为了让大家对A-level经济有更的了解,本篇文章将从三个方面介绍CIE A-level A2部分:
1.A-level经济简介+A*学子备考tips
2.Essays话题解读
1/A-level经济简介+大纲
A-level分为两个部分(AS和A2),虽然难度系数相差很大,但是两个部分占比是一样的(较终=AS+A2,无加权)所以说,如果各位考生在AS阶段可以拿到90/100+的,在A2中会很多。
上图是分布图,A-level指AS+A2。
在AS中(Paper1和Paper2),较好的选择题占了整个AS的40,而在A2里(Paper3和Paper4),选择题只占了30的分(15是指在整个里的占比),而70都在考data和essay,对考生的写作能力、手速、耐力、逻辑思维能力和知识点运用的要求都非常的高。
A-level在AS的基础上,包含五个topic:
A.Basic economic ideas and resources allocation
B.The price system and the micro economy
C.Government microeconomic intervention
D.The macro economy
E.Government macroeconomic intervention
TIP1:经济中较重要的就是syllabus!
TIP2:MIND MAP思维导图
根据syllabus上面的五个topic制作五张思维导图,也可以电子版的做成一份~下面是我之前做的一部分思维导图:
除了syllabus之外,我还参考了经济课本、z-notes、很多有关A2备考的文章以及视频。
TIP3:记忆卡片
因为essay里面引用一些重要的定义是必不可少的,理解着去写出来肯定没问题,但用课本上给的似乎更专业些。我会参考教科书的用法,然后去google一下定义再做结合。
很多课本还有revision book给的定义用语相差很多。我会选择自己记忆顺畅、表达的摘录在记忆卡片上,每天早晨抽取着读背写。这种记忆卡片可以用本子代替,也可以去文具店里买生记英语单词的硬纸片卡
Essays话题解读
Paper 4:essay and data
技巧:正面反面都要说,举例子+配图。A2重题概率很高,虽然不是完全一样的题,但是考察的知识点差不多。而且是可以选择自己擅长的topic,和AS一样。我个人会侧重于准备两个topic,其他的把主要的记一下过一下。比如A2时我选的是GDP,developing/developed countries有关的问题和utility&indifference curve等有关的问题。
宏观话题:
1.unemployment-causes&influences&policies to correct.12分或13分
需要记忆的:
definition of unemployment,method of calculation;
Different types of unemployment(cyclical,frictional,structural,etc);
Ways to correct for different types of unemployment(indirect or direct taxation,corporate taxes;stimulate investment,increase in govt.Spending.Etc.)
常用的conclusion&evaluation:
It is not possible to achieve full employment.The natural rate of unemployment depends on the mobility of labor,income taxes....
2.GDP,economic growth&economic development,developed and developing countries.12分或13分
需要记忆的:
以上几个terms的definition;
Economic development和economic growth的区别;
Types of economic growth(real growth and potential growth);
Advantages and disadvantages of using GDP as an indicator of economic growth and development;
Other methods:definition and pros&cons;
Methods of calculation
下面是我之前整理的关于GDP的知识点,正如上文提到的,这一个topic是我感觉简单所以精心准备的备考话题。大家可以把这些当作参考,进行整理笔记。例子一定要从课本里面都看一遍,自己想也ok,只要有就行,合理的例子真的非常非常重要:
Measurement of GDP—measurement of the flow of income in an economy over a particular period of time.
#三种方式测出来的数字应该是一样的,因为都是the flow of income produced in an economy
#the value of output is equal to the incomes that it generates
#假设:income=expenditure
(1)OUTPUT method:avoid counting the same output twice;ONLY FINAL GOODS
例子:If the value of cars sold by manufacturers is added to the value of output of the tyre firms,double counting will occur.so only add up value added(=revenue-material input)
(2)INCOME method:payments received in return for providing good/services.
(primary income)TRANSFER PAYMENTS are NOT included=payments made to factors of production=profit+wages+interest+rent…
(3)EXPENDITURE method=C+I+G+X-M-indirect taxes+subsidies
inventory:存货(算在investment,商家没卖出去自己买下来,使output=expenditure)
Investment包含:
1.Machine
2.Building Structure
3.Inventory
买房子是investment,租房子是consumption
3.Money,interest rate theory 12分或13分
需要记忆的点:
Definition of money;
list of some characteristics of money;
how money supply can be changed;
details of two theories:loanable funds theory and Liquidity
preference:
explanation of three motives of liquidity preference;
Liquidity trap mentioned
2
微观话题
1.Labor Market
需要记忆的点:
what is labor market,how it can be determined
Demand factors of labor
Supply factors of labor
MRP theory
Changes in demand and supply of labor
Imperfections in labor market
常用总结:there are many factors that determine he wage rate in labor market.There are many imperfections influencing the market as well such as mobility of labor monopsony..
2.Utility&Indifference curve&Budget line--link between/with demand 12或13分
Market structure:perfect competition,monopolistic competition,oligopoly and monopoly.
需要记忆的点:
definition of utility,marginal utility and total utility;
Full definition of budget line and indifference curve.;
equi-marginal principle;diminishing marginal utility;
law of demand;
how demand curve is derived;
limitations of the theory in explaining consumer demand;
details of normal good,inferior good and giffen good(explain with indifference curve and budget line)
3.market structure-perfect competition,monopolistic competition,oligopoly,monopoly..13’or12’
需要记忆的点:
definition of particular market structure from aspects of barriers of entry,nature of product,interdependence,influence over price;details link to what mentioned in the title;different types of efficiency.
注意:一定要分清不同类型market的图。