What do you study in Economics A Level?
Economics A Level is split between two broad halves – microeconomics (the behaviour of individual consumers, firms and markets) and macroeconomics (the wider economy and the role of government). Exact content varies by exam board (AQA, OCR and Edexcel are the main UK awarding bodies), but the core topics are consistent:
- Microeconomics – supply and demand, market failure, elasticity, costs, revenue, competition and monopoly, labour markets.
- Macroeconomics – inflation, unemployment, GDP, the balance of payments, monetary and fiscal policy, exchange rates.
- The UK economy – the role of the Bank of England, HM Treasury, the OBR and financial regulation.
- The global economy – trade, globalisation, development economics and emerging markets.
- Quantitative skills – interpreting charts and data, simple calculations, percentage change and index numbers.
- Evaluation and essay writing – building evidence-led arguments under timed exam conditions.
Is A Level Economics hard?
Economics A Level is widely considered one of the more demanding A Levels. It combines essay writing with data response and basic quantitative work, and the marking rewards structured chains of reasoning rather than memorised content.
The real challenge is in applying economic theory to unseen real-world contexts – a recession, a budget, an oil-price shock – and evaluating policy responses in a balanced way. Solid GCSE Maths and confident written English go a long way; prior Economics study is not essential.
What are the entry requirements for Economics A Level?
There are no formal subject-specific GCSE entry requirements for A Level Economics with most UK exam boards. Schools, colleges and online providers usually look for:
- GCSE Maths at grade 4 / C or higher – because of the data and quantitative content. Functional Skills Maths Level 2 is accepted in place of GCSE by most providers.
- GCSE English Language at grade 4 / C or higher – the assessment is essay-heavy. Functional Skills English Level 2 is accepted in place of GCSE by most providers.
- No prior Economics study – GCSE Economics is not required.
See the A Levels and GCSEs faculty for current learndirect entry guidance.
What jobs can you do with Economics?
Economics A Level is highly valued by universities and employers as evidence of strong analytical, quantitative and written reasoning. Common progression routes include:
- Economics, Finance, Accounting and Business degrees – the standard route into financial and commercial careers.
- Law, Politics and International Relations degrees – Economics pairs well with these for policy-focused careers.
- Banking, investment management and consultancy – graduate schemes at major UK banks and consultancies routinely recruit Economics graduates.
- The Civil Service and Bank of England – the Government Economic Service is one of the largest UK employers of economists.
- Data and policy analysis – think tanks, the ONS, regulators, charities and research consultancies.
- Accountancy and audit – professional bodies such as ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA welcome A Level Economics as preparation.
For current salary benchmarks, refer to ONS earnings data and employer-specific graduate-scheme pay scales.
University progression and UCAS points
A Level Economics contributes to the UCAS Tariff in the standard way: A* = 56 points, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16. It is treated as a strong academic A Level by Russell Group universities and is often listed as a preferred subject for economics, finance and quantitative degrees.
For the full conversion picture and how Economics A Level combines with other Level 3 qualifications, see our UCAS points explained guide and university entry requirements pillar.
Is Economics a strong A Level?
Yes. Economics is consistently ranked as a strong, respected A Level by universities and employers. It demonstrates analytical reasoning, quantitative literacy and the ability to argue from evidence – three skills that transfer to most degree subjects and graduate careers.
For adult learners, the choice usually comes down to whether you want the breadth of a single A Level or the depth of an Access to Higher Education Diploma. If you are targeting a single subject as a top-up or to demonstrate recent academic study, A Level Economics is a good fit. If you want a faster, one-year route into a business or finance degree, the Access to HE Diploma (Business) is often the better choice.
How to study A Level Economics online
A Level Economics is studied entirely online with learndirect. Course materials follow a current UK exam-board specification, with practice data-response questions, marked essays and tutor feedback throughout. Exams are sat in person at an approved UK exam centre at the standard summer sitting.
See the A Levels and GCSEs faculty for our current A Level course list and how exam booking is handled.