Examiners’ Report
June 2018
GCE Economics B 9EB0 02
, Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications come from 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.
Giving you insight to inform next steps
ResultsPlus is Pearson’s free online service giving instant and detailed analysis of your students’
exam results.
See students’ scores for every exam question.
Understand how your students’ performance compares with class and national averages.
Identify potential topics, skills and types of question where students may need to develop their
learning further.
For more information on ResultsPlus, or to log in, visit www.edexcel.com/resultsplus.
Your exams officer will be able to set up your ResultsPlus account in minutes via Edexcel Online.
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.
June 2018
Publications Code 9EB0_02_1806_ER
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2018
2 GCE Economics B 9EB0 02
,Introduction
This was the second sitting of the Economics B 9EB0 02 Advanced Paper 2: Competing in the global
economy. The paper is split into three sections. Section A consists of three data extracts and then
eight questions based upon these extracts. Section B consists of one data extract and one 20 mark
essay question. Section C consists of two data extracts and one 20 mark question. Candidates have
to answer all questions in the two hour time period.
As in 2017, there was a wide variation in performance on the paper, both within the Sections and
across the paper as a whole. There were clearly many candidates who had thoroughly prepared for
the examination by completing the sample assessment materials and engaging with the specific
conceptual and theoretical demands of the specification. There were also those candidates who
appeared to rely far more on their everyday knowledge and personal opinions to answer questions
that, in fact, demanded a good grasp of concepts and theories from within Economics and Business
Studies. This resulted in many unsupported assertions which were not credited.
A specific concern arising from this session was the number of candidates who do not seem to
understand the levels of response marking on the 8, 12, and 20 mark items. There were many
examples of candidates writing brief notes on the levels of response questions, indicating how
many knowledge, application, analysis and evaluation marks they expected to be awarded. It is
important that candidates understand both the command words and how the questions will be
assessed. This will help them to structure their responses appropriately.
GCE Economics B 9EB0 02 3
, Question 1 (a)
The paper begins with a calculation of income elasticity of demand (YED), using the data taken from
the stem of the question. It is worth remembering that 20% of the marks for the paper derive from
quantitative skills. For a description of these please refer to the 9EB0 specification. Although the
question involved the calculation of a percentage change and then a simple division, producing a
YED coefficient to 1 decimal place, there were many basic errors. The most common error was to
get the formula incorrect, dividing change in income by change in quantity. This is basic knowledge
that should be known at this level. Another common error was to express the coefficient of YED as
a percentage.
Here we have an accurate and efficient response to the item.
The correct answer is also given to 1 decimal place
and therefore 4 marks are awarded. The correct
formula and calculations are also shown.
Read the question carefully. In this case YED
coefficient was requested and no other comment
was required. If it is useful, highlight the key words
in the question, such as 1 decimal place. It is easy
to miss a crucial word or phrase in the pressure of
an examination.
4 GCE Economics B 9EB0 02
June 2018
GCE Economics B 9EB0 02
, Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications come from 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.
Giving you insight to inform next steps
ResultsPlus is Pearson’s free online service giving instant and detailed analysis of your students’
exam results.
See students’ scores for every exam question.
Understand how your students’ performance compares with class and national averages.
Identify potential topics, skills and types of question where students may need to develop their
learning further.
For more information on ResultsPlus, or to log in, visit www.edexcel.com/resultsplus.
Your exams officer will be able to set up your ResultsPlus account in minutes via Edexcel Online.
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.
June 2018
Publications Code 9EB0_02_1806_ER
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2018
2 GCE Economics B 9EB0 02
,Introduction
This was the second sitting of the Economics B 9EB0 02 Advanced Paper 2: Competing in the global
economy. The paper is split into three sections. Section A consists of three data extracts and then
eight questions based upon these extracts. Section B consists of one data extract and one 20 mark
essay question. Section C consists of two data extracts and one 20 mark question. Candidates have
to answer all questions in the two hour time period.
As in 2017, there was a wide variation in performance on the paper, both within the Sections and
across the paper as a whole. There were clearly many candidates who had thoroughly prepared for
the examination by completing the sample assessment materials and engaging with the specific
conceptual and theoretical demands of the specification. There were also those candidates who
appeared to rely far more on their everyday knowledge and personal opinions to answer questions
that, in fact, demanded a good grasp of concepts and theories from within Economics and Business
Studies. This resulted in many unsupported assertions which were not credited.
A specific concern arising from this session was the number of candidates who do not seem to
understand the levels of response marking on the 8, 12, and 20 mark items. There were many
examples of candidates writing brief notes on the levels of response questions, indicating how
many knowledge, application, analysis and evaluation marks they expected to be awarded. It is
important that candidates understand both the command words and how the questions will be
assessed. This will help them to structure their responses appropriately.
GCE Economics B 9EB0 02 3
, Question 1 (a)
The paper begins with a calculation of income elasticity of demand (YED), using the data taken from
the stem of the question. It is worth remembering that 20% of the marks for the paper derive from
quantitative skills. For a description of these please refer to the 9EB0 specification. Although the
question involved the calculation of a percentage change and then a simple division, producing a
YED coefficient to 1 decimal place, there were many basic errors. The most common error was to
get the formula incorrect, dividing change in income by change in quantity. This is basic knowledge
that should be known at this level. Another common error was to express the coefficient of YED as
a percentage.
Here we have an accurate and efficient response to the item.
The correct answer is also given to 1 decimal place
and therefore 4 marks are awarded. The correct
formula and calculations are also shown.
Read the question carefully. In this case YED
coefficient was requested and no other comment
was required. If it is useful, highlight the key words
in the question, such as 1 decimal place. It is easy
to miss a crucial word or phrase in the pressure of
an examination.
4 GCE Economics B 9EB0 02
