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IB Economics
Welcome to IB Economics
The aims of the economics course at higher level and standard level are to:
- provide students with a core knowledge of economics
- encourage students to think critically about economics
- promote an awareness and understanding of internationalism in economics
- encourage students' development as independent learners
- enable students to distinguish between positive and normative economics
- enable students to recognize their own tendencies for bias.
The HL course in economics differs from the SL course in economics in terms of the:
- hours devoted to teaching (240 hours for HL compared to 150 hours for SL)
- extra depth and breadth required (HL extension topics)
- nature of the examination questions.
Syllabus details for students appearing for examination in and after 2013
Assessment Outline - SL
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT (3 hours) 80%
Paper 1 (1 hour and 30 minutes) 40%
An extended response paper (50 marks)
Assessment objectives 1, 2, 3, 4
Section A
Syllabus content: section 1—microeconomics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (25 marks)
Section B
Syllabus content: section 2—macroeconomics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (25 marks)
Paper 2 (1 hour and 30 minutes) 40%
A data response paper (40 marks)
Assessment objectives 1, 2, 3, 4
Section A
Syllabus content: section 3—international economics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (20 marks)
Section B
Syllabus content: section 4—development economics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (20 marks)
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (20 teaching hours) 20%
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.
Students produce a portfolio of three commentaries, based on different sections of the syllabus and on published extracts from the news media.
Maximum 750 words x 3 (45 marks)
Assessment Outline - HL
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT (4 hours) 80%
Paper 1 (1 hour and 30 minutes) 30%
An extended response paper (50 marks)
Assessment objectives 1, 2, 3, 4
Section A
Syllabus content: section 1—microeconomics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (25 marks)
Section B
Syllabus content: section 2—macroeconomics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (25 marks)
Paper 2 (1 hour and 30 minutes) 30%
A data response paper (40 marks)
Assessment objectives 1, 2, 3, 4
Section A
Syllabus content: section 3—international economics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (20 marks)
Section B
Syllabus content: section 4—development economics
Students answer one question from a choice of two. (20 marks)
Paper 3 (1 hour) 20%
HL extension paper (50 marks)
Assessment objectives 1, 2 and 4
Syllabus content, including HL extension material: sections 1 to 4—microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, development economics
Students answer two questions from a choice of three. (25 marks per question)
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (20 teaching hours) 20%
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.
Students produce a portfolio of three commentaries, based on different sections of the syllabus and on published extracts from the news media.
Maximum 750 words x 3 (45 marks)
Download a copy of the IB Economics Syllabus Download
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