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Why Paper 3 feels hard (it is a method exam)
Paper 3 is usually not lost on difficult maths. It is lost on method: missing formulas, skipped steps, and hidden working.
Use this 4-step calculation routine every time
- Write the formula.
- Substitute numbers from the question.
- Show working clearly, step by step.
- Give the final answer with units and rounding.
High-yield question types you should automate
Example 1: PED
PED = percentage change in quantity demanded divided by percentage change in price.
Calculate both percentage changes first, then divide, then state the final elasticity value.
Example 2: Multiplier
Multiplier = 1 / (1 - MPC). Do not skip the formula and substitution lines.
Example 3: Tariff welfare
Show government revenue, consumer surplus loss, and deadweight loss, using both diagram evidence and calculations.
Need help understanding elasticity first? Read this guide: elasticity explained in IB Economics.
The mark-killing mistake
Writing only the final answer usually earns minimal marks. Method marks are where most students can gain points quickly.
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