Microeconomics and macroeconomics: past paper questions
Real questions on microeconomics and macroeconomics
The newest 19 of 19 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 2281/21 · May/June 2026 · Q4d[8]
Discuss whether or not a city would benefit from an increase in the size of its population.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4d[8]
Discuss whether or not an increase in a country’s economic growth rate will increase its HDI value.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1f[5]
Analyse the relationship between GDP per head and the percentage of children who complete primary education.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[4]
Explain two characteristics that coins possess which mean they can perform the functions of money.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · May/June 2024 · Q3a[2]
Identify the difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2023 · Q1b[2]
Identify two benefits the Honduran economy could gain from a growth in the US economy.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2023 · Q1g[6]
Discuss whether or not an increase in the size of its coal industry will benefit the Australian economy.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2023 · Q2a[2]
Identify two functions of money.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · May/June 2023 · Q1b[2]
Identify two causes of the decrease in the output of sugar in 2020.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2022 · Q4d[8]
Discuss whether or not advances in technology will benefit a country’s population.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2022 · Q1b[2]
Identify two key resource allocation questions.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2022 · Q1h[6]
Discuss whether or not Ecuador benefits from the emigration of some of its workers. Section B Answer any three questions. Each question is introduced by stimulus material. In your answer you may refer to this material and/or to other examples you have studied.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2022 · Q1a[1]
Calculate the number of births in Cyprus in 2019.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · May/June 2022 · Q1f[5]
Analyse the relationship between GDP per head and net migration.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2021 · Q3a[2]
Define cyclical unemployment.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2021 · Q4a[2]
Define the labour force.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2019 · Q1a[2]
Identify, from the extract, two primary sector industries.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2019 · Q1b[2]
Calculate, using information from the extract, how many people in Zambia lived in poverty in 2017.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2019 · Q4d[8]
Discuss whether or not parents should have to pay a fee to send their children to school.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates answered this well. The most common benefits identified were an increase in exports sold to the US and more money sent back to relatives by Honduran workers employed in the US.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2281/22 Q1(b) (Cambridge)
There were some good answers to this question, with many candidates covering both reasons why an increase in the coal industry would benefit the Australian economy and why it might not. Common reasons why it would include providing employment, increasing exports, causing economic growth and providing tax revenue to the Australian government. There were fewer reasons given as to why it might not be...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 2281/21 Q1(g) (Cambridge)
Most candidates knew at least one function, usually medium of exchange or measure of value. Often there were errors in the wording of the term e.g. ‘means of exchange’ or candidates could only give a description e.g. ‘money is used to pay for our goods and services.’ A few candidates identified characteristics rather than functions e.g. it was portable, or they gave a function and a characteristic...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 2281/21 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
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