Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Cambridge International IGCSE Economics)

What is examined in the CIE IGCSE Economics Paper 1?

• Paper 1 tests your knowledge and understanding of economics and your ability to analyse simple economic situations

• All questions are based on the full syllabus content (Topics 1–6)

  • You answer 40 multiple-choice questions
  • Each question is worth 1 mark
  • The paper lasts 1 hour
  • Paper 1 is worth 33% of the total qualification (40 marks out of 120 overall)
  • All questions are compulsory – you must answer every question

• Paper 1 mainly assesses:

  • AO1 Knowledge and Understanding – recognising and recalling key definitions, formulas, diagrams and concepts
  • AO2 Analysis – interpreting simple data or diagrams and applying economic ideas to short scenarios
  • There are no AO3 evaluation marks on Paper 1

The structure of Paper 1

• Each of the 40 questions:

  • Has four answer options (A, B, C, D)

  • Moves systematically through Topics 1, 2, 3, 4 etc.

    • The first question will be from Topic 1 and the final question will be from Topic 6

  • Might be:

    • a straightforward recall question
    • based on a short piece of data, a table or a diagram
    • a calculation using a simple formula

• Examples of the types of skills tested include:

  • Recognising correct definitions (e.g., opportunity cost, PED, GDP per head)
  • Using demand and supply diagrams to identify the effect of a shift
  • Interpreting changes in unemployment, inflation or growth from data tables
  • Working out simple percentages and elasticities

• You can use a calculator in Paper 1

• For more detailed help on how to approach multiple-choice questions, see the section "Answering 1-Mark MCQ Questions"