In A Level Economics (9708), your knowledge of the syllabus will only get you to a Grade C. To get an A or A*, you must master Analysis and Evaluation.
The KAA Structure (Knowledge, Application, Analysis)
For every point you make, you must define the terms (Knowledge), apply it to the context of the question (Application), and build a logical chain of reasoning (Analysis). Poor: 'Inflation is bad because things get expensive.' Good: 'High inflation reduces the purchasing power of consumers, leading to a fall in real incomes. This can decrease aggregate demand, potentially slowing economic growth.'
The Golden Ticket: Evaluation
Evaluation is what separates the top students from the rest. It is your judgment on the issue. After writing your points, you must evaluate them.
- Significance: Which point is the most important and why?
- Time lag: Will this policy work immediately, or take years? (e.g., Supply-side policies take a long time).
- Ceteris Paribus: What assumptions are being made?
Always read the Examiner Reports on RevisionGrid—they explicitly state what students did wrong in their essays!