IB Economics Higher Level exams consist of 3 Papers (P1 – 30%; P2 – 30%; P3- 20%)
IB Economics Standard Level exams consist of 2 Papers (P1 – 40%; P2 – 40%).
20% of your IB Economics SL and HL course grade depends on your Economics Internal Assessment.
Paper 1 – Essay paper
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes + 5 minutes reading time during which you are not allowed to highlight the text/questions, make notes or start any of the answers
Structure of paper 1:
- Section A, where you choose 1 question out of 2, which covers Microeconomics part of the syllabus.
- Section B, where you choose 1 question out of 2, which covers Macroeconomics part of the syllabus.
- Each question in both A and B sections consists of two (a) and (b) parts, which are compulsory. Part (a) will usually be an “explain” type of question. Part (b) will mostly be a “discussion” or “evaluation” type of question.
Weight:
1 question = 25 marks, of which:
- 10 marks for part (a)
- 15 marks for part (b)
In total, Paper 1 = 50 marks.
Paper 2 – Data response
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes + 5 minutes reading time during which you are not allowed to highlight the text/questions, make notes or start any of the answers
Structure of paper 2:
- Section A, where you choose 1 question out of 2, which covers International Economics part of the IB Economics syllabus.
- Section B, where you choose 1 question out of 2, which covers Development Economics part of the IB Economics syllabus.
- Each question in both A and B sections consists of four – (a), (b), (c), (d) parts, which are compulsory. Part (a) will usually ask to define 2 economic terms. Parts (b) and (c) will be “explain” type of questions. Part (d) will mostly be “evaluate” or “discuss” type of question.
Weight:
1 question = 20 marks, of which:
- 4 marks for part (a) [2 marks for each definition]
- 4 marks for part (b)
- 4 marks for part (c)
- 8 marks for part (d)
In total, Paper 2 = 40 marks.
Paper 3 – Maths paper (HL only)
Duration: 1 hour + 5 minutes reading time during which you are not allowed to highlight the text/questions, make notes or start any of the answers
Structure of paper 3:
- You choose 2 questions out of 3, which cover all of the IB Economics HL parts of the syllabus: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics and Development Economics.
Weight:
1 question = 25 marks.
In total, Paper 3 = 50 marks.
