Tutopiya AI
Start free

Cambridge IGCSE Economics (0455)

IGCSE Economics, from diagram to judgement.

Learn to draw the diagram, explain what it shows and argue both sides. Your tutor checks your labels and your chain of reasoning, then pushes you to a conclusion.

Practise IGCSE Economics Log in

Free plan. Use your Tutopiya account or Google.

The price of a bus ticket rises from $2.00 to $2.50, and the number of tickets sold each day falls from 100 to 80. Calculate the price elasticity of demand.[3 marks]

This is worth 3 marks. They go for:

  • Percentage change in quantity demanded = (80 − 100) ÷ 100 × 100 = −20% (1 mark)
  • Percentage change in price = (2.50 − 2.00) ÷ 2.00 × 100 = 25% (1 mark)
  • PED = −20% ÷ 25% = −0.8 (1 mark)

Examiner tip: Quantity goes on top. Then say what the answer means: −0.8 is between 0 and −1, so demand is price-inelastic.

See how it works

Watch a tutor work through a question.

Say what you're studying, choose a tutor, then work through your homework step by step, take a quick quiz or call your tutor. This one is IGCSE Maths, and every subject works the same way.

Assessment

How Cambridge IGCSE Economics is assessed

There are no tiers. Everyone takes both papers and can get grades A*–G.

Syllabus 0455, for exams in 2027–2029. Paper 1 is longer and Paper 2 shorter than in the 2026 syllabus.

All students

  • Paper 1: Multiple Choice

    40 compulsory multiple-choice questions on all the content, calculator allowed

    Time
    1 h
    Marks
    40
    Weight
    30%

  • Paper 2: Structured Questions

    Section A: one compulsory question on unseen information about a real economic situation. Section B: three of four questions, each ending in a discussion

    Time
    2 h
    Marks
    80
    Weight
    70%

There is no coursework. Both papers are written exams.

From the official Cambridge International syllabus, checked October 2026. Read the syllabus

Syllabus content

What’s on the Cambridge IGCSE Economics syllabus

  • The basic economic problem
  • The allocation of resources
  • Microeconomic decision-makers
  • Government and the macroeconomy
  • Economic development
  • International trade and globalisation

Where marks are lost

Common Cambridge IGCSE Economics mistakes

  • Unlabelled diagrams.

    Label both axes (Price, Quantity), every curve, the old and new equilibrium, and the direction of any shift. An unlabelled sketch earns little.

  • Confusing a movement along a curve with a shift.

    A change in the good’s own price moves along the demand curve. A change in income, tastes or the price of a related good shifts the whole curve.

  • A one-sided discussion.

    The last part of each Section B question is marked by level. Argue both sides, then finish with a judgement that says what it depends on.

Six business and economics tutors, six ways to learn

Practise past-paper style questions with the exam coach, drill facts before a test with quick revision, or slow down with a step-by-step tutor. Switch any time.

See how each one teaches How the AI tutor works
  • NoahConcept explainer
  • ChloeStep by step
  • ImranExam coach
  • JadeQuick revision
  • LucasChallenger
  • EsiConfidence builder

Recorded your Economics lesson?

Upload the recording and get notes, a quiz and flashcards made from what your teacher said, ready to revise for Cambridge IGCSE Economics.

See the Lesson Analyser

FAQ

Cambridge IGCSE Economics questions, answered.

Yes. Send a photo of your diagram and your tutor checks the labels and the shift, and explains how to describe it in words.

Ask the exam coach for a short extract about a real economic situation, with data, then answer the questions and get each part marked.

The papers are the same types, but Paper 1 now has 40 questions in 1 hour and Paper 2 is 80 marks in 2 hours. The content adds more on the environment and globalisation.

Yes. The free plan includes 5 tutor messages and 15 minutes of calls a day. Pro and Max give you more when exams get close.

Bring your Economics questions.

Pick your subject and tutor, make a free account and ask your first question in about a minute.

Meet your tutor

More Cambridge IGCSE subjects

Economics in other curricula