Cambridge A-Level Economics 9708: Command words and keywords

Cambridge International A-level Economics (9708) uses the standard Cambridge command words. Extended questions use levels-based marking; balance and conclusion matter for Assess, Evaluate and Discuss. A-level expects more depth and application to unfamiliar data or scenarios.

Command words

Command word	What to do	Common mistake
State	Short answer	Overwriting
Identify	Choose from data/diagram	Adding explanation
Define	Precise economic meaning	Vague
Describe	What the data/diagram shows	Adding explanation
Explain	Why/how; use “because”	Only describing
Suggest	Apply to context	Textbook recall
Compare	Similarities and differences	Listing separately
Assess	Judge importance; conclude	Description only
Evaluate	Judge; conclude with evidence	No conclusion
Discuss	Explore aspects; conclude	One-sided
Calculate	Work out; show working; units	Missing working
Analyse	Break down; show relationships	Only describing
Justify	Support with evidence	Unsupported claim

Economic keywords

Microeconomics

Term	Use correctly	Avoid
Demand	Quantity wanted at each price	”Want”
Supply	Quantity offered at each price	”Have”
Elasticity	Responsiveness	”Sensitive”
Price elasticity of demand	%ΔQd / %ΔP	Wrong formula
Cross elasticity	Responsiveness to another good’s price	PED
Income elasticity	Responsiveness to income	PED
Opportunity cost	Next best alternative forgone	”Cost”
Marginal	Additional; one more unit	”Extra”
Allocative efficiency	P = MC	”Efficiency”
Productive efficiency	Minimum ATC	Allocative
Consumer surplus	Area below demand, above price	”Benefit”
Producer surplus	Area above supply, below price	”Profit”
Externalities	Third-party effects	”Effects”
Public good	Non-excludable; non-rival	”Government”
Monopoly	One seller; barriers	”Big company”
Oligopoly	Few sellers; interdependent	Monopoly
Game theory	Strategic interaction	”Strategy”

Macroeconomics

Term	Use correctly	Avoid
GDP	Gross Domestic Product	”Wealth”
Real GDP	Adjusted for inflation	Nominal
Inflation	Rising general price level	”Expensive”
Unemployment	Seeking work but without jobs	”Jobless”
Fiscal policy	Government spending and taxation	Monetary
Monetary policy	Interest rates; money supply	Fiscal
Aggregate demand	Total demand in economy	”Demand”
Aggregate supply	Total supply in economy	”Supply”
Multiplier	Ratio of change in income to injection	”Effect”
Exchange rate	Price of one currency in another	”Value”
Balance of payments	Record of transactions	Trade balance
Current account	Trade in goods/services; income; transfers	”Trade”

Tips for Economics 9708

1. Define precisely—e.g. “Opportunity cost is the next best alternative forgone.”
2. Use data when the question provides it—quote figures
3. Reach a conclusion for Assess, Evaluate, Discuss
4. Show working in calculations
5. Past papers + mark schemes show acceptable wording

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Based on Cambridge International A-level Economics 9708 syllabus. Check the latest syllabus for your exam series.