Deciding on subject combination - all you need to know about A Level Economics

BY EUGENE TOH

While you are waiting for posting results or experiencing orientation - you can do some research to get a sense of the subjects you should take at A Levels.

What do we study in Economics?

In A Level Economics, we usually spend Year 1 studying Microeconomics & Year 2 studying Macroeconomics (there are a couple of schools who sequence it differently - but it’s a minority).

In Microeconomics, we learn about what causes prices & output to change, what affects the characteristics & behaviour of firms, why markets fail & how the government should respond in this instance!

In Macroeconomics, we learn about the behaviour of different economic agents, the impact of economic events, why countries trade & the effects of government macroeconomic policies.

During ETG Economics tuition classes - some of the topics we discussed in class include 

1. Comparing healthcare systems around the world (like Singapore vs UK vs US systems)

2. How chicken distributors in Singapore collude to set higher prices

3. Why measles, a disease that has been eradicated in many countries, is seeing a come back

4. Why the Grab/Uber merger in Singapore could be potentially bad for consumers

5. Is Singapore really the most expensive city in the world?

6. How did oil prices end up being negative during the pandemic and what are the impacts on the economy

7. What are the impacts of the potential upcoming GST hike from 7% to 9%

8. Why is Singapore so prudent in fiscal policy & how did we accumulate that big fat reserves

9. Why is Singapore doing so well in trade during the pandemic

Economics can be an interesting, applied subject - when taught by an experienced Economics tutor!

What to expect if you take A Level Economics as a subject?

You will need to learn how to write coherent essays (something we spend time teaching you in our classes), understand how to apply economics concepts you have learned to real world issues, and think critically and in an analytical manner.
For H2 Economics, 60% of the total score goes to 3 essays that you will write while 40% of the total score is split between 2 case studies. There are usually 2 higher order questions in the case studies taking a large % of the case studies which also require some essay-writing skills.

Economics as a contrasting subject

Economics is a subject that both Arts & Science students can take & excel in.

While Economics is a subject that is classified as an “Arts” subject - which means Science students can take Economics as a “contrasting subject”. Amongst all of the Arts subject  (History, Geography, Literature, Economics), A Level Economics is the one subject that everyone starts fresh, and there is no unique headstart or advantage that your peers have over you.

This is why Economics is a subject that Science students can take as a contrasting subject.

Arts students will likely find Economics a subject to be a good option amongst their H2 subjects because it’s a subject that is Essay-based.

Fun fact: At NUS, if you major in Economics and take a 3-year course, you graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (in Economics). If you major in Economics and take a 4-year course (Honours), you graduate with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (in Economics). NUS actually regards Economics as both an Arts subject and a Social Science subject.

Maximise your choices + have an easier time at university

A Level Economics is considered a baseline subject that universities do look at when considering students for admission for banking, finance, business & economics related majors. 

Here’s a overly simplified list for your consideration

1. Engineering courses - Take Physics

2. Science courses - Take any 2 Sciences

3. Arts courses - Take any 1 Arts subject

4. Finance/Banking/Business/Economics - Take Economics & Math

Chances of scoring an A at the A Levels

Unlike other subjects, Economics is a subject that most students start off at the same level - 

0 knowledge / understanding. 

For most other subjects - your foundational understanding of the subject in O levels has an impact on your ability to do well at the A Levels.

This is true for both Arts & Science subjects

E.g. if you struggled with A Math at the O levels, you would struggle more with Mathematics as a subject at the A Levels since A Level Math builds on the foundation you have done at the O Levels.

This is the same even for Arts subjects such as Geography, History & Literature - where you would have built an understanding of certain topics & skills which you develop further at the A Levels.

Even for General Paper - your command of language is influenced by what you have done for English in secondary school.

Economics is that ONE subject where you get to start fresh - where your peers have no headstart or advantage over you.

In the top 2-3 JCs in Singapore, distinction rates for A Level Economics is around 50-65% (differs year to year). The ETG A Level Economics tuition programme is taught by top JC Economics tutor Mr Eugene Toh, and has an average distinction rate of 65% since 2007. Maximise your chances of doing well at the A Levels by taking up Econs tuition classes with us today! You can also attend a trial lesson to try out our classes.