IB · Economics · SL
IB Economics SL
Study IB Economics SL through models, evidence and real-world economic issues.
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IB Economics SL at a glance
Follow the live knowledge tree from economic ideas and models to topics and learning objectives.
- 4
- syllabus units
- 27
- mapped topics
- 7
- study tools
What you study in IB Economics SL
Use economic theories, models and evidence to examine choices by consumers, producers and governments.
Use the syllabus map to move from a unit to Concepts, Mastery or Question Bank.
Explore the IB Economics SL syllabus
Follow the live knowledge tree from economic ideas and models to topics and learning objectives.
Unit 1: Unit 1 Introduction to economics
Unit 2: Unit 2 Microeconomics
Unit 3: Unit 3 Macroeconomics
Unit 4: Unit 4 The global economy
- 4.1Benefits of international trade
- 4.2Types of trade protection
- 4.3Arguments for and against trade control/protection
- 4.4Economic integration
- 4.5Exchange rates
- 4.6Balance of payments
- 4.7Sustainable development
- 4.8Measuring development
- 4.9Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development
- 4.10Economic growth and/or economic development strategies
IB Economics SL exam skills
Practise the command terms, data handling and extended reasoning used across IB assessment.
- Follow command termsMatch the depth and structure of the response to the exact instruction.
- Use data as evidenceRead units and uncertainty, identify patterns and support conclusions with values.
- Build mark-efficient explanationsLink cause, evidence and subject vocabulary without repeating the prompt.
SourceCurrent IB subject guide and assessment objectives.
IB Economics SL assessment
The SL course combines external examinations with a portfolio of three commentaries.
You produce three commentaries based on published news-media extracts, using a different key concept for each commentary.
SL takes an extended-response Paper 1 and a data-response Paper 2.
Paper 1 contributes 30%, Paper 2 contributes 40%, and the commentary portfolio contributes 30%.
Practise extended economic arguments for Paper 1 and data interpretation, calculations and contextual analysis for Paper 2.