AQA A Level Economics Paper 3 2025 Question Paper Pdf

Download the official AQA A-Level Economics Paper 3 question paper for the June 2025 exam (7136/3), sat on **Thursday 5 June 2025 (morning)**. This synoptic paper focuses on **Economic Principles and Issues** and is worth **80 marks over 2 hours**.

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## **Paper Structure (page 1)**

- **Section A (30 marks):** Multiple-choice questions
- **Section B (50 marks):** Data response investigation
- **All questions are compulsory**

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## **Section A: Multiple-Choice (Questions 1–30)**

This section tests core micro + macro concepts, calculations, and applied reasoning.

### **Key Topics Covered**

- **Behavioural economics**
- Example: *mandated choice* definition (Q1, page 2)

- **Production & efficiency**
- PPC opportunity cost (Q2, page 3)
- Returns to scale (Q7, page 7)

- **Economic methodology**
- Theory development using hypotheses (Q3, page 4)

- **Macroeconomic policy**
- Indirect tax effects on AD/AS (Q4, page 5)
- Unemployment types (Q5, page 6)

- **Firm behaviour & profits**
- Abnormal profit calculation (Q8, page 8)

- **Markets & elasticity**
- Supply elasticity interpretation (Q13, page 12)

- **Labour markets & inequality**
- Wage discrimination (Q22, page 20)
- Trade union changes (Q21, page 19)

- **Macroeconomics**
- Accelerator effect (Q10, page 10)
- Inflation vs unemployment trends (Q16, page 15)

- **International economics**
- Tariffs and import costs (Q25, page 22)
- Comparative advantage (Q24, page 21)

- **Financial economics**
- Money supply definitions (Q17, page 16)
- Bank liquidity vs profitability (Q18, page 16)

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## **Section B: Investigation (50 marks)**

### **Theme: The UK Automotive Industry (page 26)**

You act as an economist advising on **UK manufacturing performance and policy**.

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### **Q31 (10 marks): Data Analysis**
- Assess whether the automotive industry’s contribution has **declined since 2015**
- Must use **Extract B data**
- Focus:
- Trends
- Relative importance
- Evidence-based judgement

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### **Q32 (15 marks): Explanation**
- Explain factors affecting the **UK balance of trade in motor vehicles**

Key areas:
- Exchange rates
- Global demand
- Costs & productivity
- Trade barriers
- Supply chains

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### **Q33 (25 marks): Evaluation Essay**
- Should the UK government **subsidise gigafactories for battery production?**

Requires:
- Use of **Extracts A–D**
- Balanced evaluation:
- Benefits:
- Jobs, investment, green transition
- Costs:
- Opportunity cost, government failure, fiscal burden
- Final justified recommendation

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## **Skills Assessed**

- Synoptic understanding (linking micro + macro)
- Data interpretation and evaluation
- Economic modelling and diagrams
- Real-world policy analysis
- Extended essay writing

For example, the **PPC diagram on page 3** tests opportunity cost, while **Figure 8 on page 22** evaluates tariff impacts on import expenditure—both requiring strong applied reasoning.

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## **Why This Paper Matters**
- Combines **all A-Level topics** into one exam
- Tests **real-world economic judgement**
- Critical for achieving **top grades (A/A*)**
- Prepares students for **university-level economics thinking**

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Fully updated for the 2025/2026 academic year and optimised for instant download on markscheme.net.

This paper is designed for Year 13 students preparing for AQA A-Level Economics exams, especially those aiming to master synoptic skills across micro and macroeconomics.

Teachers and tutors use it for mock exams, full-paper practice, and assessment preparation. It is also ideal for independent learners aiming for top grades.