: Pearson Edexcel past-paper questions pack

Measuring economic growth: GDP, GNI and living standards

Past-paper questions pack

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Class
Date set
Date due
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Questions are numbered; the mark schemes (the answer key) follow on separate pages so the question pages can be handed out alone. www.economicsaleveltutor.com

Pearson Edexcel AS and A-level Economics past-paper questions since 2016 · 40 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.economicsaleveltutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © Pearson Edexcel

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q1(b) · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO2=1,AO3=1

(b) With reference to the data provided, explain one limitation of using GDP to compare living standards between countries. (4)

2. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 1 marks ·

(a) With reference to the chart above, which one of the following is correct? (1) A The UK economy grew the fastest in quarter 3 2022 B The UK was in recession in quarter 2 2022 C Total UK real GDP was larger in quarter 4 2022 than in quarter 1 2022 D Total UK real GDP was the same in quarter 4 2022 as in quarter 1 2023

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(a) · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2

(a) With reference to Figure 1, explain the term ‘rate of economic growth’. (4)

4. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(b) · 5 marks · AO1=1,AO2=2,AO3=2

(b) With reference to the first paragraph of Extract A, explain the likely relationship between real incomes and subjective happiness. (5)

5. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(c) · 10 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=2,AO4=4

(c) With reference to Extract A and your own knowledge, assess the limitations of using GDP to compare living standards over time. (10)

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(b) · 3 marks · AO1=1,AO2=1,AO3=1

(b) Explain one limitation of using GDP data to compare living standards between developed and developing countries. (3)

7. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a) · 1 marks · AO1=1

(a) Define the term ‘GDP per capita’. (1)

8. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b) · 1 marks ·

(b) Which one of the following is the most likely effect of the change in real GDP per capita between 2019 and 2020? (1) A Decrease in living standards B Decrease in unemployment C Higher consumer confidence D Higher price level

9. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(c) · 2 marks · AO1=2

(c) Explain one reason why Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) are used. (2)

10. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 2 marks · AO2=2

(a) Calculate the value of the total forecast GDP in 2022. (2)

11. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(a) · 1 marks ·

(a) Which one of the following can be deduced from the chart? (1) A In Q4 2020 the level of real GDP fell by 16.1 percentage points B The price level was rising at a slower rate between Q1 2019 and Q2 2019 C The UK economy experienced a boom between Q3 2019 and Q1 2020 D The UK economy experienced a recession in the first six months of 2020

12. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a) · 1 marks · AO1=1

13. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b) · 1 marks ·

(b) Using the above GDP data, which one of the following represents the index number for 2016, if 2017 is the base year? (1) A 96.8 B 98.1 C 101.9 D 103.3

14. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(c) · 2 marks · AO2=2

(c) Calculate the UK’s nominal GDP per capita in 2018. You are advised to show your working. (2)

15. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 1 marks ·

(a) Which one of the following can be inferred from the above chart? Between 2007 and 2019, (1) A earnings adjusted for interest rates were lower than earnings not adjusted for interest rates B nominal earnings increased by nearly 125 percentage points C the increase in earnings not adjusted for inflation was greater than earnings adjusted for inflation D there were significant increases in real earnings each year

16. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b) · 3 marks · AO1=1,AO2=1,AO3=1

(b) With reference to the chart, explain the likely relationship between real incomes and subjective happiness. (3)

17. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(c) · 10 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=2,AO4=4

(c) With reference to the fourth paragraph of Extract A, assess the limitations of using GDP to compare living standards over time. (10)

18. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q6(c) · 10 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=2,AO4=4

(c) With reference to Figure 2, assess whether an increase in real income improves subjective happiness within the UK. (10)

19. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q5(a) · 1 marks ·

(a) From the data in the graph above, which one of the following may be deduced? (1) A France’s rate of inflation was lower than Germany’s in 2017 B Germany’s GDP is smaller than France’s in every year shown C In every year that France’s GDP fell compared to the previous year, Germany’s GDP did too D The GDP of both Germany and France fell between 2015 and 2016

20. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q5(b) · 2 marks · AO2=2

(b) Calculate the percentage change in Germany’s nominal GDP from 2016 to 2017. (2)

21. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q5(c) · 2 marks · AO1=1,AO3=1

(c) Explain one reason why Purchasing Power Parities are used. (2)

22. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1(a) · 2 marks · AO2=2

(a) Total real UK GDP in 2016 was £200 000 million. With reference to the chart above, calculate the total real UK GDP for 2017. You are advised to show your working. (2)

23. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1(b) · 2 marks · AO1=2

(b) Explain the term ‘real gross domestic product’. (2)

24. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1(c) · 1 marks · AO2=1

(c) With reference to the chart on page 2, which one of the following is correct over the period shown? (1) A GDP per capita was highest in 2014 B Inflation rose in 2015 C The UK economy grew at the fastest rate in 2014 D The UK economy was in recession in 2015

25. October 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(a) · 1 marks · AO1=1

(a) Define the term ‘Gross National Income’. (1)

26. October 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(b) · 1 marks ·

(b) Which one of the following represents the ratio of Gross National Income in 2015 to Gross National Income in 2017? (1) A 1 : 1.03 B 1 : 1.05 C 1 : 1.08 D 1 : 1.11

27. October 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(c) · 2 marks · AO2=2

(c) Using 2014 as the base year, calculate the index number for 2016. You are advised to show your working. (2)

28. October 2020 · Paper 3 · Q2(a) · 5 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=1

(a) With specific reference to Figure 3, explain why productivity is measured by ‘GDP per hour worked, nominal values at PPPs’. (5)

29. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q6(c) · 10 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=2,AO4=4

(c) With reference to the last paragraph in Extract C, assess the impact of a fall in real incomes on subjective happiness. (10)

30. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(e) · 15 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3,AO3=3,AO4=6

(e) With reference to Figure 4, Extract B and your own knowledge, discuss the limitations of using GDP data to compare living standards between the UK and developing countries. (15)

31. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(a) · 1 marks · AO1=1

(a) Define the term ‘Gross Domestic Product’. (1)

32. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(b) · 2 marks · AO2=2

(b) Calculate the UK’s GDP per capita in 2015. You are advised to show your working. (2)

33. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(c) · 1 marks ·

(c) Which one of the following is the most likely effect of an increase in real GDP per capita? (1) A Increase in living standards B Increase in unemployment C Lower consumer confidence D Lower purchasing power

34. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 1 marks ·

(a) Which one of the following can be inferred from the chart? (1) A The UK’s real GDP is smaller in 2014 than it was in 2008 B Between 2008 and 2014 France’s real GDP growth rate was higher than Italy’s C Between 2008 and 2014 inflation was lower in France than in the UK D France experienced a greater fall in real GDP than the UK in 2014

35. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b) · 2 marks · AO1=2

36. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q5(a) · 1 marks ·

(a) Which one of the following statements can be deduced from the data in the table? (1) A Average incomes are higher in India than in Vietnam. B Levels of absolute poverty are higher in Vietnam. C Life expectancy is higher in India than in Vietnam. D Provision of healthcare and education is less effective in Vietnam than in India.

37. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(d) · 6 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=2

(d) With reference to Figure 2 and Extract A, explain two likely reasons why the growth of the UK’s nominal GDP per capita at PPPs was slower than that of Germany after 2010. (6)

38. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a) · 2 marks · AO1=2

(a) Define the term ‘purchasing power parities’. (2)

39. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b) · 1 marks ·

(b) The Office for National Statistics estimates that the UK population was 64 million in 2013. Using the data, what was the UK’s total GDP in 2013? (1) A $2 464 000 million B $2 272 000 million C $1 662 000 million D $2 112 000 million

40. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(a) · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2

(a) With reference to Figure 1, explain the term ‘real income’. (4)

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q1(b)

2. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q3(a)

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(a)

4. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(b)

5. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(c)

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(b)

7. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a)

8. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b)

9. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(c)

10. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q3(a)

11. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(a)

12. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a)

13. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b)

14. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(c)

15. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a)

16. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b)

17. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(c)

18. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q6(c)

19. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q5(a)

20. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q5(b)

21. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q5(c)

22. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1(a)

23. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1(b)

24. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1(c)

25. October 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(a)

26. October 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(b)

27. October 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5(c)

28. October 2020 · Paper 3 · Q2(a)

29. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q6(c)

30. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(e)

31. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(a)

32. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(b)

33. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(c)

34. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a)

35. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b)

36. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q5(a)

37. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(d)

38. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a)

39. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b)

40. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(a)