IB Economics,
from demand
to global policy.
IB DP Economics HL and SL — the new syllabus emphasising real-world policy analysis, sustainability and the 10/15-mark essay technique that decides most final grades. Plus full coaching on the IA commentary portfolio.
The IB's flagship social science. Strong foundation for economics, business, PPE and international relations degrees worldwide.
IB Economics is diagrams, real-world application and IA commentaries.
IB Economics underwent a major syllabus change in recent years — the new specification places heavy weight on real-world application, the nine "key concepts" (scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence, intervention), and the IA portfolio of three commentaries based on real news articles.
Where grades are actually won
For most students, the decider is the 10-mark and 15-mark essays on Paper 1 and Paper 3. These require labelled diagrams, specific key concept integration, real-world examples and explicit evaluation. Classroom teaching rarely drills the full checklist — and students lose 8–12 marks per paper as a result.
How we teach it
Every Times Edu Economics student writes one full essay per week from week 3 onwards, marked against the exact IB criteria. IA commentaries are coached separately — from article selection through to final submission — with examiner-style feedback on each of the three portfolio pieces.
The full content we cover in 1:1 lessons.
Every Times Edu Economics mentor maps lessons directly to the official IB subject guide — nothing on the final exam is a surprise.
Introduction to Economics
Scarcity, choice, key concepts, production possibility curves.
Microeconomics
Demand, supply, elasticity, market failure, government intervention.
Macroeconomics
GDP, AD-AS, unemployment, inflation, fiscal and monetary policy.
Global Economy
Trade, exchange rates, economic integration, development.
Theory of the Firm (HL)
Cost theory, perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly.
Game Theory (HL)
Strategic decision-making, collusion, Nash equilibrium.
Diagram Technique
12+ core diagrams drawn from memory with full labels.
IA Portfolio
Three commentaries on real-world news articles, each applying a different unit.
Every paper and every IA, mapped.
IB assessment mixes exam papers with the Internal Assessment — and the IA is where most schools lose marks. Here is the full breakdown.
Short + Essay
Short-answer 10-mark and extended-response 15-mark essay options.
Data Response
Data-response questions based on an extract, with diagram integration.
Policy Paper (HL only)
Quantitative and policy-response questions — HL-only.
Commentary Portfolio
Three 800-word commentaries on news articles — applying key concepts.
Why even strong students lose IB points here.
These are the three traps we see most often in diagnostic sessions with new IB Diploma Economics students — and every one is fixable with focused coaching.
Missing the key concept
The new syllabus requires every essay to integrate one of nine key concepts explicitly. Students who skip this cap at grade 4 regardless of content quality.
Weak IA article selection
A poorly chosen article makes a full commentary impossible. We coach selection in week 1 — articles must be current, international, and rich in economic content.
Skipped evaluation
15-mark essays must include explicit evaluation. Students who argue one-sidedly lose 5–8 marks per essay.
Across HL and SL.
My Economics IA portfolio went from a predicted 4 to a final 40/45. Three sessions per commentary and my mentor showed me exactly what the examiners were scoring against. Final grade: 7.
What families always ask about IB Economics.
Have a specific question about your child's situation? Book a free 60-minute diagnostic and our IB specialist will answer every one.
Is the new IB Economics syllabus harder than the old one?
Moderately harder — the real-world application requirement and key concept integration add new complexity. But it is also more coachable because the criteria are now more explicit. We teach to the current syllabus.
HL or SL?
HL adds Theory of the Firm, Game Theory and Paper 3 — and is required for most competitive Economics, Finance and PPE programmes. SL is sufficient for students taking Economics as a secondary subject.
Can you help with the IA portfolio?
Yes — this is one of our most requested services. We coach article selection, commentary structure, and each of the three portfolio pieces separately. Most students gain 10–15 marks against predicted with our portfolio coaching.
Do you integrate Vietnam-specific economic data?
Yes. We encourage IA commentaries on ASEAN and Vietnamese economic issues where appropriate — examiners reward specificity and cultural context.
Ready to turn IB Economics into a full 7?
Your child's free 60-minute Economics diagnostic includes a full topic-by-topic gap analysis, a realistic grade prediction, an IA review and a personalised roadmap through to final May exams. Worth $60 — free for the first 50 families this intake.