Examiners’ Report
Principal Examiner Feedback
October 2020
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level
In Economics A (9EC0)
Paper 3: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding
body. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational,
occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our
qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can
get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at
www.edexcel.com/contactus.
Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere
Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone
progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all
kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for
over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built
an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and raising
achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can help
you and your students at: www.pearson.com/uk
October 2020
Publications Code 9EC0_03_2010_ER
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2020
,Examiner’s report 9EC0 03 October 2020
9EC0 03 was seen by many to be an interesting and informative exam paper, which
tested a wide range of concepts, including some areas which had not been
examined before and some 'old favourites' in a new context.
The paper was to be fairly accessible and most questions were answered with
cogent economics and helpful diagrams. The data was readily usable, and the best
answers made use of it rigorously. The area causing the most concern was 1a on
managed exchange rates, which has not been directly tested until this paper.
There was a tendency of candidates to write far too much for the 5- and 8-mark
questions, running out of time at the end. Candidates should be reminded that full
marks can be earned in a fraction of the space available, and there is an especially
large amount of space given when diagrams or calculations are required, to allow
for crossings out.
Section A - Turkey
1(a) With this question there was a major problem with confusing interest rate
policy as exchange rate policy. Some gave purely descriptive answers, and some
entirely domestic rather than external. There was some confusion about savings
and increased saving as an increase in demand for currency.
A typical mistake was to say that the central bank buys lira and this reduces the
supply:
, This scores (2) marks for the reference to buying of lira (1) to raise the price (1).
The above scores (1) mark for the sense of buying and selling currency. The rest is
based on domestic monetary policy.
Principal Examiner Feedback
October 2020
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level
In Economics A (9EC0)
Paper 3: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding
body. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational,
occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our
qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can
get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at
www.edexcel.com/contactus.
Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere
Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone
progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all
kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for
over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built
an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and raising
achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can help
you and your students at: www.pearson.com/uk
October 2020
Publications Code 9EC0_03_2010_ER
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2020
,Examiner’s report 9EC0 03 October 2020
9EC0 03 was seen by many to be an interesting and informative exam paper, which
tested a wide range of concepts, including some areas which had not been
examined before and some 'old favourites' in a new context.
The paper was to be fairly accessible and most questions were answered with
cogent economics and helpful diagrams. The data was readily usable, and the best
answers made use of it rigorously. The area causing the most concern was 1a on
managed exchange rates, which has not been directly tested until this paper.
There was a tendency of candidates to write far too much for the 5- and 8-mark
questions, running out of time at the end. Candidates should be reminded that full
marks can be earned in a fraction of the space available, and there is an especially
large amount of space given when diagrams or calculations are required, to allow
for crossings out.
Section A - Turkey
1(a) With this question there was a major problem with confusing interest rate
policy as exchange rate policy. Some gave purely descriptive answers, and some
entirely domestic rather than external. There was some confusion about savings
and increased saving as an increase in demand for currency.
A typical mistake was to say that the central bank buys lira and this reduces the
supply:
, This scores (2) marks for the reference to buying of lira (1) to raise the price (1).
The above scores (1) mark for the sense of buying and selling currency. The rest is
based on domestic monetary policy.
