How to Get an A* in A Level Economics

Getting an A* in A Level Economics is hard - and it is meant to be. Only a small proportion - 7.5% of students achieved the very top grade in 2025. From my experience as a teacher, examiner, and tutor for over 20 years, the difference between an A and an A* is rarely intelligence. It is about exam technique, evaluation, and structure.

This article shows you exactly how to think and write like an A* student. You will get practical strategies, examiner-style insights, and clear next steps you can use straight away.

Key Takeaways

• Evaluation is everything

  • Top answers constantly weigh up arguments and make justified judgements.

• Structure matters as much as knowledge

  • Clear, logical answers score higher than messy ones with more content.

• Chains of reasoning win marks

  • Examiners reward developed explanations, not short points.

• Real-world examples unlock the top level

  • Context turns good analysis into A* evaluation.

What Does an A* Answer Look Like?

An A* answer is not perfect -  but it is controlled, balanced and focused on the question.

Examiners are looking for answers that:

• Stay tightly focused on the wording of the question

• Develop clear chains of reasoning (cause → effect → consequence)

• Apply theory to real-world or data-based contexts

• Evaluate throughout, not just at the end

• Reach a clear, supported judgement

In short, an A* answer explains, analyses and evaluates - repeatedly.

As an examiner, I could spot an A* script very quickly. It sounded confident, calm, and purposeful. Nothing felt rushed or random.

Understand the Assessment Objectives (AOs)

To get an A*, you must understand how marks are awarded.

AO1: Knowledge and Understanding

This is about accurate economic theory, definitions, and models.

• Use correct terms

• Show you understand key concepts

• Avoid vague or incorrect explanations

AO1 alone will not get you an A*.

AO2: Application

This is where you apply theory to:

• The question

• The data

• A real-world example

Strong application means making theory relevant, not just naming examples.

AO3: Analysis

This is where many students fall short.

AO3 means:

• Explaining how and why something happens

• Developing logical chains of reasoning

• Using diagrams effectively

Every paragraph should contain AO3.

AO4: Evaluation

This is the biggest difference-maker.

AO4 rewards:

• Weighing up alternatives

• Considering short vs long run

• Recognising limitations

• Making justified judgements

AO3 and AO4 together are what push answers into A* territory.

Planning Your Answers Like an A* Student

Top students plan before they write. This is not optional at A* level.

From my experience as an examiner, one of the clearest signs of a top-grade script was control. Even under pressure, the answer stayed focused, balanced, and purposeful. Almost always, that came from a short but effective plan.

I have also seen very knowledgeable students miss out on an A* because they rushed straight into writing and drifted off the question.

Planning is what stops that happening.

Planning a 15-mark Question (2–3 minutes)

For a 15-mark question, you are not writing an essay. You are building two strong, developed points, each with some evaluation.

Use this simple structure:

• Identify the key issue

  • What exactly is the question asking? Is it about efficiency, inflation, incentives, market failure, or policy effectiveness?

As an examiner, I rewarded answers that clearly understood the focus of the question from the first sentence.

• Choose two main analytical points

  • These should be your strongest explanations - not everything you know.

  • For example, you could give

    • One demand-side effect

    • One supply-side effect

• Add one evaluation idea for each point

  • Ask yourself:

    • Does this work in the short run or long run?

    • Does it depend on elasticity, size of the multiplier, or market structure?

Planning a 25-mark Question (4–5 minutes)

A 25-mark question is where A* answers really separate themselves.

The biggest mistake I saw as an examiner was students writing long answers with no clear direction. High-scoring scripts always had a plan and a judgement.

Use this framework:

• Judgement first – what is your overall view?

  • You do not need a perfect answer yet. Just decide:

    • Is the policy mostly effective or limited?

    • Is the impact likely to be significant or modest?

  • This gives your answer a clear line of argument.

• Point 1 – analysis + evaluation

  • Your strongest argument in favour of your judgement.

  • Develop the chain of reasoning fully, then evaluate it using context.

• Point 2 – analysis + evaluation

  • A second, different line of argument.

  • Examiners reward range and depth, not repetition.

• Counter-argument – challenge your own view

  • This is where many A* answers stand out.

  • Show that you understand the limitations or alternative perspectives.

• Final judgement – refined and justified

• Come back to the question and adjust your judgement if needed.

• Strong conclusions are:

  • Clear

  • Contextual

  • Based on the analysis you have written

I always tell my tutees: if your conclusion could be copied into another question, it’s not strong enough.

How to Revise for an A* in A Level Economics

Revision for an A* is about depth, not volume.

Prioritise Essay-Based Topics and Themes

Focus your revision on topics that regularly appear in 20–25 mark questions and offer real scope for judgement, such as:

• Market failure and government intervention

  • These questions are ideal for evaluation because policies rarely work perfectly.

  • You can weigh up effectiveness, unintended consequences, and government failure.

• Market structures and efficiency

  • This area rewards strong analysis of allocative, productive, and dynamic efficiency - and clear comparisons between different market structures.

• Macroeconomic objectives and policy conflicts

  • Examiners love questions where objectives clash, such as inflation vs unemployment.

  • These naturally invite balanced arguments and nuanced conclusions.

• Economic growth, inequality, and development

• These topics allow you to combine theory with real-world context, making them perfect for high-level evaluation.

These are not topics you revise by memorising notes. They require you to practise explaining, analysing, and judging — exactly the skills that separate an A from an A*.

Use the Specification to Build Synoptic Links

A* answers rarely treat topics in isolation. They link ideas together across the course, showing you understand how the economy works as a whole.

For example:

• Labour market reforms → productivity → long-run growth

  • A micro-level policy can raise labour efficiency, which then feeds into higher potential output in the macroeconomy.

• Monopoly power → efficiency → income distribution

  • Market structure affects prices, output, and profits, which in turn shapes who gains and who loses in the economy.

• Inflation control → unemployment trade-offs

  • Macroeconomic policy decisions often involve difficult choices, especially in the short run.

From my experience as an examiner, these synoptic (cross-topic) links signal higher-level thinking. They show you are not just learning topics - you are thinking like an economist, which is exactly what A* answers do!

Review Past Papers and Exemplar Scripts

Do not just practise questions - study the mark schemes and examiner commentary.

When you read a top-mark answer, ask yourself:

• Why did this answer score full marks?

  • What does it do that weaker answers do not?

• Where is the evaluation?

  • Is it built into each paragraph, or only at the end?

• How are diagrams used?

  • Are they integrated into the explanation, or just added for show?

From my experience as an examiner, this kind of active analysis is one of the fastest ways to improve. It trains you to think in marks, not just in content - which is exactly how A* students approach the exam

Save My Exams provides a full selection past exam papers and markschemes for AQA and Edexcel 

Create Case Study Banks

Top students build a small, flexible bank of real-world examples they can use in different questions, such as:

• UK inflation trends

  • Useful for evaluating monetary policy, cost-push pressures, and policy trade-offs.

• Minimum wage changes

  • Ideal for labour markets, government intervention, and unintended consequences.

• Energy markets

  • Strong for market failure, externalities, regulation, and long-run supply-side issues.

• Competition policy cases

  • Excellent for analysing monopoly power, efficiency, and consumer welfare.

You do not need lots of examples. From my experience as a teacher and examiner, students who scored A* knew a few examples really well and applied them precisely. That is far more effective than dropping in vague or half-remembered facts.

Perfecting Evaluation

Evaluation is not about adding the word “however” once at the end of an answer. That is not evaluation, it is hesitation.

Strong evaluation is woven throughout your response and includes:

• Comparing different policies or outcomes

  • For example, weighing demand-side against supply-side approaches, or regulation against taxation.

• Considering short-run vs long-run effects

  • Many policies work differently over time, and examiners reward students who recognise this.

• Recognising winners and losers

  • High-level answers identify who benefits, who loses, and why that matters.

• Acknowledging uncertainty or assumptions

  • This shows you understand the limits of economic models and real-world policy-making.

How to Write Strong Judgements

A strong judgement:

• Answers the question directly

  • No vague summaries - you should take a clear position.

• Is supported by your analysis

  • Your conclusion should grow naturally from what you have written.

• Is contextual, not generic

  • Refer back to the specific market, policy, or economy in the question.

From my experience as an examiner, weak conclusions often say “it depends” and stop there. Strong A* answers explain what it depends on, and why that matters.

Structuring High-Level Answers

Clear structure makes it easier for examiners to award marks. If we can see your thinking clearly, we can reward it quickly.

You should use:

• Clear, focused paragraphs

  • Each paragraph should develop one main idea — not several half-ideas at once.

• Topic sentences that answer the question

  • Start each paragraph by directly linking to the wording of the question. This shows intent and control.

• Diagrams only when they add value

  • A diagram should support your analysis, not replace it. Always explain what it shows.

• Frequent references back to the question

  • This reassures the examiner that your answer is staying on track.

As an examiner, when I could follow a student’s argument easily, it was usually because the structure was strong - and strong structure is a clear sign of an A*-level response.

Exam Technique Tips to Secure the Top Grade

• Stick to time limits strictly

  • As an examiner, I saw many strong answers cut short because too much time was spent earlier on the paper. Discipline matters.

• Do not over-explain basic theory

  • You are not rewarded for lengthy definitions. Use theory to support analysis, then move on.

• Check every paragraph includes analysis or evaluation

  • If a paragraph only describes, it is not earning top-level marks.

• Save time for a strong conclusion

  • A clear, well-judged conclusion can lift an answer into the top band.

• Stay calm - rushed answers lose marks

  • Clear thinking leads to clear writing. Control your pace, and your marks will follow.

From years of marking exam scripts, I can say this confidently: students who manage their time and stay composed almost always score higher than equally able students who panic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How important is evaluation in A Level Economics?

Extremely important. Evaluation is what separates top-band answers from the rest. From my experience as an examiner, without consistent, well-developed evaluation, an A* is very unlikely - no matter how good the knowledge is.

Can I get an A* without a tutor?

Yes, many students do. However, you must be very deliberate in how you practise. That means focusing on exam technique, evaluation, and feedback, not just revising content or doing questions without reflection.

What topics should I focus on for 25-mark questions?

Questions on market failure, government intervention, macroeconomic objectives, and efficiency appear frequently and offer the best opportunities for evaluation and judgement -  which is exactly what 25-mark questions reward.

How do I improve my essay writing speed?

Speed comes from clarity, not rushing. Plan quickly, practise under timed conditions, and use clear, repeatable structures. When you know what each paragraph needs to do, writing becomes much faster and more controlled.

Final Thoughts

An A* in A Level Economics is not about being a genius or memorising more than everyone else. It is about thinking like an economist and writing in a way examiners can reward.

With the right strategy, clear structure, and consistent practice, the top grade is absolutely achievable. Focus on evaluation, stay tightly exam-focused, and trust the process. I have seen many students make this leap - and there is no reason you cannot be one of them.