Exam Preparation
Paper 1 Part A 10pt Questions - (18 minutes)
For these questions it is very common to see the acronym DEED to guide students in their writing.
Explanations, Examples and Diagrams (DEED). As long as you include the elements of DEED you will do well but far too often students follow this acronym a little too rigidly.
Sample question: Explain why the price of ice cream increases in summer
Paragraph 1 (Definitions)
Diagrams
For these questions it is very common to see the acronym DEED to guide students in their writing.
Explanations, Examples and Diagrams (DEED). As long as you include the elements of DEED you will do well but far too often students follow this acronym a little too rigidly.
Sample question: Explain why the price of ice cream increases in summer
Paragraph 1 (Definitions)
- Define any keywords from the question and any related keywords used in your answer.
- Give real life examples if you can. Generic examples are deemed to be weak examples
Diagrams
- Explain with use of a diagram or diagrams
- Draw the diagram which will best help you to answer the question.
- Draw it accurately and fully labelled (I.e. “Price of Ice Cream, Quantity of Ice Cream, D1, S1.”) and with a title on top.
- Explain specific insights of the diagram (i.e. “As the diagram shows, the warmer weather results in a greater demand for ice cream. At Price P1, the quantity demanded increases from Q1 to Q2.”)
- Develop that insight further. Use points on the diagram to explain WHY greater demand for ice cream is causing the price of ice cream to increase. (i.e. “The rightward shift of the demand curve means that for any given price, more is demanded. And this puts an upward pressure on price. Producers get a signal from the market that there is excess demand, so they see that they can increase their prices and they do.”)
- When explaining if you use an economics word - define it!
- And use examples throughout!
Sample Paper 1 Responses
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How to answer a 15pt question (27 minutes)
In part B you are always being asked to evaluate – even if the word evaluate isn’t used. When evaluating you are being asked to: place a value on; judge the worth of something. Remember that this question is the second part of the question you chose to answer for Part (a) so you can refer to definitions and diagrams you produced in Part (a) in your answer here.
For these questions you are being asked to evaluate a policy to come to a judgement. IB will use command terms like, “Discuss”, “Assess”, “Evaluate” or “Examine”, questions. It doesn’t matter, the goal is to create a two sided argument and then come to a judgement. Sometimes IB will write weird questions - it doesn't matter use following structure. This is the structure when you are asked to evaluate one policy or one thing such as; “Discuss whether an increase in consumption will result in economic growth” or “Discuss whether high inflation is always bad for a nation”
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2 - Argument 1 - Two points is enough (PROS)
Paragraph 3 - Other side of the argument - one or two points is enough (CONS / LIMITATIONS)
Paragraph 4 - same size as a regular paragraph
In part B you are always being asked to evaluate – even if the word evaluate isn’t used. When evaluating you are being asked to: place a value on; judge the worth of something. Remember that this question is the second part of the question you chose to answer for Part (a) so you can refer to definitions and diagrams you produced in Part (a) in your answer here.
For these questions you are being asked to evaluate a policy to come to a judgement. IB will use command terms like, “Discuss”, “Assess”, “Evaluate” or “Examine”, questions. It doesn’t matter, the goal is to create a two sided argument and then come to a judgement. Sometimes IB will write weird questions - it doesn't matter use following structure. This is the structure when you are asked to evaluate one policy or one thing such as; “Discuss whether an increase in consumption will result in economic growth” or “Discuss whether high inflation is always bad for a nation”
Paragraph 1
- Definitions - Define the key terms of the question and any related terms to your argument (if you have already defined these in a previous question you don’t need to again. Just write, market failure (as defined in question b)
- Thesis statement (judgement) A 2:1 / 2:2 ratio is fine
Paragraph 2 - Argument 1 - Two points is enough (PROS)
- Diagram
- Explain the diagram. What does it show in general. Explain a specific insight of the diagram (i.e. “As the diagram shows, the implementation of a price ceiling has reduced the quantity supplied.”) Develop that insight further using points on the diagram (i.e. “The decrease in price from P1 to P2, results in a increase in quantity supplied from Q1 to Q2 because……...″)
- Give detailed analysis. E.G - “economic growth will result in an increase in income tax and corporation tax revenue for the government”, is not detailed!
- Application to the real world (you need real life examples to score in the highest mark bands)
- Evaluate throughout - LR vs SR & Stakeholders (winners and losers)
Paragraph 3 - Other side of the argument - one or two points is enough (CONS / LIMITATIONS)
- Do the same as paragraph 2
Paragraph 4 - same size as a regular paragraph
- To get more than 10 your judgement has to be strong
- It not a summary or a conclusion it is an answer to the question
- Do not start with, “in conclusion……….”
- Explicitly answer the question
- ________ is the most effective way to ___________
- ________ is not the most effective way to ___________
- ________ is not on its own the most effective way to ____________
- Justify your judgement by prioritizing / weighing up the arguments
- Show balance.
- This will be effective as long as……….. (X policy is also introduced, or, the government does this, or firms react in this way)
- This will not be effective, but if the government did X, or, if X policy was also introduced…… the policy could work
- Short run vs Long Run
- In the SR is could work, but maybe in the LR there could be negative consequences.
How to answer 8pt questions
You should be giving 28 minutes minimum to this question
The question will question will always begin, “Using the text / data…..” if you do not use the text / data at least twice the examiner will cap you at a 3 or a 4 maximum. If there is text & data you must use both.
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4 Judgement
You should be giving 28 minutes minimum to this question
The question will question will always begin, “Using the text / data…..” if you do not use the text / data at least twice the examiner will cap you at a 3 or a 4 maximum. If there is text & data you must use both.
Paragraph 1
- Definitions - Define the key terms of the question and any related terms to your argument (if you have already defined these in a previous question you don’t need to again. Just write, market failure (as defined in question b)
- Thesis statement (judgement) - IF YOU CAN A 2:1 / 2:2 ratio is fine
Paragraph 2
- Argument 1 - THE PROS
- Diagram (Examiners love diagrams)
- Explain the diagram. What does it show in general. Explain a specific insight of the diagram (i.e. “As the diagram shows, the implementation of a tariff ceiling has increased the quantity supplied.”) Develop that insight further using points on the diagram (i.e. “The decrease in price from P1 to P2, results in a decrease in quantity supplied from Q1 to Q2″).
- E.G - “economic growth will result in an increase in income tax and corporation tax revenue for the government”, is not detailed! GO-STEP-BY-STEP
- Application to the case study (you need examples from the case study to score in the highest mark bands) You can quote, but don’t over quote.
- Evaluate throughout - LR vs SR & Stakeholders (winners and losers) - Use examples or from the case study or from the real world!
- This can be a separate paragraph if you want.
Paragraph 3
- Argument 2 - other side of the argument (THE CONS / LIMITATIONS)
- Do the same as paragraph 2
Paragraph 4 Judgement
- To more than 5/8 your judgement has to be strong
- It not a summary or a conclusion it is an answer to the question
- Do not start with, “in conclusion……….”
- Start by explicitly answering the question
- ________ is the most effective way to ___________
- ________ is not the most effective way to ___________
- ________ is not on its own the most effective way to ____________
- Then justify with evidence to support your answer to the question.
- Short run vs Long Run implication
- In the SR is could work, but maybe in the LR there could be negative consequences.
- Then show some balance by saying how it could be effective if you have answered it won’t be
- This will be effective as long as……….. (X policy is also introduced, or, the government does this, or firms react in this way, or if X risk is considered)
- This will not be effective, but if the government did X, or, if X policy was also introduced…… the policy could work
