THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Start with scarcity and decisions, build market models, and connect them to policy and the international economy.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Economics assessed?
- Written examination: 80%.
- Research study: 20%.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Economic thinking
Scarcity, choice, incentives and evidence.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What is the opportunity cost of a decision?
Identify the best alternative forgone, not every possible alternative.
Consumers & firms
How economic decisions are made.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Why might a firm or household respond differently to the same price change?
State whose decision you are explaining and the constraints they face.
Markets
Demand, supply and market outcomes.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Is an event a movement along a curve or a shift of the curve?
Name the changing factor before drawing the diagram.
Policy & performance
Government policy and measures of the economy.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Could a policy improve one objective while weakening another?
Explain the mechanism and a possible trade-off.
International economics
Trade and international connections.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How could a change abroad affect an Irish household or firm?
Follow one clear chain of effects rather than listing unrelated consequences.
Research study
A focused economic question, data and evaluation.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Do two data series establish that one causes the other?
Check dates, definitions and possible alternative explanations.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Draw one model from memory and explain each axis.
- Apply the model to a dated real-world example.
- Check that research evidence uses comparable measures and periods.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Economics (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Economics: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: The five strands; assessment, printed page 27.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.