International Baccalaureate

Course structure

The Economics course is being revised for September 2020 to reflect the changes in the IB Subject Guide (first examinations May 2022). Course updates include:

• Enhanced content to better support students in making real world connections and obtain deeper understanding of the interrelationships between topics.
• Inclusion of the new integrated topics; Economics of the environment and Economics of inequality and poverty.
• Support for the new assessment model; changes to exam paper structures and scope, and change to the internal assessment portfolio

The course covers the following topics:

Year 1

• Course Overview
• Introduction to Economics
• Competitive Markets
• Elasticity
• Government Intervention
• Market Failure
• Internal Assessment
• The National Economy
• Employment, Inflation and Growth

 

Year 2

• Income Distribution and Macro Policies
• Free Trade Vs. Protectionism
• Exchange Rates
• Balance of Payments
• Measure of Economic Development
• Barriers to Economic Development
• Aid, Debt and Economic Development
• Exam Revision

 

What is different in taking Economics SL online?

Students will have the opportunity to:

• access source material in a variety of media
• learn at their own pace and in a location of their choice
• study alongside students from around the world
• gain experience of using the latest online learning tools
• regularly communicate with teachers and fellow students

Some things won’t be different though. Standards and expectations will be just as high as in a face to face classroom.

 

Activities and assessment

The emphasis is on learning actively together and activities include live online discussions, creating presentations, learning from videos and interactive exercises. Throughout the Economics SL course, students engage in online discussions, debates, article analysis, wiki activities and group research projects.

Students are assessed through the use of quizzes and tests. We also provide traditional activities such as essay writing to prepare them for the exams.

Assessment will be both formative and summative and in accordance with IB criteria.

 

Advice from our teachers

In order to succeed in Economics SL, we recommend students set aside five to six hours a week.

Benefits to students

Taking Economics SL online will enable students to:

• learn real world applications of economic theory
• understand how macro- and micro-economies work
• meet and study with students and teachers from around the world.
• become experienced in a wide range of technical and social tools
• develop 21st century skills like time management, communication and digital literacy which are much in demand by employers