Economics A Level

Applications Open: - 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - 30th January 2026

How to Apply: - via Kent Choices

Entry Requirements: - Students must meet the following academic criteria:

(a) Applicants must achieve at least an average GCSE grade of 5.7 from eight subjects (this must include at least one modern foreign language, at least one science and at least one humanity).

(b) Applicants must also have GCSE Mathematics and at least one English GCSE at a minimum of grade 5.

In addition to the above requirements, applicants wishing to be accepted on to a particular subject must achieve the requirements set down for that particular course in the Sixth Form Curriculum booklet

https://mgs.kent.sch.uk/admission/sixth-form-entry/

All students study 4 A Levels in Year 12 (Choose 5 subjects on the application form, with the 5th being a reserve). It is important that students refer to the 6th Form Curriculum booklet to ensure that they choose their courses appropriately. (There is the option to drop one of these subjects at the end of Year 12 and undertake an EPQ).

We do not require applicants to write a Personal Statement.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): Alongside our extensive A level offering, students are offered the opportunity to gain an Extended Project Qualification (Level 3). This research based qualification is an ideal way to prepare ahead of further academic studies and / or the working world. Students are able to research, plan and realise a 5000 word study on a topic of their choosing. Topics are wide ranging. Many students choose to explore topics that either complement their interests and academic studies or create a bridge to future career aspirations, for example in law or medicine. An EPQ provides ideal content for CVs, university applications and is worth up to 28 UCAS points. Importantly, many universities will lower their offer to students studying an EPQ because they recognise the skills and expertise students gain from studying an EPQ.

From September 2015, students have been following the new 2 year linear AQA course for A Level Economics. Economics has become high profile. The credit crunch, bankers’ bonuses and fears of a Euro meltdown are just three topics rarely out of the news in recent years, throwing a light on the importance of and divisions within the discipline. The new AS and A Level specifications catch the wave of this renewed interest in the subject with topics that will interest and intrigue students. The subject content is divided between micro and macroeconomics. Students will use economic theory to analyse current economic issues.

Over this two year course, students will study areas and topics drawn from both micro and macroeconomics.

Microeconomics:

• The economic problem and economic methodology • individual economic decision-making • price determination in a competitive market • production, costs and revenue • perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly • the labour market • the distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality • the market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets.

Macroeconomics:

• The measurement of macroeconomic performance • how the macroeconomy works • economic performance • financial markets and monetary policy • fiscal policy and supply-side policies • the international economy.

A Level Assessment:

The A Level has three, two-hour written exams taken at the end of the course in Year 13.

• Paper 1: Markets and market failure: students answer two questions, Section A – students choose one context from a choice of two; Section B – students choose one context from a choice of three.

• Paper 2: National and international economy: students answer two questions, Section A – students choose one context from a choice of two; Section B - students choose one context from a choice of three.

• Paper 3: Economic principles and issues: Section A - multiple choice; Section B – extended writing questions.

As above.

To study this course, you should have at least a Grade 6 in GCSE English and Mathematics.

You could take this course to complement other Advanced Level courses, such as Business, which could lead onto Higher Education courses in areas of Economics, Business, Accounting, Marketing or more general Higher Eeducation courses. With further training, you could go into a job related to Economics, Business, Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources and Public Relations.