Supply: past paper questions
Real questions on supply
The newest 20 of 28 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 2281/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1e[4]
Draw a demand and supply diagram to show the effect of an increase in demand for swimming pools on the market for water.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · May/June 2026 · Q1e[4]
Draw a demand and supply diagram to show how an increase in the indirect tax on jeans will affect the market for jeans.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1e[4]
Draw a demand and supply diagram to show the effect of a decrease in population on the market for furniture.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[2]
Define market equilibrium.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1d[4]
Explain two reasons why the supply of Malawian tea may increase.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1e[4]
Draw a demand and supply diagram to show the effect of a report stating the health risks of consuming sugar on the market for sugar.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[4]
Explain two reasons why a firm may charge a different price for the same product in two different countries.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2025 · Q2d[8]
Discuss whether or not consumers would benefit from an increase in the number of small firms in an industry.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1e[4]
Draw a demand and supply diagram to show the effect of the discovery of new gold deposits on the market for gold.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3c[6]
Analyse how changes in conditions of supply can affect a firm’s prices.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2024 · Q5c[6]
Analyse the benefits consumers may gain from a competitive market.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2024 · Q1f[5]
Analyse, using a demand and supply diagram, how subsidising the production of milk would affect the market for milk.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2024 · Q4a[2]
Define supply.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2023 · Q1e[4]
Draw a demand and supply diagram to show the effect of a minimum price set above the equilibrium price on the market for oranges.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2022 · Q4c[6]
Analyse, using a demand and supply diagram, the effect on the market for furniture of an increase in the price of wood.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2022 · Q2a[2]
Define market disequilibrium.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2022 · Q1c[2]
State why the global market for grapes was in disequilibrium in 2019.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2022 · Q1h[6]
Discuss whether or not adopting capital-intensive production will benefit consumers. 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 that you have studied.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2022 · Q3d[8]
Discuss whether or not tertiary sector workers are paid more than primary sector workers.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2022 · Q5b[4]
Explain how an increase in a worker’s income can affect their mobility of labour.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The key point to understand here is that applying a minimum price creates disequilibrium in the market. Many candidates drew a correct diagram showing a minimum price above the original equilibrium price and showed the surplus supply over demand at that higher price. A common error was to add either a shift in the demand curve to the right or a shift of the supply curve to the left to get a higher...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2281/23 Q1(e) (Cambridge)
There were some strong answers to this question. These contained good diagrams which were clearly and accurately labelled and which showed the supply curve shifting to the left. They also had good written analysis, recognising that a higher price of wood would increase the cost of producing furniture and would result in a rise in the price of furniture. However, some of the answers concentrated on...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 2281/22 Q4(c) (Cambridge)
In general, the majority of candidates were able to explain that market disequilibrium meant there was either a surplus or a deficit in either demand or supply or that demand and supply were not equal or matched. Weak answers tended to focus on price and quantity e.g. ‘Market disequilibrium is where prices and quantity keep changing.’
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 2281/23 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
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