AQAGCSE26 resources

AQA GCSE Economics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA GCSE Economics (4135) past papers and mark schemes. How markets work, how the economy works. 26 resources from 2019 to 2024.

📅June 2019 – June 2024📄26 resources available✅Free to download

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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26 of 26 resources — page 1 of 2

June 2023

9 files

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 1 How markets work – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 How markets work – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 How markets work – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 How markets work – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 1 How markets work – June 2023

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2023

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June 2022

6 files

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2022

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 1 How markets work – June 2022

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2022

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 How markets work – June 2022

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 1 How markets work – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 How the economy works – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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November 2021

4 files

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 How markets work – November 2021

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 How the economy works – November 2021

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 1 How markets work – November 2021

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 1 How markets work – November 2021

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November 2020

6 files

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 How markets work – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 How the economy works – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 1 How markets work – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Question paper: Paper 2 How the economy works – November 2020

Question Paper

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 1 How markets work – November 2020

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Economics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 How the economy works – November 2020

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About AQA GCSE Economics

AQA GCSE Economics is assessed through two written exams — 'How markets work' and 'How the economy works' — each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 80 marks. There is no coursework or controlled assessment. Paper 1, 'How markets work', covers microeconomic concepts: scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost; the price mechanism; demand and supply (including how to draw, shift, and interpret demand and supply diagrams); price elasticity of demand; and the role of markets in allocating resources. It also covers market failure, including public goods, externalities, and the role of government in correcting markets through taxes and subsidies. Paper 2, 'How the economy works', covers macroeconomic concepts: national income and GDP; unemployment (types and causes); inflation (causes and consequences); economic growth; the balance of payments; government fiscal and monetary policy; and international trade, including the pros and cons of free trade vs protectionism. Both papers include data-response questions where students must interpret graphs, tables, and extract information to support their answers. Economic diagrams — particularly supply and demand diagrams and macroeconomic aggregate demand/aggregate supply diagrams — must be drawn accurately and labelled correctly. Questions requiring students to evaluate policy options are common at the higher mark bands, typically 8 or 9-mark questions where students must assess two sides of an argument and reach a justified conclusion.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1Calculator ✓

How Markets Work

⏱ 1 hour 45 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade

Scarcity, choice and opportunity costSupply and demandPrice elasticity of demandMarket failure and externalitiesGovernment intervention (taxes, subsidies)

Paper 2Calculator ✓

How the Economy Works

⏱ 1 hour 45 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade

National income and GDPTypes and causes of unemploymentInflation (demand-pull, cost-push)Fiscal and monetary policyInternational trade and comparative advantage

Key Information

Exam Board	AQA
Specification Code	4135
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	2 written exams (no coursework)
Number Of Papers	2
Exam Duration	1 hour 45 minutes per paper
Total Marks	160 (80 per paper)
Calculator Status	Calculators permitted on both papers
Available Sessions	June 2019 – June 2024
Total Resources	26

Key Topics in Economics

Topics you need to know

Supply and demand diagramsPrice elasticity of demandMarket failure and externalitiesGovernment intervention (taxes, subsidies)National income and GDPTypes and causes of unemploymentInflationFiscal and monetary policyInternational trade and comparative advantage

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Define	Give the precise economic meaning of a term
Calculate	Work out a numerical answer using the data provided
Draw	Sketch a labelled economic diagram with correct axes, curves and equilibrium point
Explain	Give economic reasons for a trend, policy or decision with a chain of reasoning
Analyse	Examine the causes or effects of an economic event using economic theory
Evaluate	Weigh up evidence on both sides and reach a justified conclusion
Assess	Consider the arguments for and against a policy and judge its overall effectiveness

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	75–85%
Grade 8	64–74%
Grade 7	53–63%
Grade 6	44–52%
Grade 5	35–43%
Grade 4	26–34%
Grade 3	17–25%
Grade 2	9–16%
Grade 1	1–8%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across two papers (160 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check AQA's website.

How to Use AQA GCSE Economics Past Papers Effectively

Economics past papers consistently reward students who can draw and interpret diagrams accurately. Supply and demand diagrams, price elasticity diagrams, and macroeconomic diagrams (AD/AS for those studying it) are tested every year. Practise drawing these diagrams from memory until the process is automatic — draw a complete diagram with labelled axes, correctly positioned curves, and a clear equilibrium point each time. For data interpretation questions, always refer to specific figures from the extract in your answer. Saying 'unemployment increased significantly' scores less than 'unemployment increased by 1.4 percentage points, from 4.1% to 5.5%'. The data is there to be used — examiners want to see that you can extract meaningful information from graphs and tables. For the higher-mark evaluation questions (typically 8–9 marks), the mark scheme generally requires you to discuss two or more factors or perspectives before reaching a justified conclusion. The most common structure is: point → explain → example or evidence → evaluate (consider counter-argument). Students who write a one-sided answer cannot reach the top level regardless of how good their single argument is. Review economic terminology carefully before each paper. Terms like 'price elasticity', 'externality', 'opportunity cost', 'fiscal policy', and 'comparative advantage' have specific technical meanings that the mark scheme requires you to use correctly. Make a glossary card for each key term and include an example.

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AQA GCSE Economics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

About AQA GCSE Economics

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Economics

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

How to Use AQA GCSE Economics Past Papers Effectively

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