H1 ECONOMICS TUITION
(Syllabus 8873) 2019
INTRODUCTION TO H1 ECONOMICS
Many Tuition Centres do not offer H1 Economics Tuition. They tend to mix both H1 and H2 students in the same class and, in some cases, using the same set of notes with the same pedagogical approach oblivious to the differences between the 2 Subjects. It is not right and may be harmful to the students as the focus and preparations are different.
H1 exam (8819) is significantly different from the H2 exam(9732) regarding topics coverage and types of questions.
Some alarming differences between current H1 and H2 Economics:
– H2 Economics includes Income and Cross Elasticity of demand as well as Market Structure, while H1 Economics does not.
– H1 Econs has a higher weighting on case studies (70%) and less on the essay (30%). Hence there is the need to focus more on developing case study skills besides essay-writing skills. In H2 economics, the weighting is 40% on Case Study and 60% on Essay. Hence the focus on preparing students for the 2 Subjects cannot be the same as there is a different focus and different skill set needed.
– H2 Economics has Paper 1 (2 cases) and Paper 2 (3 out of 6 essays) while H1 Economics only has one paper (2 cases)
– H1 Econs paper does not have 25 marks question.
In addition to the different coverage of topics, most students are not aware that the case study and essay-writing skills are not identical. The focus of the 2 subjects and hence the preparation cannot be the same. You will be better off in interacting with our H1 specialist who has over 3 decades of teaching experience to find out more about the subject. The study of Economics is a joyful experience under our carefully developed programme and passionately conducted by our energetic education consultant. IT WILL BE THE DAWN OF A NEW PERIOD OF UNDERSTANDING AND JOY.
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AIMS OF H1 ECONOMICS
For H1 Econs, Learners’ Lodge provided relevant tuitions from experienced tutors.
The syllabus is intended to provide the basis for a broad understanding of economics. Specifically, the syllabus aims to develop in candidates:
- 1. an understanding of fundamental economic concepts, theories and principles, and of the tools and methods of analysis used by economists
- the ability to use the tools and methods of economic reasoning to explain and analyse economic issues, and to evaluate perspectives and decisions of economic agents
- the habit of reading critically, from a variety of sources, to gain information about the changing economic activities and policies at the national and international levels
- the ability to use evidence in making well-reasoned economic arguments to arrive at rational and considered decisions.
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES FOR H1 ECONOMICS
Candidates are expected to:
AO1: Knowledge and Understanding
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of economic concepts, theories and principles.
AO2: Interpretation and Evaluation of Information
• Interpret economic information presented in textual, numerical or graphical form.
• Make valid inferences from information presented and evaluate the reliability of information given.
AO3: Application and Analysis
• Apply relevant economic concepts, theories and principles to analyse contemporary issues, perspectives
and policy choices.
• Construct coherent economic arguments.
AO4: Evaluation
• Evaluate critically contemporary issues, perspectives and policy choices.
• Recognise unstated assumptions and evaluate their relevance.
• Synthesise economic arguments to arrive at well-reasoned judgements and decisions
SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT FOR H1 ECONOMICS
Specification grid
The assessment comprises one compulsory written examination paper: Paper 1 (Case Studies)
| H1 Economics | Description | Overall Marks (Weighting) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Case Studies | There will be two compulsory case studies. Candidates are required to answer all questions for each case study. Each case study carries 45 marks and constitutes 50% of the total marks. About 18 marks of each set of case study questions will be for data response questions, and about 27 marks will be for higher-order questions. | 90 marks (100%) | 3 hours |
Description of Component
Paper 1 (Case Studies)
The paper will include two case studies. Each of these will consist of two to three pages of data presented in textual, numerical or graphical form. Each will present contemporary multifaceted economic issues or policies, which may be from one or more themes in the syllabus.
The data for each case study will be followed by six to eight part-questions, including sub-parts. These questions will require candidates to apply relevant economic concepts, theories and principles in analysing, synthesising and evaluating economic issues, perspectives or policies, with reference to the data provided.
About 18 marks of each set of case study questions will be for data response questions, and about 27 marks will be for higher-order questions.
Use of calculators
The use of a calculator as approved by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board is allowed.
SYLLABUS CONTENT FOR H1 ECONOMICS
The syllabus content comprises three core themes:
- Theme 1: The Central Economic Problem
- Theme 2: Markets
- Theme 3: The National Economy
Using the disciplinary thinking framework in A-Level Economics which focuses on decision-making, candidates will have the opportunity to explain, analyse and apply economic concepts, theories and principles through the above themes. Candidates will also evaluate economic issues and policy choices in a real-world context and appreciate the interconnectedness across the themes
Theme 1: The Central Economic Problem
Theme 1 introduces candidates to the Central Economic Problem of unlimited wants and limited resources. Scarcity of resources necessitates choice and leads to decision-making. Through examining how the concepts of scarcity, choice and opportunity cost are faced by economic agents (consumers, producers and governments), candidates will be able to understand the Central Economic Problem facing societies, and how economic agents use available information, consider perspectives, constraints, costs and benefits in their decision-making. Candidates will also understand that decisions made by economic agents often have both intended and unintended consequences.
This theme provides the foundation for the study of microeconomic and macroeconomic topics in Markets (Theme 2) and The National Economy (Theme 3) respectively where the decision-making approach and concepts of scarcity, choice and opportunity cost recur.
Theme 1.1 Scarcity as the Central Economic Problem
Economics Content
1.1 Scarcity as the Central Economic Problem
1.1.1 Scarcity, choice and resource allocation
a. Concept of scarcity and the inevitability of choices by economic agents (consumers, producers and governments)
b. Concept of opportunity cost and the nature of trade-offs in the allocation of resources
1.1.2 Rational decision-making process by economic agents
a. Understanding objectives of economic agents
• Consumers – maximisation of utility
• Producers – maximisation of profits
• Governments – maximisation of social welfare
b. Recognising constraints
c. Gathering information and considering perspectives
d. Weighing costs and benefits in decision-making*
e. Recognising trade-offs
f. Recognising intended and unintended consequences
Note:
*A marginalist approach to weighing costs and benefits is the expected approach. Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is not required.
Concepts and Tools of Analysis
- Positive and normative economics*
- Microeconomics and macroeconomics*
- Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost
- Production possibility curve (PPC)
- Marginal cost, marginal benefit and marginalist principle
- Maximisation of utility*
- Maximisation of profits: Marginal Revenue=Marginal Cost*
- Maximisation of social welfare: Marginal Social Benefit=Marginal Social Cost
Notes:
*An awareness of the meaning of positive and normative economics, microeconomics and macroeconomics will suffice.
*An awareness of how consumers allocate resources to maximise utility and how producers maximise profits will suffice. Technical analyses of utility maximisation and maximisation of profits are not required.
Theme 2: Markets
In Theme 2, candidates examine how markets deal with the Central Economic Problem and how decisions are made by economic agents in markets. Theme 2 provides candidates with a microeconomic analysis of how markets function and how markets may fail to achieve efficient and equitable outcomes. Candidates will be able to understand how market forces of demand and supply interact to bring about market equilibrium. In addition, candidates will be able to understand that while decisions made by consumers and producers are necessary for the functioning of markets, these decisions may lead to inefficient and inequitable outcomes. Candidates will be able to discuss how governments may intervene through public policy measures to improve efficiency and equity while recognising limitations, unintended consequences and possible trade-offs of government intervention. This theme provides candidates with insights into realworld microeconomic issues and opportunities to deepen economic reasoning, analysis and application of microeconomic concepts to both Singapore and the global economy.
Microeconomic concepts and theories in Themes 1 and 2 provide the foundation for candidates to extend their understanding of the micro-economy to the macro-economy in Theme 3.
Theme 2.1 Price Mechanism and its Applications
Economics Content
2.1 Price Mechanism and its Applications
2.1.1 Price mechanism and its functions
a. Resource allocation in a free market
2.1.2 Interaction of demand and supply
a. Determinants of demand and supply
b. Equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity
c. Changes in demand and supply leading to changes in market equilibrium
2.1.3 Applications of demand and supply analysis to real-world markets*
a. Responsiveness of consumers and/or producers
• Price elasticity of demand – determinants and significance
• Price elasticity of supply – determinants and significance
b. Impact of market outcomes on consumers and producers*
• Consumer expenditure and producer revenue*
c. Rationale and impact of government intervention on consumers and producers
• Taxes and subsidies
• Price controls – maximum and minimum prices
• Quantity controls – quotas
Notes:
*The focus is on the application of demand and supply analysis to any market. With reference to labour markets, Marginal Revenue Productivity theory of labour is not required.
*Knowledge of consumer and producer surpluses is not required.
*An awareness of how changes in producer revenue may affect producer profits will suffice
Concepts and Tools of Analysis
- Price mechanism
- Consumer sovereignty
- Ceteris paribus
- Effective demand
- Law of diminishing marginal utility*
- Demand curve
- Change in demand vs change in quantity demanded
- Supply curve
- Change in supply vs change in quantity supplied
- Determinants of demand – non-price factors
- Determinants of supply – non-price factors
- Market equilibrium – equilibrium price and quantity
- Market disequilibrium – shortage and surplus
- Price elasticity of demand and supply
- Consumer expenditure and producer revenue
- Taxes and subsidies
- Price controls – maximum and minimum prices
- Quantity controls – quotas
Notes:
*Technical analysis of the law of diminishing marginal utility is not required. Knowledge of the law of equimarginal utility is not required.
Theme 2.2 Market Failure
Economics Content
2.2 Market Failure
2.2.1 Efficiency and equity in relation to markets
2.2.2 Market failure and its causes
a. Public goods
• Characteristics of non-excludability and non-rivalry
b. Positive and negative externalities in consumption and production
• Divergence between private cost/benefit and social cost/benefit
c. Merit and demerit goods
2.2.3 Government intervention in markets
a. Policy measures including taxes and subsidies, quotas and tradeable permits, joint and direct provision, rules and regulation, and public education in addressing market failure
b. Effectiveness of policy measures
Note:
*Market dominance, factor immobility and government failure are not required. Knowledge of information
failure in relation to merit and demerit goods will suffice. Detailed knowledge of information failure (such as
asymmetric information, adverse selection and moral hazard) is not required.
Concepts and Tools of Analysis
- Market failure
- Allocative efficiency
- Equity
- Deadweight loss
- Marginal private benefit and cost
- Marginal external benefit and cost
- Marginal social benefit and cost
- Social versus private (market) optimum
- Over-consumption and production
- Under-consumption and production
- Public goods
- Non-excludability and non-rivalry
- Positive and negative externalities
- Merit and demerit goods
Theme 3: The National Economy
In Theme 3, candidates will use the concepts, theories and principles from Themes 1 and 2 to examine the problem of scarcity of resources and the concept of trade-offs at the level of the national economy. In particular, candidates will examine how governments make policy choices at the national level in order to improve living standards. In doing so, candidates will discuss how governments consider competing needs, weigh costs and benefits, recognise trade-offs and consequences in order to make policy decisions.
Candidates will first gain an understanding of the concepts of aggregate demand and aggregate supply, the basic tools of macroeconomic analysis and an extension of the tools used for economic analysis in Markets (Theme 2). With an understanding of aggregate demand and aggregate supply, Theme 3 provides many opportunities for candidates to apply these concepts to analyse standard of living and government decisions at the national level. Candidates will understand the concept of standard of living and its significance for countries.
Candidates will also examine domestic and external factors that influence economic growth, price stability, and employment, with a focus on how these factors affect a country’s standard of living. In addition, candidates will also discuss the different policy options available to governments (namely discretionary fiscal policy, monetary policy and supply-side policies) and their effectiveness in achieving higher living standards.
Theme 3.1 Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis
Economics Content
3.1 Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis
3.1.1 Aggregate demand (AD) and aggregate supply (AS)*
a. Factors affecting AD and AS
b. Equilibrium level of national output and general price level
Note: * An awareness of an increase in AD having a multiplied effect on national income will suffice.
Concepts and Tools of Analysis
- Aggregate demand and factors affecting aggregate demand
- Aggregate supply and factors affecting aggregate supply
- National output
- General price level
Theme 3.2 Standard of Living
3.2 Standard of Living
3.2.1 Standard of living and its indicators*
a. Material and non-material aspects
3.2.2 Factors affecting standard of living
a. Economic growth
• Sustainable growth
• Inclusive growth (case of Singapore)
b. Price stability
• Inflation and deflation
c. Employment
• Full employment and unemployment
3.2.3 Macroeconomic policies to improve standard of living
a. Discretionary fiscal policy
• Government expenditure and revenue*
b. Monetary policy
• Centred on interest rates*
• Centred on exchange rates (case of Singapore)
c. Supply-side policies
• Policies to improve quantity, quality and mobility of factors of production
Notes:
*Interpretation of economic information presented in textual, numerical or graphical form is required. Derivation of index numbers and computation of national income is not required.
*National debt and methods of budget deficit financing are not required.
*Determination of interest rates and exchange rates are not required. A broad understanding of the managed float in the Singapore context and flexible exchange rates will suffice.
Concepts and Tools of Analysis
- Standard of living
- Material and non-material well-being
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI)
- Human Development Index (HDI)
- Income distribution
- Income inequality
- Gini coefficient
- Economic growth
- Actual and potential growth
- Sustainable growth
- Inclusive growth
- Full employment and unemployment
- Types of unemployment
- Price stability
- Inflation and deflation
- Consumer price index (CPI)
- Nominal and real concepts
- Discretionary fiscal policy
- Government budget surplus and deficit
- Monetary policy
- Interest rates
- Exchange rates
- Supply-side policies
You can register personally at any one of our branches during our operating hours. Alternatively, you may call our hotline 9119-9655 to register. Please note that phone registration does not constitute a reservation of a seat in the program. Only upon payment for the program will the seat(s) be reserved.
