This semester, Grade 9 Economics students have been exploring the core concepts of supply and demand. They’ve studied how substitute goods (like tea vs. coffee) and complementary goods (like cars and fuel) influence demand, as well as how time frames affect supply and producers’ ability to respond to market changes.

Now, students are diving into elasticity—a key concept in market behaviour. They are exploring questions such as:

• Why can some companies charge high prices without losing customers?

  
  

• Why do governments impose sin taxes on goods like alcohol and cigarettes to increase revenue?

These real-world examples help students apply theory to everyday decision-making.

Students are also encouraged to think like business owners. Would they prefer to sell a product with inelastic demand, like life-saving medication, where price changes have little effect on demand? On the supply side, they are learning how businesses can ensure elasticity of supply—quickly increasing production to take advantage of rising prices. Companies with flexible production or large inventories often gain a competitive edge.

Through these lessons, students are gaining real-world insights into how businesses and governments operate, while developing critical thinking skills that will prepare them for future economic studies.

In the Year 12 A-Level A2 Economics course, we have mostly completed our studies of microeconomics and are now preparing to transition into macroeconomics. The microeconomics segment covered essential concepts such as the principles of demand and supply, market equilibrium, consumer behaviour, and production costs. These topics help students understand how markets operate and how individual economic behaviours affect the overall economy. Throughout the learning process, students have shown high levels of engagement and enthusiasm in discussions, which has provided a solid foundation for grasping complex economic theories.

However, during this busy university application season, students face the dual pressure of keeping up with new material while preparing various application materials. Balancing academic responsibilities and application tasks has become a significant challenge. The essay writing component, in particular, has consistently posed difficulties in Economics exams, with many students feeling confused about argumentation and analysis. To better support students in overcoming this challenge, we plan to dedicate more time and effort to focused practice on essay writing, enhancing their analytical skills and argumentation techniques.

We will implement various strategies, including mock exams, after-school tutoring, and group discussions, to help students gain a deeper understanding of economic principles and improve their writing skills. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every student meets the academic requirements of their desired universities, enabling them to transition smoothly into higher-level studies. Through persistent effort and comprehensive support, we believe that students can achieve excellent results in the upcoming exams, laying a solid foundation for their future learning.