IDK EXAM TECHNIQUE: AQA ECON1 Q2- DATA
Mark breakdown (8 marks max)
- Two separate points of comparison (4 marks max. each)
- Each point of comparison requires four dates and four figures i.e your final answer should have 8 dates and 8 figures
- Correct unit of measurement
Jan 2013 Q6
Question paper: http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-ECON1-QP-JAN13.PDF
Mark scheme: http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-ECON1-W-MS-JAN13.PDF
Types of point of comparison
1. Peaks: pick out the high point of each data series. Note down the dates and the corresponding values.
"THE PEAK ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT IS IN 2001 AT 8.7%, WHEREAS THE PEAK ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGARS IS IN 2011 AT 7.5%"
2. Troughs: pick out the low point of each data series. Note down the dates and corresponding values.
"THE LOWEST ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT IS IN 2004 AT -2.4%, WHEREAS THE LOWEST ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGARS IS IN 2000 AT 0.8%."
3. Trends: for each set of data, take the start point and end point of the time series. Comment on whether there's an increase, decrease or the level remains fairly stable. Note down the start date/end date and corresponding values.
"FOR SUGAR PRICES, FROM 2000 TO 2011, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FROM 0.8% TO 7.5%. FOR FRUIT PRICES, THERE IS ALSO AN UPWARD TREND: IN 2000 ANNUAL CHANGE IS 0.4% AND IN 2011 IT IS 5.8%."
4. Absolute levels: state whether the level of one set of data is higher/lower/the same as the other data set across the entire time series. Either pick out one date to verify this and provide supporting figures:
"GENERALLY, THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGARS IS HIGHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT ACROSS THE DATA SERIES e.g IN 2011 IT IS 7.5% FOR SUGARS AND ONLY 3.8% FOR FRUIT."
or state this is the case then give a date and supporting figures when this wasn't the case:
"GENERALLY, THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGAR PRICES IS HIGHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT PRICES ACROSS THE DATA SERIES BUT IN 2001, THE FORMER WAS 1.7% AND THE LATTER WAS 8.5%."
Full mark response:
Any of the paragraphs below will give you 4 marks. Note that you won't receive 8 marks for paragraphs 4 & 5 together as this is just counted as one point of comparison:
"THE PEAK ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT IS IN 2001 AT 8.7%, WHEREAS THE PEAK ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGARS IS IN 2011 AT 7.5%"
"THE LOWEST ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT IS IN 2004 AT -2.4%, WHEREAS THE LOWEST ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGARS IS IN 2000 AT 0.8%."
"FOR SUGAR PRICES, FROM 2000 TO 2011, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FROM 0.8% TO 7.5%. FOR FRUIT PRICES, THERE IS ALSO AN UPWARD TREND: IN 2000 ANNUAL CHANGE IS 0.4% AND IN 2011 IT IS 5.8%."
"GENERALLY, THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGARS IS HIGHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT ACROSS THE DATA SERIES e.g IN 2011 IT IS 7.5% FOR SUGARS AND ONLY 3.8% FOR FRUIT."
"GENERALLY, THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR SUGAR PRICES IS HIGHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE ANNUAL CHANGE FOR FRUIT PRICES ACROSS THE DATA SERIES BUT IN 2001, THE FORMER WAS 1.7% AND THE LATTER WAS 8.5%."