1. Bees don’t just make honey!
Feedback on exam practice

2. Aims of today
For you to understand the exam board marking criteria – so that you can boost your marks/grades.
To further your understanding of K, Ap, An & Ev skills needed
To show you the range of terminology that you have covered and NEED to use in your answers!
Essential to include diagrams where relevant!

3. Priority of this feedback
For you to make notes on how you could have improved your answers
Focus on where the EVALUATION marks are awarded!

4. original equilibrium (1) Inward shift in S (1) New equilibrium (1)
1) “As a result almond prices are soaring to over $3 per pound.” With reference to the data and using a supply & demand diagram, explain why this happened. (7 marks)
Diagram…. Must show
original equilibrium (1)
Inward shift in S (1)
New equilibrium (1)
Movements on axis (-1 if not present)
LABEL ALL CURVES! – no labels = no marks!
Worth 3 marks

5. What does this look like?
1) “As a result almond prices are soaring to over $3 per pound.” With reference to the data and using a supply & demand diagram, explain why this happened. (7 marks)
Explanation…. Must explain why prices rise – using ec theory …
Too much waffle – re-using case study story
Ec theory
Market shortage: show on diagram
Consumer surplus: show on diagram
Ec pressures due to shortage means that prices do rise!
What does this look like?

6. Cross price elasticity – identify key elasticity & define/formula (1)
2. Comment on the likely elasticity between almonds and hazelnuts. (4 marks)
Cross price elasticity – identify key elasticity & define/formula (1)
Substitutes for each other (1)
Positive elasticity (1)
Because – written explanation ideally using ‘numerical’ example… (1)

7. PeS formula or definition (1) Inelastic PeS (1) Reason … because …(1)
3. What can you learn from the passage about the price elasticity of supply for crops? (5 marks)
PeS formula or definition (1)
Inelastic PeS (1)
Reason … because …(1)
Diagram showing an inelastic S curve – show the effect (1)
EVALUATION…. 2 marks….
Time it takes to recover from the mite – might make the PeS more inelastic
Impact of mite on industry in long run – if bee keepers

8. What do you think ‘assess’ means?
4. Assess the likely impact of the rise in price of almonds for consumers of confectionary products. (10 marks)
What do you think ‘assess’ means?
…to what extent will there be an impact????

9. Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
4. Assess the likely impact of the rise in price of almonds for consumers of confectionary products. (10 marks)
Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
Impact = higher costs (1) which will be most likely passed onto consumers as higher prices (1)
Derived demand – not many people D almonds – but they are needed for other goods – i.e. complementary link between the two goods.
Impact on D for hazelnuts (1) – show on diagram,  D(3)
Impact could be a substitution effect (1) as consumers swap to alternative products
and/or an income effect (1) if they continue to consume … but lesser quantities (1)
Evaluation = 4 marks

10. Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
4. Assess the likely impact of the rise in price of almonds for consumers of confectionary products. (10 marks)
Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
Reference to consumer surplus (1) and diagram (3)
Reference to producer surplus (1) and diagram (3)
Or higher costs may be absorbed by the business and a fall in profits (1) for the businesses, which could mean an incentive to work more productively efficient (1) – or cut back on other costs e.g. labour (1) – so the price might stay the same….
Evaluation = 4 marks

11. 4 marks – need to show judgement – assess the impact……
4 marks – need to show judgement – assess the impact……. (2 marks per comment developed)
EVALUATION
Depends on the PeD elasticity whether consumers would react to the change in price, whether the brand name/customer loyalty will help/advertising
Depends on the YeD – whether a normal or luxury good
Depends on how easy it is to substitute almonds in the recipe!
CPeD diagram… depends on the elasticity and how close other substitutes are (hazelnuts)
Depends on the level of competition in the confectionary market …
Depends on the frequency of the purchase of the good – links to elasticity PeD & YeD

12. Good examples
Alex G

13. Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
5. Evaluate two other likely consequences of the spread of the varroa mite in bees. (10 marks)
Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
Increase in mite = needs more investment in ‘cure’ – an increase in cost which further reduces S
Possible extinction – need to look at alternatives
Increase in the price of hives rentals – due to increase D – a further increase in costs – less incentive to S honey! (Diagram…) CPeD – complementary products.
Less bees = less honey
Less cross pollination for other crops – mainly fruit – means more imports into the country
Increase in investment in scientific research to find cure.
Evaluation = 4 marks

14. Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
6. Assess the likely success of a state subsidy for honey production (12 marks)
Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
Up to 3 marks for a written explanation
1 mark per relevant point + 2 for development
3 marks for relevant diagram
6 marks for evaluation
Evaluation = 6 marks

15. Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
6. Assess the likely success of a state subsidy for honey production (12 marks)
Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
Subsidy = increase in supply (1)
Diagram to show this (3)
Relevant points include
Income for beekeepers to invest in replacing bee stock/hives
Subsidy will help them ‘cover’ the increase in costs
Might encourage new beekeepers – increase supply
Evaluation = 6 marks

16. Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
6. Assess the likely success of a state subsidy for honey production (12 marks)
Knowledge & Application = 6 marks max
Evaluation issues…
Opportunity costs – is it right to subsidise the beekeepers or should the govt invest in scientific research?
If no cure a subsidy won’t help as bees will eventually be extinct!
How likely is it that new beekeepers will start up in business - very specialised work.
Evaluation = 6marks

17. Overall – key skills
You need to start with definitions or formulas more!
Vital to label diagrams clearly/accurately.
Must read over the elasticity issues – its not just the calculations but application as well.
Evaluation marks – to gain B & A’s.

18. A*’s for the future
In your 1st exam – you need to get into the 80% UMS this year in both papers
In A2 – need to be in the 90% UMS boundaries
RESIT marks don’t count for an A*!