EE Playbook
Develop a focused question, support it with sound evidence, and sustain analysis and evaluation throughout.
This structure keeps the essay aligned to the research question, the economics concepts, and the expected depth of argument.
Did You Know? The easiest score jumps usually come from explicitly naming what the criterion rewards and supporting it with direct evidence.
Examiner Focus
Topic, research question, and methodology
Top-Band Move
- Topic communicated accurately and effectively - Research question clearly stated and focused - Methodology complete with evidence of effective source/method selection
Common Penalty
- Topic communicated unclearly and incompletely - Research question stated but not clearly expressed or too broad - Methodology of the research is limited
Examiner Focus
Subject area relevance and use of terminology/concepts
Top-Band Move
- Excellent knowledge/understanding - Good use of terminology/concepts
Common Penalty
- Limited knowledge/understanding - Terminology/concepts unclear and limited
Examiner Focus
Analysis and evaluation of research
Top-Band Move
- Excellent research - Excellent analysis - Excellent discussion/evaluation
Common Penalty
- Limited research application - Limited analysis - Limited discussion/evaluation (Max 3 marks if topic/RQ inappropriate for subject)
Examiner Focus
Structure and layout
Top-Band Move
- Structure is clear - Layout is appropriate
Common Penalty
- Structure is unclear - Layout issues present
Examiner Focus
Process and research focus
Top-Band Move
- Excellent engagement with process - Meaningful reflection
Common Penalty
- Limited engagement with process - Minimal reflection
Criteria point markbands to benchmark where your current draft sits and what a stronger band demands.
Points 0
The work does not reach a standard outlined by the descriptors below.
Points 1-2
- Topic communicated unclearly and incompletely - Research question stated but not clearly expressed or too broad - Methodology of the research is limited
Points 3-4
- Topic communicated adequately - Research question clearly stated but only partially focused - Methodology mostly complete (Max 4 marks if topic/RQ inappropriate for subject)
Points 5-6
- Topic communicated accurately and effectively - Research question clearly stated and focused - Methodology complete with evidence of effective source/method selection
Points 0
The work does not reach a standard outlined by the descriptors below.
Points 1-2
- Limited knowledge/understanding - Terminology/concepts unclear and limited
Points 3-4
- Good knowledge/understanding - Adequate use of terminology/concepts (Max 4 marks if topic/RQ inappropriate for subject)
Points 5-6
- Excellent knowledge/understanding - Good use of terminology/concepts
Points 0
The work does not reach a standard outlined by the descriptors below.
Points 1-3
- Limited research application - Limited analysis - Limited discussion/evaluation (Max 3 marks if topic/RQ inappropriate for subject)
Points 4-6
- Adequate research - Adequate analysis - Adequate discussion/evaluation
Points 7-9
- Good research - Good analysis - Good discussion/evaluation
Points 10-12
- Excellent research - Excellent analysis - Excellent discussion/evaluation
Points 0
The work does not reach a standard outlined by the descriptors below.
Points 1-2
- Structure is unclear - Layout issues present
Points 3-4
- Structure is clear - Layout is appropriate
Points 0
The work does not reach a standard outlined by the descriptors below.
Points 1-2
- Limited engagement with process - Minimal reflection
Points 3-4
- Adequate engagement with process - Some reflection
Points 5-6
- Excellent engagement with process - Meaningful reflection
Did You Know? Most weak drafts fail from sequence chaos, not lack of ideas.
Step 1
Make the question narrow enough to answer with economics, but substantial enough to support evaluation.
Step 2
Use sources that give you enough depth to analyse economic issues instead of just describing them.
Step 3
Apply concepts carefully and make sure every theoretical point is doing real analytical work.
Step 4
Check that the conclusion follows from the analysis and that it answers the question directly.
Did You Know?
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Criterion-Level Feedback
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Action List To Improve
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