exam technique

'It's quite simple really.
When you are doing the 12 mark question at the end, you have to make sure you pass through all the levels (1 to 4).
Generally this means:
Level 1 - Define all the terms in the question, and give some basic facts
Level 2 - Apply these facts to the question
Level 3 - Analyse critically the effects of this in relation to the question
Level 4 - Evaluate "to what extent" the statement in the question is true

Maybe that wasn't the best way of explaining it, so if we take 2883 January 2005 as an example.

Question (e) is:
"Discuss the effectiveness of supply-side policies in reducing unemployment." [12]

Using the above:
Level 1
- Define supply-side policies: any policy designed to affect aggregate supply in an economy
- Define unemployment: where people do not have a job, but are able to work and are looking for work
- Give some examples of supply-side policies: education and training, reducing the power of trade unions, increasing the incentives to work, making a more flexible workforce, privatisation, etc.
Level 2
- Explain how (in theory) supply-side policies reduces unemployment
- Draw a macroeconomic graph showing an outward shift in LRAS (long-run aggregate supply)
Level 3
- Choose a few supply-side policies to go through in detail, about a paragraph each
- Possibly draw the trade union wage rate labour market graph
- Analyse how the specific policies will (or will not) reduce unemployment; there really needs to be two sides to the discussion
Level 4
- Bring all this together in summary as an answer to the question; for example: "Overall, supply-side policies would appear to be very effective in reducing unemployment in the long run, especially through education and training. However, it is important that the spending in training is in the sectors of industry that require more trained workers (not declining sectors)..."
Make sure you talk about the "effectiveness", in other questions this would be "the extent" to which the policy would be successful.
- Consider and comment on other factors: short-run / long-run effects, other policy objects and possible trade-offs, the type of unemployment (if it is just cyclical or if it is structural), etc.
- A final conclusion that takes all of this into account (the "bottom-line"

Obviously it doesn't have to be as rigid as the above; many of the points would be better expanded to cover more than one level, but some level 4 points should be explicit to the examiner.'


from the student room