Cambridge International as and a level Economics Ebook

 8 
Avoid humour.
If in any doubt, leave humour and wit out 
of your written answers. Many economists do have a sense 
of humour, but examinations and essays are not the place 
for it to be demonstrated.
 9 
Be professional.
Do not insult or off end, even if you do 
not agree with what you might have read or with the 
examination question. There are other ways in which you 
can make your opinions known.
10 
Keep working at your writing.
Never be satisfied and 
keep thinking about how you can write in a clear, relevant, 
authoritative and positive way.
Cambridge International AS and 
A Level Economics
Overall, the Cambridge International AS and A Level 
Economics qualifi cation is what is known as a staged 
qualifi cation. Th
e main features are shown in 
Table 4
. It 
consists of two stages:
■
the Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS)
■
the Advanced Level (A).
Th
e AS Level is a recognised international qualifi cation. 
Some students may decide that this is what they wish to 
study and fi nish their studies at the end of this stage. To 
complete the full A Level, you will have to take the two 
A Level papers in addition to the two AS Level papers.
Key concepts
At both the AS and A Level the Cambridge syllabus refers 
to certain key concepts. Th
ese are:
■
 
Scarcity and choice:
The fundamental problem in 
economics is that resources are scarce and wants are 
unlimited, so there is always choice required between 
competing uses for resources.
■
 
The margin and change:
Decision making by individuals, 
firms and governments is based on choices at the margin; 
Advanced Subsidiary (AS)