This home study A level Course in Economics is divided into two modules, each of which is divided into four lessons. All of the lessons have references to the textbook and to carefully selected websites. At the end of each lesson there is a set of key words. After studying the lesson, you should be able to give the meaning of these words. Each second lesson has a tutor marked assessment which, when completed, should be sent to your tutor.

Economics has a large amount of new terminology. You will be required to recognise and understand economic terms when you meet them and also to apply them to real life situations. Some of the terminology is used in ordinary language but in a quite different way in economics. You will also need to remember diagrams that explain economics, it is important to label your axes correctly and to be able to explain the diagrams in your own language. You may find it helpful to put your definitions and diagrams on index cards or the clipped together revision cards you can buy in a stationery shop.

Each module of the course corresponds to the examination unit. The lessons have been arranged to follow the syllabus and to provide for ease of understanding and topic coverage so may be of different length and difficulty. Unit 1 has more theory and diagrams and you might wish to start on Unit 2 at the same time and work in parallel.

The Course is laid out as follows:-

This course covers all the content of the Edexcel AS Economics Course. You can find the full syllabus for this course here www.edexcel.org.uk 

Textbooks

Throughout the course you will be referred to the following textbook which is specifically written for the syllabus that you are following. While the material covered in the book matches that in the course, you do need access to both in order to fully understand the concepts and terminology of economics. This book is essential for your course.

Economics (Fifth Edition) Edexcel
Student Book
Alain Anderton – Pearson
ISBN 1405892285

This textbook covers both AS and A2 economics, so you will only need this one textbook.

Learning Economics

Economics gives you a terminology and models to understand the world of money and finance, of employment, economic growth and international trade. You will need to get used to dealing with the specialist language of economics but you also need to be able to apply it to real life events. This course and the textbook will enable you to do this comprehensively but you will also find it useful to keep up to date by reading newspapers, journals like The Economist and by watching or listening to radio and television.

The Examination

Unit 1: Competitive markets – how they work and why they fail
1 hr 30 minutes

Unit 2: Managing the Economy
1 hour 30 minutes

A2 Economics

Course Synopsis

The Course is divided into two modules, each of which is divided into four lessons. All of the lessons have references to the textbook and to carefully selected websites. At the end of each lesson there is a set of key words. After studying the lesson, you should be able to give the meaning of these words. Each second lesson has a tutor marked assessment which, when completed, should be sent to your tutor.

Economics has a large amount of new terminology. You will be required to recognise and understand economic terms when you meet them and also to apply them to real life situations. Some of the terminology is used in ordinary language but in a quite different way in economics. You will also need to remember diagrams that explain economics, it is important to label your axes correctly and to be able to explain the diagrams in your own language. You may find it helpful to put your definitions and diagrams on index cards or the clipped together revision cards you can buy in a stationery shop.

Each module of the course corresponds to the examination unit. The lessons have been arranged to follow the syllabus and to provide for ease of understanding and topic coverage so may be of different length and difficulty. Unit 3 and Unit 4 are both quite different topics and you might enjoy studying them in parallel.

The Course is laid out as follows:-

This course covers all the content of the Edexcel AS Economics Course. You can find the full syllabus for this course here www.edexcel.org.uk 

Textbooks

Throughout the course you will be referred to the following textbook which is specifically written for the syllabus that you are following. While the material covered in the book matches that in the course, you do need access to both in order to fully understand the concepts and terminology of economics. This book is essential for your course.

Economics (Fifth Edition) Edexcel
Student Book
Alain Anderton – Pearson
ISBN 1405892285

This textbook covers both AS and A2 economics, so you will only need this one textbook.

Learning Economics

Economics gives you a terminology and models to understand the world of money and finance, of employment, economic growth and international trade. You will need to get used to dealing with the specialist language of economics but you also need to be able to apply it to real life events. This course and the textbook will enable you to do this comprehensively but you will also find it useful to keep up to date by reading newspapers, journals like The Economist and by watching or listening to radio and television.

The Examination

Unit 3: Business Economics and Economic Efficiency
1 hr 30 minutes

Unit 4: The Global Economy
2 hours

Entry Requirements

The A-level builds on the course content of the Economics GCSE, but it is not necessary to have this qualification before undertaking the A-level. However, in order to meet the demands of the course, it is recommended that candidates have literary and communication skills equivalent to C or higher at GCSE, though full tutor support is given throughout. Basic English reading and writing skills are required.

Study Hours

Variable according to student commitment, though OCR recommend 180 guided learning hours for AS and 360 guided learning hours for A2.

Qualification

AS/A2 - A level in Economics. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

Specification: Edexcel (AS) 8EC01 and Edexcel (A2) 9EC01

What's Included

Learning documentation, Online Resources and Tutor support for 2 years.  

Further Information

Please note that this course is available in online format only. You will need to have one of the following packages to access your course online:

Windows: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista - Acrobat Reader 8.0 and above
Macintosh: Mac OS X, Mac OS 9.2 - Acrobat Reader 8.0 and above

As an A Level student you will have access to our online 'Common Room', where you are able to receive the latest course updates, extra materials and information. You will also be able to take part in the student chat room and forums as part of our online student community.

Once enrolled, your username, password and personal College Student number will be emailed to you within 5 working days, which will give you access to your course materials via the ‘Common Room’.

The full A Level will be a 2 year course, AS Exams to be taken in 2009 and A2 in 2010. Due to Examination Board restrictions, there is no flexibility to complete this course any sooner.

Students are required to arrange and pay for their examinations and manage the course work element if the subject requires this. Students must check the relevant examination board website for further information and final examination sitting dates for the specification.