A Level Economics course (AS & A2) Fast Track

A Level Economics course. This full A Level course can be completed from home at your own pace from anywhere in the world. Students can enrol anytime 365 days a year and once registered can be studying within days. No set term times and no enrolment dates. Fast track your economics A level course and complete within one year. Adapt your studies around work and family commitments to suit.

A level courses are ideal for those looking to gain UCAS points and entry to university.

Enrol online or call our office on 0121 2880181 and one of our friendly advisors will process your details for you.

Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure

The Economic Problem
• Nature and Purpose of Economic Activity
• Economic Resources
• The Economic Objectives of Individuals, Firms and Government
• Scarcity, choice and the allocation of resources
• Production Possibility Diagrams
• Value Judgements, Positive and Normative statements

The Allocation of Resources in Competitive Markets
• The Determinants of the Demand for Goods and Services
• Price, Income and Cross Elasticity’s of Demand
• The Determinants of the Supply of Goods and Services
• Price Elasticity of Supply
• The Determination of Equilibrium Market Prices
• Demand and Supply Analysis to Particular Markets
• The Interrelationship Between Markets
• How Markets and Prices Allocate Resources

Production and Efficiency
• Specialisation, Division of Labour and Exchange
• Production
• Economies and Diseconomies of Scale

Market Failure
• The Meaning of Market Failure
• Public Goods
• Externalities in Consumption and Production
• Merit and Demerit Goods
• Monopoly and the Allocation of Resources
• Immobility of Factors of Production
• Inequalities in the Distribution of Income and Wealth

Government Intervention in the Market
• Rationale for Government Intervention
• Methods of Government Intervention to Correct Distortions
• The Impact of Government Intervention on Market Outcomes
• Government Failure

Unit 2: ECON2 – The National Economy

Introduction to Macroeconomics
• The Measurement of macroeconomic performance
• Macroeconomic Indicators
• The Economic Cycle

How the Macro-economy works: AD/AS analysis, the circular flow of income and related concepts
• Circular flow of income
• Aggregate Demand (AD) and Aggregate Supply (AS) Analysis
• The Determinants of Aggregate Demand
• Aggregate Demand and the Level of Economic Activity
• Determinants of Short-Run Aggregate Supply
• Determinants of Long-Run Aggregate Supply

Economic Performance
• The Objectives of Government Economic Policy
• Economic Growth
• Inflation and Deflation
• Employment and Unemployment
• The Balance of Payments on Current Account

Macroeconomic Policy
• Fiscal Policy
• Monetary Policy
• Supply-Side Policies

Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income

The Firm: Objectives, Costs and Revenues
• The objectives if firms
• The Divorce of ownership from control
• The Law of diminishing returns and returns to scale
• Fixed and Variable Costs,Marginal, Average and Total Costs
• Economies and Diseconomies of Scale
• Technological Change
• Total, Average and Marginal Revenue

Competitive Markets
• The Model of Perfect Competition
• Competition and the Efficient Allocation of Resources
• The Dynamics of Competition and Competitive Market Processes

Concentrated Markets
• Monopoly and Oligopoly
• Price Makers and Price Takers
• The Growth of Firms
• Sources of Monopoly Power
• The Model of Monopoly
• Collusive and Non-Collusive Oligopoly
• Interdependence in Oligopolistic Markets
• Price Discrimination
• Consumer and Producer Surplus
• Contestable and Non-contestable Markets
• Market Structure, Static Efficiency and Dynamic Efficiency

The Labour Market
• The Demand for Labour, Marginal Productivity Theory
• Influences upon the Supply of Labour to Different Markets
• Competitive Labour Markets
• Imperfectly Competitive Labour Markets
• The Impact of a National Minimum Wage Rate
• Discrimination in the Labour Market

Government Intervention in the Market
• Market failure and Government failure
• Competition Policy
• Notions of Equity
• The Problem of Poverty
• Cost Benefit Analysis

Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy

Macroeconomic Indicators
• The Economic Cycle and Economic Growth
• Uses of National Income Data
• Unemployment
• Inflation and Deflation

Managing the National Economy
• Macroeconomic Models and Policies
• Fiscal Policy
• Supply-Side Policies
• Monetary Policy, the
• Money Supply and Interest Rates
• Exchange Rate Policy

The International Economy
• Globalisation
• Trade
• The balance of payments
• Exchange rate systems
• The European Union

Summary of Assessments
Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure
• 50% of AS Level
• 25% of A Level
• 1 hour 15 minutes examination
• 75 marks
Section A: 25 compulsory objective test items, 25 marks
Section B: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 50 marks

Unit 2: ECON2 – The National Economy
• 50% of As Level
• 30% of A Level
• 1 hour 15 minutes examination
• 75 marks
Section A: 25 compulsory objective test items, 25 marks
Section B: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 50 marks

Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income
• 25% of A Level
• 2 hour examination
• 80 marks
Section A: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks, one question will always relate to the global context and the other to the European Union context.
Section B: Three optional essay questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks

Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy
• 25 % of A Level
• 2 hour examination
• 80 marks
Section A: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks, one question will always relate to the global context and the other to the European Union context.
Section B: Three optional essay questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks

Assignment Information
Throughout the course there will be self-assessment questions, and tutor marked questions, to enable students to monitor their progress.

AQA A Level Economics

All students have 18 months to complete this course from date of registration. On average this course is completed in 200 hours..

We recommend that students complete 5-6 hours per week as a minimum to get the most from this course. Remember to work out a study plan / timetable before you start and try and stick to it. Coursework can be completed as quickly as you want as shown below.

Course materials are provided in paper format and delivered direct to your door within 7 days of enrolment.

Recommended Reading

AQA AS Economics Student Book, 2nd edition
by Chris Vidler and Charles Smith
ISBN-10: 0435692224
ISBN-13: 978-0435692223

AQA A2 Economics Student's Book
by Jim Lawrence, Steve Stoddard
ISBN-10: 0748799656
ISBN-13: 978-0748799657

Revision Guide to AS & A2 Level Economics – James Keefe
Publisher – Informe
ISBN – 0 907529 70 4

Summary of Assessments
Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure
• 50% of AS Level
• 25% of A Level
• 1 hour 15 minutes examination
• 75 marks
Section A: 25 compulsory objective test items, 25 marks
Section B: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 50 marks

Unit 2: ECON2 – The National Economy
• 50% of As Level
• 30% of A Level
• 1 hour 15 minutes examination
• 75 marks
Section A: 25 compulsory objective test items, 25 marks
Section B: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 50 marks

Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income
• 25% of A Level
• 2 hour examination
• 80 marks
Section A: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks, one question will always relate to the global context and the other to the European Union context.
Section B: Three optional essay questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks

Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy
• 25 % of A Level
• 2 hour examination
• 80 marks
Section A: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks, one question will always relate to the global context and the other to the European Union context.
Section B: Three optional essay questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks

Assignment Information
Throughout the course there will be self-assessment questions, and tutor marked questions, to enable students to monitor their progress.

Past Papers

Visit AQA website and download past sample exam papers click here

Exam Format
A Level Economics consists of 4 units in total:
AS Level = 2 units
A2 Level = 2 units

AS Level
Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure
Examination: 1 hour 15 minutes

Unit 2: ECON2 – The National Economy
Examination: 1 hour 15 minutes

A2 Level
Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income
Examination: 2 hours

Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy
Examination: 2 hours

 

Examination Centres

Wewill provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate. In some cases you should be prepared to travel to another town or city to take your exams. The college provides expertise support and advice for students in their studies through their comprehensive course packs and tutoring system. However, we do stress that it is the student’s responsibility to find a centre to register and take their exams with. We are aware that sometimes this is difficult or even impossible to arrange.  Now we have come to an arrangement with centres in Birmingham, Bristol and Harrogate so please contact them directly for fees and a timetable. We realise this may still involve a good deal of travelling for some students but the long-term benefits of being able to gain A Levels far outweigh the short-term expense and inconvenience.

Recommended Centres

English Maths Science Tuition Centre Ltd.
40 Showell Green lane
Sparkhill
Birmingham,
B11 4JP
England
United Kingdom

Tel: 0121-771-1298

info@englishandmaths.com

http://www.englishandmaths.com/Index.php

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3A Tutors Ltd
1A High Street
Staple Hill
Bristol
BS16 5HA

Tel: 0117 9109931

Email: enquiries@3at.org.uk

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Harrogate Tutorial College
2 The Oval
Harrogate
HG2 9BA

Telephone +44(0)1423 501041

E-Mail study@htcuk.org

Campbell Harris Tutors Ltd
185 Kensington High Street
London
W8 6SH
Telephone 020 7937 0032

Email principal@campbellharris.co.uk

Web Site http://campbellharris.co.uk/Content.asp?ID=18

Please visit AQA for exam information.

http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre. From 2014 exams will be taken in June of each year. 2013 provides the final opportunity to take exams in January. There is no flexibilty to take exams at any other time.
 

Q: When can I enrol?

The beauty of distance learning means that students can enrol at anytime they wish 365 days of the year. Enrolments and payment can be made online or by calling our office on 0121 2880181.

Q: How soon after enrolment can I start studying?

Students would normally receive course materials within 7 days of enrolment

Q: Is this course accredited?

Yes! This course prepares students for the AQA A Level examinations.

Q: Is there any funding available towards the course fees?

UK Open College is a privately run college therefore we do not have access to funding

Q: Do you offer any discounts for the unemployed or low income households?

Unfortunately discounts are not available

Q: Can I pay monthly for my course?

Yes! We do offer payment plans for this course to students resident in the UK only.  See fees page for further details.

Q: How do I know whether this is the right course for me?

In truth we cannot be sure if this course or indeed home learning will meet every students needs. To help we have a money back guarantee scheme in place which allows students to receive and try the course materials for seven days to establish whether this course is the ideal course for them. If it's not simply notify us via email or telephone within the seven day period for a full refund. Please be aware this is a strict seven day scheme and no refunds are processed once this period has expired.

Q: Is this course available to International students?

Yes ! We currently have students all over the world studying with the college.
Q: Are there any deadlines for course assignments?

No! You can submit course assignments at your own pace. The only deadline is for completion of the whole course which requires students to finish within 18 months of registration.

Q: What if I have questions relating to my course or have problems understanding some of the questions?

No problem! All students have access to a personal tutor for the duration of their course with whom they may correspond with. You are not on your own when you study with us! We really do want you to pass your course!

Q: Will I have to purchase any additional books or materials?

It will state clearly in the course detail if additional books are required. These are not included in the course fees. Students are required to ourchase these independantly. They are not provided by the college.

Course Fee: Starting at: £369.00

Student can choose to pay their course fees in full upon enrolment (£369.00) or take out a pay as you study plan as follows.

Enrolment Fee	£169.00
5 x  Monthly payments	£50.00
Total Fees Payable	£419.00
Pay in full and Save	£50.00

Call our office on 0121 2880181 for guaranteed acceptance onto our pay as you study plan* (Applies to UK Students only) 

MOD Personnel can claim a 10% Reduction on fees when paying in full by quoting BFPO10 when contacting us. Proof will be required.

Exam fees not included. Any exam fees are payable direct to examination centre. You are advised to contact a centre as listed here prior to enrolment to confirm exam fees and availibilty. Click here for List

This course is provided in partnership with UKDLP (UK Distance Learning and Publishing)

If you prefer to pay via cheque please print off enrolment form PDF below and post to our head office.