a chronological manner.
  4. Underline to re emphasize important points.
  5. Do not go overboard with the words and jargons.
Mar 16, 2018

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