Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Economics: What’s changed?
An overview of the syllabus and teaching and learning resources
Annette Stuart, George Vlachonikolis, Julia Fusi, Laura Rogers and Jennifer Wade
11 March 2025
Meet the team
Annette Stuart George
Julia Fusi Jennifer Wade
Laura Rogers
Updated syllabus and assessment
Annette Stuart
Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Economics (0455/0987/2281)
New syllabus: for first teaching September 2025, with first assessment in March 2027.
Headline changes: Paper 1 increased to 1 hour, Paper 2 decreased to 2 hours; assessed in same way
Syllabus aims: reworded for clarity; new aims of exploring role of economist and inspiring further study
Cambridge Pathway progression: terminology & AO3 Evaluation weighting aligned to build towards AS Level
Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Economics (0455/0987/2281)
Overview of 2027 changes
Paper 1 Multiple Choice
Approx 30% of qualification
Paper 2 Structured Questions
Approx 70% of qualification
1 hour 2 hours
40 marks 80 marks
Candidates answer 40 multiplechoice questions. Candidates answer one compulsory question with six parts in Section A, and three questions from a choice of four in Section B. Externally assessed Externally assessed
• Balanced the durations of the two exam components more, so 1 hour and 2 hours.
• Reduced AO3 Evaluation weighting and simplified the AO wording for alignment.
• Updated the subject content, to include themes of environment and sustainability.
Key changes to content
Content removed Content added
Environment sustainability
Reduced the volume of content slightly, to focus and make space.
Removed or reduced some discrete points of content, e.g.
• taxation principles (old 4.3.5)
• trade unions (still ref. in 3.2.2)
• patterns of employment (4.7.2)
• population pyramids (old 5.3.3)
• fixed exchange rate (old 6.3.1)
Added or made explicit content so up to date and scope is clear.
Some discrete points added, e.g.
• arguments for and against the mixed economy (new 2.10.2)
• diagrams for NMW (min. wage 3.3.2) & ATC (total cost 3.4.3)
• changes in globalisation (new topic 6.2.2)
Content on environment and sustainability now integrated:
Key changes to assessment
Paper 1 Multiple-choice
For Paper 1:
• number of marks/questions increases from 30 to 40
• the exam duration increases from 45 mins to 1 hour.
Same style of questions and similar demand to past papers. The AO balance will still be 50% AO1 : 50% AO2.
Paper 2 Structured questions
Assessment objectives
For Paper 2:
• number of marks decreases from 90 to 80
• the exam duration decreases from 2 hours 15 mins to 2 hours.
The AOs have been updated to:
• be more concise
• Table A of the Specimen Paper 2 Mark Scheme. -
Same style of questions. Removed a 6-mark ‘Discuss’ and a 4-mark ‘Explain’/‘Analyse’ in Question 1 of Section A.
• align with cognate subjects
• build up AO2 Analysis skills.
What is assessed remains the same. More information is in:
• the Details of assessment section in the syllabus
Published endorsed resources
2
questions
Teaching and learning resources
Julia Fusi
School Support Hub
School Support Hub
Access for Cambridge Schools Provides curriculum support resources
Find more about our professional development and training
School Support Hub
Guide to Skills Exercises
Scheme of Work
Teacher Guide
Lesson Planning support
Teaching Tools
*NEW for 2025* Resource +
Example Candidate Responses Specimen paper answers Past Paper questions Community Forums
School Support Hub
Endorsed Support from Cambridge
IGCSE Economics – new edition
Pub date: 13th March 2025
Susan Grant
Pub date: 29th May 2025
Susan Grant
Pub date: 15th May 2025
Colin Bamford
George Vlachonikolis
How to use this series
Real-world application / Engagement
Introduce students to the content in the chapter Contains questions to allow for group discussion
They place some of the key ideas from the chapter into a real-world business setting
Video content
Available in the Digital Coursebook via Cambridge GO Provides additional information and guidance on topics found in the Coursebook
Teaching support
Summarises the topics covered in the chapter
Explains the prior knowledge required to access the chapter and gives suggestions for addressing any gaps in students’ knowledge
Contains suggestions on how to support students, especially those with English as an Additional Language.
Provides suggestions for eliciting evidence of misconceptions Provides suggestions on how to overcome them
Teaching support
Starter Ideas
Main Teaching Ideas
Differentiation support: Support and Challenge
Assessment Ideas
Workbook
Help students to navigate through the workbook and indicate important concepts for each chapter.
Scaffolded to support progression through the course
Downloadable Worksheet activities
Assessment Support
More demanding practice questions provide students with an opportunity to try out further questions on what you have learnt in each section
Provide students with a sample answers to help understand how to respond to questions using key skills.
An opportunity to evaluate a sample answer to a question.
Advice and guidance are provided to help you assess the answer.
Opportunity to apply advice for student’s own answer
Professional Development
Explore our range of professional development support
Introduction courses – Introduce teachers to Cambridge programmes. Recommended for teachers who are new to Cambridge or to a specific qualification.
Marking workshops – Engage with recent candidate responses to build confidence in their understanding of the assessment criteria. Recommended for teachers with at least one year's experience teaching Cambridge programmes.
Focus on Assessment – Engage with our syllabuses in greater depth and build confidence in your delivery.
Recommended for teachers with at least one year's experience teaching Cambridge programmes.
Focus on Teaching – For teachers who want to explore a specific area of teaching and learning within the syllabus. For example, Focus on microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Insights from our author George Vlachonikolis
Insights from our author
In this part of the session, we will cover:
• Teaching tips
• Specific ideas
• Teacher
• Head of Department
Assessment
• Cambridge assessment ambassador Economics
• Chair of examiners
Teaching and learning
• Assistant Head (T&L)
• PGCE lead for Economics
TEACHING TIPS
GEORGE’S VIEW
• “We all have a different context”
• “Teachers don’t want to be told what to do, they want ideas”
IMPLIED TASKS
• You may need to adjust some of the teaching ideas
• You may need to adjust some of the timings
AIM TO ACHIEVE
• Encouraging teacher autonomy while maintaining pedagogical integrity
Specific ideas
Specific ideas
Specific ideas
Specific ideas
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