Economics PearsonEdexcel A level

Applications Open: 3rd November 2025

Applications Close: 23rd March 2026

Entry Requirements: an overall GCSE points score of at least 50 (including grade 4 or higher in both Mathematics and English Language) is required to enrol. You also need to qualify for each of the subjects (minimum 3) you wish to take - a GCSE grade 6 or higher (7 or higher for Mathematics and Music) is required. See our prospectus for full details.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

What do I need to know, or be able to do, before taking this course?

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t studied Economics before. You might have an interest in Economics and want to know more about the impact Economics has on the world around you. You might want to investigate some of the stories you hear in the news – Why do some economies grow and others don’t? Why didn’t economists predict the Global Financial Crisis? This course will help you to understand all this and more.

The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Economics (A) is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Students develop knowledge and understanding of core economic models and concepts in Themes 1 and 2, and then build on this and apply their knowledge to more complex concepts and models in Themes 3 and 4. Students will need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current economic events and policies.

Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure. This theme focuses on microeconomic concepts.

Students will develop an understanding of:

• nature of economics

• how markets work

• market failure

• government intervention

Theme 2: The UK economy - performance and policies. This theme focuses on macroeconomic concepts.

Students will develop an understanding of:

• measures of economic performance

• aggregate demand

• aggregate supply

• national income

• economic growth

• macroeconomic objectives and policy.

Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market. This theme develops the microeconomic concepts introduced in Theme 1 and focuses on business economics.

Students will develop an understanding of:

• business growth

• business objectives

• revenues, costs and profits

• market structures

• labour market

• government intervention

Theme 4: A global perspective. This theme develops the macroeconomic concepts introduced in Theme 2 and applies these concepts in a global context. Students will develop an understanding of:

• international economics

• poverty and inequality

• emerging and developing economies

• the financial sector

• role of the state in the macro economy.

Paper 1 (2 hours, 35% of A level) Short-answer, data response and essay questions on markets and business behaviour – this is the content you study in Theme 1 and Theme 3.

Paper 2 (2 hours, 35% of A level) Short-answer, data response and essay questions on the national and global economy – this is the content you study in Theme 2 and Theme 4.

Paper 3 (2 hours, 30% of A level) The questions in the exam – data response and essay questions – cover concepts and theory from the whole course.

Either:

- grade 6 in GCSE Economics

OR: grade 6 in English Language and grade 6 in Mathematics

Please note that applicants must also meet our overall entry requirements of scoring at least a total of 50 points (simply add up all your GCSE grades) and achieving a Grade 4 or higher in both English Language and Mathematics.

Work undertaken by economics graduates include the following:-

• Business and finance

• Commercial, industrial and public sector management

• Retail

• Marketing and sales