How do governments intervene to remedy market failure? What models can we use to predict the impact of different policy decisions? Economics A level explores big ideas, using an analytical, methodical approach.

Through our A level Economics online course, you’ll study core aspects of this dynamic subject, including supply and price, markets, government policies and international economics.

Our Economics A level course is ideal if you:

• Are keen to study economics at degree level.
• Would like to make informed decisions about personal finances and investments.
• Want to understand how economics impacts issues such as poverty, inequality and health.  
• Aim to pursue a career in business, finance or politics.
• Would like to build your skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis to enhance your employability.

Future opportunities

• Studying an economics course at university.
• A range of rewarding careers in fields such as business, banking, finance, insurance, politics, law and data science.

Section 1: Introduction to economics

• The nature of economics
• Production and specialisation
• Demand

Section 2: Supply and price

• Supply
• Price determination
• Price mechanism

Section 3: Market failure and government intervention

• Market failure
• Government intervention
• Government failure

Section 4: The UK economy – performance measures

• Measuring economic performance
• Aggregate demand
• Aggregate supply

Section 5: The UK economy – income, growth and policies

• National income
• Economic growth
• Macroeconomic objectives and policies

Section 6: Business behaviour

• Business objectives
• Firms and growth
• Revenue
• Costs
• Profit

Section 7: Markets

• Productive and allocative efficiency
• Barriers and market concentration
• Perfect competition and monopoly
• Monopolistic competition and oligopoly
• The threat of competition

Section 8: Government intervention in markets

• Labour demand and supply
• Influences on the labour market
• Government intervention

Section 9: International economics

• Globalisation
• Why trade?
• Balance of payments and the exchange rate
• International competitiveness
• Inequality and poverty

Section 10: Macroeconomic strategies and policies

• International growth and development
• Strategies to promote growth and development
• The financial sector
• The role of the state in the macroeconomy
• Macroeconomic policies in a global context

Study A level Economics with us and benefit from:

• Flexible learning
• Support from a personal tutor by email, phone or Skype
• Any time enrolment
• Our exam booking service
• Assignments with tutor feedback
• Ongoing support from Student Support
• Forums to discuss your course with other students

learn@nec

Choose when and where you access your course, using learn@nec our 24/7 learning platform.

This easy-to-use learning platform includes interactive checkpoints, quizzes and activities to help you evaluate your progress.

Our course tutors

You’ll have access to support from a personal tutor. All NEC tutors are subject experts, with experience of supporting online learners.

Meet Amy who is just one of our first-class economics tutors:

“I have been teaching for over ten years and am privileged to say that I have loved every day of my job. Within my teaching I build students security in their own ability, giving them a platform of confidence to make the crucial independent steps towards the very highest grades. I have a first class BA Hons in Economics and a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics. I have tutored students 1:1 both face-to-face and online for many years with great success and always receive positive feedback. I also do a lot of work with exam boards. I have recently moved to Surrey with my children.”

Exam board

• Edexcel 9EC0 (A)

Format

• Online learning with support from a personal tutor

Hours

• Complete at your own pace
• Approx. 250-300* hours plus time for completing assignments

*The specification suggests that 300 hours is needed. You’ll also need time to complete assignments and prepare yourself for exams and some courses like English literature involve a lot of reading. Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say with certainty how long a course will take you, but you should expect to spend longer than 300 hours. Taken across the length of time we recommend, this equates to approximately 5 hours per week. This will increase if you choose to take it over a shorter time frame or may be less if you are retaking a subject and have covered a lot of of the course content.

Assessment

Exams (three):

• 35% of marks  (2 hours)
• 35% of marks  (2 hours)
• 30% of marks  (2 hours)

There is no non-exam assessment (NEA) for this course

Assignments

• 11 assignments (one introductory) – these do not contribute towards your final grade

Resources

Set textbooks – included as a free ebook with your course:

• Edexcel A level Economics A Book 1, P Smith, Hodder Education, 2015
• Edexcel A level Economics A Book 2, P Smith, Hodder Education, 2015

Requirements

• Maths Skills for A level Economics, J Lawrence, Oxford University Press, 2014
• Internet access
• Computer operating system and browser to support learn@nec

Our course fees are clear and transparent to help you plan for any additional costs.

Your course fee includes:

• 24/7 access to learn@nec platform and resources
• Expertly designed online course materials (including ebook versions of textbooks where specified) that you need to complete the course
• Support from our Student Services team
• Structured assignments carefully designed to prepare you for exams
• Guidance from your tutor for up to 24 months from your date of enrolment
• Extensive feedback to all assignments that will support your learning
• NEA (coursework) marking and authentication
• Marking for one examination paper (from a previous year)
• Guaranteed exam place
• NEC’s guide to study skills: How to Succeed as an Independent Learner
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar guide
• Time planner template to help you plan your study timetable
• Information on how to apply for exams

Your course fee does not cover:

• Any fees in relation to exam entries or assessments
• Centre Assessment Grades (CAG) in the event of exam cancellation
• Recommended textbooks for additional reading or set texts
• Equipment for core practicals

If you need more support, you can purchase:

• Online tutorials – if you need help with a specific topic you can arrange a 30 minute or 1 hour tutorial
• Additional past paper marking – to help with your exam preparation
• Revision tutorial –  to plan your revision and explore revision techniques
• Help with your UCAS application service

For further information on additional/optional support you can purchase, please visit our additional services page.

Exams (three):

• 35% of marks  (2 hours)
• 35% of marks  (2 hours)
• 30% of marks  (2 hours)

There is no non-exam assessment (NEA) for this course

We know that our younger students often need an extra helping hand with their studies. In our experience learning online works best when either a parent or guardian are involved. This is why NEC has developed our unique Progress Tracker to help you to support your child.

NEC’s Progress Tracker will allow you to easily track your child’s progress across their subjects and gain insight to how well they are doing through access to their assignment grades and tutor feedback.  

Read more about how we work with young students who are studying at home or through a school.

Would you like to talk to our Course Advice Team about the best route for you? Visit our Contact Us page, fill in the form and a member of the team will get back to you!