myEd Online's 2013 HSC Economics Exam Predictions by Rowan Kunz

Short Answers 2013 Predictions 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
1 Economic Growth Protection/Free Tade Trade Agreements / Case Study CAD Inflation Economic Growth Distribution of Income & Wealth
2 BOP/CAD Inflation CAD Globalization / Case Study Fiscal Policy Globalization/Case Study Inflation
3 Environment Distribution of Income & Wealth Labour Market Reform Unemployment Environment Mircoeconomic reform Globalization/Case Study
4 Globalization/Case Study Unemployment Environment Exchange Rate Protection CAD Environment

Essays 2013 Predictions 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

1 Effectiveness of Macro Policy - Potentially specific focus on Monetary Globalization and Impact on Aus Economy (StructuralFiscal
Change)
Policy & Income Distribution Environment Microeconomic reform International Org/Trading Blocs & Globalization Fiscal Policy
International Orgs/Global Trade - Role in Globalization & Inequalities in
2 Global Economy Globalization and the BOP Monetary Policy & Inflation/Unemployment
Income Distribution Case Study Exchange Rate & Internal/External Stability External Stability
3 Exchange Rates - impact of fluctations on Aus Economy Case Study Microeconomic reform External Stability Macroeconomic Mix - Inflation/Unemployment Fiscal Policy Labour Market Reform
4 Labour Markets and Microeconomic Reform Macro & Micro Policy - effectiveness Globalisation & Exchange Rates Protection Globalization - economic growth/external stability Monetary Policy Case Study

MAYBE: Environment - via Fiscal Policy, or Microeconomic Reform

Want more help for HSC Economics?

Access detailed video tutorials covering every single HSC Economics syllabus dot point and over 500 practice questions and
solutions to help you prep for your HSC economics exams. Detailed video tutorials covering all recent economic trends, and analysis
of Fiscal and Monetary policy and their impact on all economic objectives!

www.myedonline.com
Track Record
In 2012 HSC successfully predicted 2 out 4 essay questions, and 3/4 short answer topics.
In 2011 HSC successfully predicted 3/4 essay questions.
Average across 2004 to 2012 is 2/4 essay questions predicted successfully :)
Fingers crossed I can keep this up for 2013!

Rationale Behind Predictions

Essays

1. Effectiveness of Macro Policy - with specific focus on Monetary Policy

Macroeconomic policy has been asked as an essay has been asked 5 out of the last 6 years. It’s a large component of the course, and with policy changing
each year is dynamic. With changes in Monetary policy across the year (including during April/May when the examiners work on the questions).

2. International Orgs/Global Trade - Role in Globalization and Inequalities in Global Economy

This topic was featured in the CSSA and Independent Trials in 2013 - so it looks like both are putting their money on this being in the HSC. It also hasn’t
been examined since 2008 - so it’s fairly under tested. I feel if it is examined they *may* put a spin on it - a severely under tested component of this is the
role that international orgs/trade agreements play in shaping global inequalities.
3. Exchange Rates - impact of fluctuations on Aus economy

This hasn’t been examined as an essay since 2011 and was not examined at all in 2012. It usually features almost every 2nd year in the HSC exams +
there has been plenty of movement in the $AUD this year due to monetary policy reductions and it’s fluctuations have had some interesting impacts for the
economy.
4. Labour Markets and Microeconomic Reform

I thought this would be examined in 2012 - and I was wrong :( Hasn’t been tested as an essay since 2007, and has only been examined once in short
answers in 2011. So, it’s very under tested (x 2 in 6 years) Since the Fair Work Act 2009 has been implemented (across 2009 and 2011) there has been a
lot of changes + given time since implementation, more evidence of impact available.
5. MAYBE - Environment (possibly dressed up in a macro or micro reform question)

Environment has been examined only once in the last 6 years as an essay question in 2010 and a lot has been happening this year with the Carbon ETS,
and the move from fixed to floating. In saying this, it’s actually quite difficult to write a full essay on the environment and it’s more likely it’s integrated into
a broader question. This could be with a macro economic question - like the first one I’ve predicted, or as part of micro reform question (this is much less
likely however).

Short Answers

These are always harder to predict - but here’s my shot at it!

1. Economic Growth

It’s been a topical economic issue this year with long term economic growth rates being revised and it’s actually under tested. It hasn’t been asked as a SA since 2008.

2. BOP/CAD

This topic has appeared in pretty much every paper across the last 6 years (occasionally disguised as external stability). As a result, it’s a likely one this
year (despite being examined in 2012) - especially with ongoing concerns this year around debt (due to the election).

3. Environment

Under tested and topic - more often featured as an short answer question rather than an essay with the focus being on market mechanisms to improve
environmental outcomes/ESD. The environment wasn’t examined last year, so is very likely this year as it appears every 2 years in the HSC exam.

4. Globalization and Case Study

Globalization has been examined in the last 6 HSC exams. The 2012 paper had a heavy focus on globalization in the essays - making it likely this year as a
short answer.

Disclaimer
The point of putting these predictions together is to help you prioritize and focus for your study for the HSC Economics exam.

Obviously, there is no guarantee (or any warranties implied or otherwise) that any of the predictions (despite my best efforts) will be correct and if you rely upon these predictions, you do so at your own risk.

As such - while it is my recommendation that it would be wise to focus on the predicted topics and write practice essays, if you really want to give yourself
the best shot of a Band 6 for the HSC exam - cover everything, in crazy detail (I know this is obvious but I felt it important to reiterate!)

All the best for your HSC!