QCE Economics past exams 2020–2025, by year and topic

The rest of the syllabus

Question-level mapping for these areas is still being verified. Every official paper covering them is in the year table above.

• Unit 3: International economics (course and internal assessment; outside specified2026 EA scope) — The global economy — trade patterns, comparative/absolute advantage, terms of trade · Trade liberalisation and protection — tariffs, quotas, subsidies, free trade agreements · Exchange rates — determination, floating vs fixed systems, factors affecting AUD · Balance of payments — current account, capital/financial account, sustainability · Globalisation and international economic development issues
• Unit 4: Contemporary macroeconomics (2026 EA: Topics1 and3) — Economic indicators and measuring economic performance (GDP, unemployment, inflation, economic cycle) · Aggregate demand and aggregate supply model — short-run and long-run · Domestic macroeconomic objectives — full employment, price stability, external stability, growth · Fiscal policy — budget, government spending/taxation, automatic/discretionary stabilisers · Monetary policy — RBA cash rate, monetary policy transmission mechanism · Contemporary economic issues and policy evaluation/trade-offs · 2026 EA specifically covers Topic1 Macroeconomic objectives and theory and Topic3 Economic management; includes average propensities to consume/save and structural deficit
• Unit 1: Markets and models (foundational — IA only, not EA-examinable) — The basic economic problem — scarcity, choice, opportunity cost · Economic models — circular flow of income, production possibility curve · Demand, supply and the price mechanism · Market equilibrium and elasticity
• Unit 2: Modified markets (foundational — IA only, not EA-examinable) — Market structures and competition · Market failure — externalities, public goods, information failure · Government intervention in markets · Labour markets