Economics

Leaving Certificate Economics aims to stimulate students’ curiosity and interest in the economic environment and how they interact with it. It develops a set of skills, knowledge and values that enables students to understand the economics forces which affect their everyday lives, their society and their economy at local, national and global levels, making them more informed as decision-makers

The experience of senior cycle.

 The vision of senior cycle sees the learner at the centre of the educational experience. That experience will enable students to be resourceful, to be confident, to participate actively in society, to build an interest in learning, and to develop an ability to learn throughout their lives. This vision of the learner is underpinned by the values on which senior cycle is based and it is realised through the principles that inform the curriculum as it is experienced by students in schools. The curriculum, made up of subjects and courses, embedded key skills, clearly-expressed learning outcomes, and supported by a range of approaches to assessment, is the vehicle through which the vision becomes a reality for the learner.

 At a practical level, the provision of a high-quality educational experience in senior cycle is supported by:

• effective curriculum planning, development, organisation and evaluation

• teaching and learning approaches that motivate and interest students, that enable them to progress, that deepen and apply their learning, and that develop their capacity to reflect on their learning

• professional development for teachers and school management that enables them to lead curriculum development and change in their schools

• a school culture that respects students, that encourages them to take responsibility for their own learning over time, and that promotes a love of learning. Senior cycle education is situated in the context of a broader education policy that focuses on the contribution that education can make to the development of the learner as a person and as a citizen. It is an education policy that emphasises the promotion of social cohesion, the growth of society and the economy, and the principle of sustainability in all aspects of development.

Aim

Leaving Certificate Economics aims to stimulate students’ curiosity and interest in the economic environment and how they interact with it. It develops a set of skills, knowledge and values that enables students to understand the economic forces which affect their everyday lives, their society and their economy at local, national and global levels, making them more informed as decisionmakers.

Objectives

The objectives of Leaving Certificate Economics are to enable students to:

• understand the economy within which people act locally, nationally and globally
• appreciate the ethical, historical, social and environmental dimensions of economics, and reflect on how economics contributes to the social and political development of society
• build their knowledge and understanding of economic terminology, concepts and principles, and develop the skills needed to apply this knowledge and understanding to familiar and unfamiliar situations
• develop skills in critical and creative thinking around contemporary economic, political and social issues, while appreciating different perspectives, and providing informed solutions to a problem
• research and analyse qualitative and quantitative economic information and data from various sources, present and justify conclusions and make informed decisions
• discuss, explain and communicate the outcomes of their analysis and activities in verbal, graphical and other forms, using technology where appropriate.

Assessment

Economics is assessed at two levels, Ordinary level and Higher level, by means of two assessment components: a research study, and an examination paper.

Both components of assessment reflect the relationship between the application of skills and the theoretical content of the specification.

The research study will be based on a brief issued annually by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

 Assessment for certification is based on the aim, objectives and learning outcomes of this specification. Differentiation at the point of assessment is achieved through examinations at two levels – Ordinary level and Higher level. 

Assessment components There are two assessment components at each level:

• written examination (80%)
• research study (20%).

 Both components of assessment reflect the relationship between the application of skills and the theoretical content of the specification.