March 2025

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AQA Economics: updates and guidance for teachers

Welcome to our spring 2025 newsletter. We hope the new half term has started well for everyone.

In the autumn update we said that we’d share more details about our response to the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, and the call for evidence that followed in September. On 22 November we submitted our response to the review.

Our recommendations include suggestions on how to:

rebalance the amount of content and end-point exams for certain subjects at GCSE and A-level
improve numeracy, literacy and digital fluency skills (for which AQA is developing new learning and testing platforms)
be cautious about introducing coursework in its previous form – many teachers do not want it. Instead, there are digital tools that could help
deal with the logistical challenges of access arrangements
keep resits available for those students who want them, but provide alternatives alongside
reduce specialisation for A-level students, and offer a broader range of options
reform vocational qualifications so that they are better understood and more flexible
improve diversity in the curriculum.

You can read more about some of the key points and our full response on our website

There’s lots going on this term so you might find the quick links below helpful in finding what you need.

Have a great rest of the spring term!

Best wishes

Rebecca Crumpton
Subject Lead for Accounting, Business and Economics

In this update

New and updated teaching resources
Free CPD spring term 2025
Introducing our Economics Subject Advocate
Our community links
Apply to become an AQA examiner
Exampro
Finding centre services on our website
Using AQA resources for AI tools
Contact us

New and updated resources

Whether it’s schemes of work, community links or teaching guides, we’ve got what you need, many of which have been updated or are new.

To access the resources, visit the plan, teach and assess tabs on our Economics web pages. More resources are available on our Centre Services secure web page.

Last year we launched your new AQA website and thousands of teachers are already taking advantage of a better way to work with us.

If you haven't already got a myAQA account, it's easy to get one. myAQA is already linked with your Centre Services account so just fill in your profile next time you visit our website.

Coming soon

GCSE Economics

Later this term we’ll be launching an updated Scheme of Work, new Answers and Commentaries and a new Mark Scheme Guidance and Application eLearning module.

A-level Economics

We’ll be launching an updated Scheme of Work and new Getting Started and Mark Scheme Guidance and Application eLearning modules.

Free CPD courses and events – spring 2025

For spring 2025, we’ve developed a range of professional development training courses and events to help you improve your knowledge and classroom confidence, so you can get the very best out of your learners and help them reach their potential.

Curriculum Connects

Join a Curriculum Connect session in the spring term alongside our Economics subject experts and fellow teachers, and discover the latest news, resources and support available to you.

We'll focus on translating the questions in the assessments and finding hooks in the context for GCSE Economics on 20 March 2025 and A-level Economics on 3 April 2025. You can book your place now on our website.

Curriculum Connect: Ofqual regulations and why we do (most) things the way we do – 12 March 2025

Join this session to increase your understanding of how Ofqual’s rules are translated into the experiences you have when engaging with AQA, including specification development and accreditation, assessment development, marking, post-results services and more. John Croker, our AQA Director of Oversight, Risk and Compliance, will explain the strict protocols and processes around our ways of working. By joining us you’ll increase your knowledge and understanding of the development, delivery and award of qualifications. Book your place now on our website.

What else is available?

You can find a full list of free events and courses on our professional development pages, or take a look at our spring 2025 training and events guide.

Introducing our Economics Subject Advocate – Tim Punter

Tim is a practising teacher with over 20 years’ experience of teaching Economics, as well as being an examiner for over 15 years. He is currently a Head of Department and has worked in a few schools in the East London and Essex area. Before teaching, Tim spent 15 years working for HSBC/Midland Bank, in a variety of roles, including the Economics department at HSBC Investment Banking.

In his role as Subject Advocate, Tim will work alongside our Subject Support team to support AQA teachers. Join Tim and our Subject Support Lead at our upcoming Curriculum Connects where Tim will share his advice for translating the questions in the assessments and finding hooks in the context. You can also connect with Tim on LinkedIn.

Our community links

Discover Economics – How Did I Get Here? New podcast series out now!

This podcast series comprises of interviews with people working in a variety of economics or economics-adjacent roles, from students and apprentices all the way up to established professionals. It's a great way for young people to get an insight into the industry, or for those curious just to find out more about our amazingly dynamic field.

FCDO Next Generation Economist 2025 competition

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is inviting UK school students to write about the biggest economic challenges facing their generation and would like to hear their ideas. The competition is open until 11 May 2025. Find out more here.

Take 5 with Peter Cramp from Economics Today

Economics Today is a popular resource for many teachers of Economics. Our Subject Advocate Tim recently spoke with Peter to get his thoughts and tips on teaching Economics.

1. In your opinion, what is the most important exam skill that students need to master and often do not?

Application of real-world examples, including application of the data supplied in extracts for context questions, and using real world examples to support evaluation.

2. What do you consider to be a tricky topic in A-level Economics and what tips do you have for teachers to support their teaching?

The short and long run Phillips Curve.

Tips:

the short run Phillips curve shows what happens as AD changes – it's essentially a reflection of the Keynesian AS curve
cost increases result in combinations to the north east of the short run Phillips Curve
each short run Phillips Curve is based on a different expected rate of inflation
the long run Phillips Curve is vertical at the natural rate of unemployment which is also the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment
at the intersection of any short run Phillips Curve with the long run curve, actual inflation equals expected inflation, and inflation will be stable at this rate unless there are demand or supply side shocks.

3. What is your favourite economic model/theory and why?

Although not in the AQA specifications, the Coase Theorem, showing that if property rights are clearly defined the market can resolve externalities. The idea that all that is needed is the allocation of property rights over environmental resources is wonderfully simple, even though fraught with difficulties in practice.

4. What is your least favourite economic model/theory and why?

Trickle-down theory – an idea that has gained traction with very little supporting evidence and (normatively) has been used to highly unfair distributions of income.

5. What new or older Economics book would you recommend as a must-read?

The Economic Naturalist by Robert H Frank – great for getting students to think about the wider application of economic theories and concepts. I also like The Logic of Life by Tim Harford, read alongside Nudge by Thaler and Sunstein, for contrasting traditional and behavioural economic approaches.

Economics Today is a great resource to help students with application. Also our range of texts at www.economicsfactory.com

The March issue of ET is an exam special which features an 8-page UK Economy update by Andrew Threadgould. This issue is available as a stand-alone purchase of single copies or class sets.

Apply to become an AQA examiner

Flexible marking and increased fees for GCSE and A-level Economics examiners

If you’ve not already applied to examine, there’s still time to join us as an examiner for summer 2025!

We’ve increased script fees again this year – plus Economics examiners can now benefit from our new browser-based marking solution (AVD), offering greater flexibility to mark in school (with your school/college approval) and use Macs, Chromebooks, as well as Windows PCs – no software download is needed.

Examining boosts your income, is excellent CPD, and great for your professional profile, with a digital badge to showcase your credentials on your LinkedIn profile, email sign-off, CV and internal use in your current school.

If you’re a returning examiner and would like to use the AVD system, please email ar@aqa.org.uk, and we’ll get you set up. If you're new to examining, you can apply now at www.aqa.org.uk/apply. Once you’ve applied, we’ll follow up to check if you’re interested in using the AVD system. Mac and Chromebook users are welcome to apply. If you have any further questions, contact examine@aqa.org.uk.

Exampro for A-level Economics

Save prep time with Exampro Economics!

Our Exampro package for A-level Economics contains over 2,500 searchable AQA A-level Economics questions, mark schemes and examiner comments. Save time creating shareable documents for all types of assessments including class activities, homework tasks and topic tests.

An onscreen-enabled add-on with over 1,100 automarked MCQs is also available. Visit our Exampro website to find out more and sign up for a demo.

Finding Centre Services on our website

If you're trying to log into Centre Services from our website, make sure you click 'Centre Services' in the banner at the top of the page:

Clicking on 'Log in' in the banner will only allow you to log into myAQA.

Using AQA resources for AI tools

AQA does not allow anybody (including schools and colleges) to use any AQA materials to train Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered tools or technologies. This includes question papers, specifications, mark schemes, reports, teaching resources and other such materials. While we understand how useful these tools are, putting any AQA material into an AI tool would be in breach of copyright law, and AQA policy.

Contact us

We’re always happy to answer any questions you have about our Economics qualifications, so please get in touch and we’ll help in any way we can. Please contact our customer support team economics@aqa.org.uk or call 01483 477 863.

If another teacher in your school or college would like to receive these updates but doesn’t already, they can sign up for subject updates on our website.

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