IGCSE Economics - 经济 0455/0987

Course Overview 课程介绍

IGCSE 经济 14-16 岁，不分档，A-Level 经济、IB Economics 与商科金融衔接课程。

IGCSE Economics is the international GCSE Economics course for students aged 14-16, preparing students for A-Level Economics, IB Economics and business / finance pathways. It covers six themes: the basic economic problem, allocation of resources, microeconomic decision makers, government and the macroeconomy, economic development, and international trade. There is no Core/Extended tier; all candidates sit the same papers.

Key Facts 基本信息

Board (考试局)	CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education)
CAIE Code (代码)	0455 (A*-G) / 0987 (9-1)
Duration (学制)	Usually 2 years (Year 10-11)
Grading (评分)	0455: A*-G · 0987: 9-1
Core / Extended Tiers (分档)	No Core/Extended tier · unified paper for all
Exam Structure (CAIE)	Paper 1 + Paper 2 · no practical exam

Syllabus 章节大纲

Core1. The basic economic problem

Scarcity / factors of production / opportunity cost / production possibility curves
Core2. The allocation of resources

Market mechanism / demand, supply and equilibrium / price elasticity PED/PES / market failure and government intervention
Ext3. Microeconomic decision makers

Money and banking / household decisions / labour market and unions / firm objectives, costs and revenue / market structures
Ext4. Government and the macroeconomy

Fiscal and monetary policy / economic growth / unemployment / inflation and deflation / supply-side policy
Ext5. Economic development

Living standards and HDI / causes of poverty and policy / demographic structure / development gaps between countries
Ext6. International trade and globalisation

Comparative advantage / trade protection / current account and exchange rates / globalisation and multilateral organisations

Core vs Extended Core 与 Extended 区分

0455/0987 不分档，全员同卷，难度由 Paper 2 延伸问答与评估深度体现。

ExtNote: IGCSE Economics (0455 / 0987) has no Core/Extended tier; all candidates sit the same Paper 1 and Paper 2, uniformly graded A* - G or 9-1. Difficulty gradients are reflected in question type and assessment depth rather than tiering.

Specifically: Paper 1 (MCQ, 30 questions) covers foundational concepts across all six topics with relatively short and direct questions. Paper 2 Section A is a data response question (analysis based on real economic contexts); Section B consists of structured extended questions (choose 3 of 4, each with definition, explanation, analysis and evaluation sub-questions, where 8-mark questions demand layered argument and critical evaluation). Topics 1-2 are foundational; topics 3-6 demand higher analysis and evaluation, so topic tags on this page distinguish core and ext by relative difficulty.

Exam Structure (CAIE 0455 / 0987) 考试结构

Paper 1	Multiple Choice · 45 min · 30 questions · 30 marks · 30%
Paper 2 Section A	Data Response · compulsory · 30 marks · Paper 2 totals 70%
Paper 2 Section B	Structured Questions · choose 3 of 4 · 20 marks each · Paper 2 totals 70%

Note: Paper 2 totals 2h15m, 90 marks, 70%. Section A is a compulsory data response; Section B is structured extended questions. All candidates sit the same paper; no Core/Extended choice.

Pathway 适用衔接

衔接 A-Level 9708、IB Economics HL/SL，经济金融商科建议 A*/9 并配合数学。

IGCSE Economics is the standard preparation for A-Level Economics (CAIE 9708), IB Economics HL/SL and university economics / finance / business pathways. After completing IGCSE Economics, students can progress directly to A-Level AS; those with a solid foundation in demand-supply, elasticity, market failure, macroeconomic objectives and international trade transition more smoothly to A-Level macroeconomics, the AD-AS model, monetary transmission mechanisms and trade theory. For students applying to economics, finance or business, an A* or 9 in IGCSE Economics is recommended, alongside a strong IGCSE Mathematics Extended.