Cambridge A Level Economics 9708 — 2025 Oct/Nov Paper 1 · Variant 2
9708/12/O/N/25 · 30 questions · 30 marks · ≈34 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper12 pages












Mark scheme3 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.



Questions as text
Q1 · What is an example of a normative statement?
1 What is an example of a normative statement? A Government expenditure is an injection into the circular flow of income. B Government expenditure in India in 2022 was 29% of gross domestic product. C The best policy measure to reduce inflation is a reduction in government expenditure. D The United States of America is the country with the highest military expenditure.
Mark scheme: C
Q2 · A public good must both be non-rivalrous in consumption and have the characteristic of…
2 A public good must both be non-rivalrous in consumption and have the characteristic of non-excludability. Which situation meets both of these conditions? A a former nationalised rail network which has been privatised B a good that has an opportunity cost C the building of a new toll road which charges all users the same toll D the provision of street lighting which improves a locality
Mark scheme: D
Q3 · What is not a characteristic of a planned economy?
3 What is not a characteristic of a planned economy? A Consumers have limited influence on what is produced. B Profit is the motive for increasing output. C Resources are owned by the government. D There is limited competition in the market.
Mark scheme: B
More questions on Resource allocation in different economic systems
Q4 · A student chooses to study for a degree in engineering at university rather than take a…
4 A student chooses to study for a degree in engineering at university rather than take a job working as an apprentice engineer. The apprenticeship lasts five years and involves training while working. What will decrease the opportunity cost of this choice? A a decrease in the wages paid to apprentice engineers B a decrease in the number of students studying engineering degrees C a decrease in the number of top grade engineering degrees awarded D a decrease in the length of an engineering apprenticeship to four years
Mark scheme: A
Q5 · The diagram shows a production possibility curve (PPC) for a country that produces two…
5 The diagram shows a production possibility curve (PPC) for a country that produces two goods, X and Y. The initial PPC is given by ST. good Y U S O V T W good X What is the effect on the PPC when the productivity of workers producing good X increases? A The PPC shifts from ST to SV. B The PPC shifts from ST to SW. C The PPC shifts from ST to UT. D The PPC shifts from ST to UW.
Mark scheme: B
Q6 · What is consumer surplus?
6 What is consumer surplus? A the amount of a consumer’s income less the amount paid in income tax B the amount of a consumer’s income less the amount paid for goods and services C the amount of a consumer’s income received in bonuses and overtime pay D the amount a consumer is willing to pay for a product less the amount actually paid
Mark scheme: D
Q7 · The diagram shows a market supply curve (S)
7 The diagram shows a market supply curve (S). S Y O X What is measured on the X-axis and the Y-axis? X-axis Y-axis A quantity income B quantity price C price income D income quantity
Mark scheme: B
Q8 · The diagram shows the demand curve for a product
8 The diagram shows the demand curve for a product. 100 price $ 50 demand 0 0 50 100 quantity What is the price at which the price elasticity of demand is unit elastic? A $0 B $50 C $100 D every price along the demand curve
Mark scheme: B
More questions on Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand
Q9 · Public transport in an economy has an income elasticity of demand of –0.36
9 Public transport in an economy has an income elasticity of demand of –0.36. What does this mean about public transport? A It is an inferior good. B It is a necessity. C It is a normal good. D It has close substitutes.
Mark scheme: A
More questions on Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand
Q10 · Which type of good is most suitable for a successful buffer stock scheme?
10 Which type of good is most suitable for a successful buffer stock scheme? easy to produce cheap to store perishable A yes yes yes B yes no no C no yes no D no no yes
Mark scheme: C
Q11 · The demand for electric vehicle batteries is derived from the demand for electric vehicles
11 The demand for electric vehicle batteries is derived from the demand for electric vehicles. To tackle climate change, a government subsidises producers of electric vehicles. What are the likely effects of this subsidy on the price and sales of electric vehicle batteries? price sales A decrease decrease B decrease increase C increase decrease D increase increase
Mark scheme: D
Q12 · The diagram shows the market for a demerit good
12 The diagram shows the market for a demerit good. The initial equilibrium is at point X. What will be the new equilibrium if the government imposes a unit tax on this demerit good and successfully informs consumers of its harmful effects? price S3 S1 S2 A D X B C D2 D1 D3 O quantity
Mark scheme: D
More questions on Methods and effects of government intervention in markets
Q13 · To improve the health of people, a government puts a tax on the sale of drinks that…
13 To improve the health of people, a government puts a tax on the sale of drinks that contain sugar. What are the likely effects of this tax on both the prices of the drinks that contain sugar and the price of sugar? prices of drinks price of sugar A decrease decrease B decrease increase C increase decrease D increase increase
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Methods and effects of government intervention in markets
Q14 · The income Gini coefficient of a country changes from 0.29 to 0.33 over time
14 The income Gini coefficient of a country changes from 0.29 to 0.33 over time. What might explain this change? A an increase in food and energy subsidies B an increase in structural unemployment C an increase in the national minimum wage D an increase in the top rate of income tax
Mark scheme: B
Q15 · What is an example of an injection into the circular flow of income in an open economy?
15 What is an example of an injection into the circular flow of income in an open economy? A consumer spending on goods B expenditure on a government construction project C spending by households on holidays abroad D repayment of loans to commercial banks
Mark scheme: B
More questions on Introduction to the circular flow of income
Q16 · The diagram shows the AD and AS curves for a country
16 The diagram shows the AD and AS curves for a country. The equilibrium level of national income is Y1 and the general price level is P1. AS general price level P1 AD O Y1 national income What is the most likely effect on employment and the general price level of a small decrease in government expenditure? employment general price level A falls falls B falls unchanged C unchanged falls D unchanged unchanged
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis
Q17 · The diagram shows aggregate demand and aggregate supply curves for an economy
17 The diagram shows aggregate demand and aggregate supply curves for an economy. general AS price level AD AD1 O national output What would cause a change in the aggregate demand from AD to AD1? A government campaigns to encourage household savings B consumption of domestic instead of foreign goods C a decrease in the budget surplus D investment in knowledge-based enterprises
Mark scheme: A
More questions on Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis
Q18 · A government reduces the benefits that it pays to unemployed workers to increase the…
18 A government reduces the benefits that it pays to unemployed workers to increase the incentive to work. Which types of macroeconomic policies are being used? fiscal monetary supply-side policy policy policy A ✓ ✗ ✗ B ✓ ✓ ✗ C ✓ ✗ ✓ D ✗ ✗ ✓
Mark scheme: C
Q19 · A central bank is asked by the government to help achieve price stability
19 A central bank is asked by the government to help achieve price stability. If inflation rises steeply, which policy will not be directly within the control of the central bank? A increasing the rate of interest to reduce consumer spending B managing a reduction of the money supply C using credit restrictions to regulate lending by commercial banks to households D restricting wage increases in the private and public sectors
Mark scheme: D
Q20 · What is not a likely reason for a government having the objective of economic growth?
20 What is not a likely reason for a government having the objective of economic growth? A to improve living standards B to improve business confidence C to increase inflationary pressures D to increase consumer choice
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Government macroeconomic policy objectives
Q21 · What is an example of expansionary monetary policy?
21 What is an example of expansionary monetary policy? A the central bank increasing the money supply B the central bank causing an appreciation of the country’s foreign exchange rate C the central bank increasing controls on credit lending D the central bank increasing the minimum lending rate of interest
Mark scheme: A
Q22 · What is the effect of an increase in the money supply on the interest rate and the…
22 What is the effect of an increase in the money supply on the interest rate and the aggregate demand (AD) curve? interest rate AD curve A falls shifts left B rises shifts left C falls shifts right D rises shifts right
Mark scheme: C
Q23 · A country has a target rate of inflation of 2.5% and has recently experienced the actual…
23 A country has a target rate of inflation of 2.5% and has recently experienced the actual rate rising to 6%, with unemployment falling to very low levels. Which policy option is most likely to be implemented? A an increase in government expenditure on training B an increase in indirect taxes on demerit goods C an increase in import tariffs D an increase in interest rates
Mark scheme: D
Q24 · What is the most likely reason for a government to introduce a progressive tax?
24 What is the most likely reason for a government to introduce a progressive tax? A to discourage the consumption of a particular good B to distribute disposable income more evenly C to increase the disposable income of households D to reduce demand for healthcare services
Mark scheme: B
Q25 · What is the least likely consequence of rapid economic growth?
25 What is the least likely consequence of rapid economic growth? A high levels of pollution B large deficit on the current account of the balance of payments C large deficit in the government’s budget balance D more congestion on the roads
Mark scheme: C
Q26 · A country with a floating exchange rate has a large deficit on the current account of the…
26 A country with a floating exchange rate has a large deficit on the current account of the balance of payments. What is most likely to decrease as a consequence of this deficit? A competitiveness of the country’s products B level of employment in the country C prices of exports from the country D rate of inflation in the country
Mark scheme: C
Q27 · What will definitely lead to an improvement in the terms of trade?
27 What will definitely lead to an improvement in the terms of trade? A Export prices fall whilst import prices rise. B Export prices rise by the same amount as import prices. C Export prices rise slower than import prices. D Export prices rise whilst import prices stay the same.
Mark scheme: D
Q28 · Between June and the end of July 2016, the UK pound sterling depreciated by 11% against a…
28 Between June and the end of July 2016, the UK pound sterling depreciated by 11% against a basket of currencies of the UK’s major trading partners. The diagram shows the original aggregate demand curve AD1 and the original aggregate supply curve AS1 for the UK economy before June 2016. The equilibrium is at X. What would have been the new equilibrium for the UK economy as a result of the depreciation of the pound sterling? price level AS1 A B X D C AD1 O real output
Mark scheme: A
Q29 · What is the effect of a cut in a country‘s income tax rates on its exports and imports?
29 What is the effect of a cut in a country‘s income tax rates on its exports and imports? exports imports A fall fall B fall unchanged C unchanged fall D unchanged rise
Mark scheme: D
Q30 · The diagram shows the effect of a government removing the tariff on imports of rice into…
30 The diagram shows the effect of a government removing the tariff on imports of rice into its country. Sdomestic price of rice W V P1 Sworld + tariff P2 Sworld R X T U Ddomestic O Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 quantity of rice How would the removal of this tariff affect the consumer surplus and the government's revenue? consumer surplus government revenue A increases by VUT decreases by WVTX B increases by VUT decreases by WVQ3Q2 C increases by P1VUP2 decreases by WVTX D increases by P1VUP2 decreases by WVQ3Q2
Mark scheme: C
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 30 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
4Addressing income and wealth inequality2Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis2Exchange rates2Fiscal policy2Methods and effects of government intervention in markets2Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand2The interaction of demand and supply2Classification of goods and services1Consumer and producer surplus1Demand and supply curves1Economic growth1Economic methodology1Government macroeconomic policy objectives1Introduction to the circular flow of income1Production possibility curves1Protectionism1Resource allocation in different economic systems1Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost1The reasons for international trade1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2025 Oct/Nov, Paper 1 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.