“All tests should make the students think”

A new selection of questions on microeconomics which force students to think, consider and then think again.

Imagine a collection of around 200 questions on microeconomics, all suitable for AS, A2 and IB students.

Now, imagine them gathered together into topics ranging from (for example) costs and revenues to contestable markets, from production possibility frontiers to market failure.

And finally imagine that each question is not only set out in such a way that it can be copied and supplied with space for the student to answer, but also that answer sheets are separately included so that having done each test, the students can see not just the questions they have got wrong, but also where they have gone wrong.

It’s taken quite a while to put such a volume together and to cover a huge range of topics – but now we have it with “Microeconomics Assessment Tests”.

Let’s take one question by way of example:

“One main reason why the supply curve slopes positively upwards is because firms want to produce less when there are greater profit opportunities, due to higher prices.” True or False?

And here is the answer given:

“This is the right concept, but is stated the wrong way round. Firms will want to produce more, not less.”

In short, students getting the answer the wrong way round, now start to see why, and from this point on it is possible to discuss with them their misapprehension of the issue.

Here’s another one, this time from the section on “Market Equilibrium”

“The market clearing price comes about when demand and supply are stable.” True or False?

And the answer given:

“At first sight this statement seems plausible. However the market clearing price is the price at which all surpluses and shortages are eliminated and there is no further tendency for the market price to change.”

Given that students only see the questions at first, and given that the questions can be set in very short batches, the students will quickly come to understand the sort of questions being asked and will begin to question the issues and their understanding of them, more deeply.

In other words they will start looking for something beyond the simplicity of true or false, and will start to consider the issues behind the question in each case.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/economics/T1824

ISBN: 978 1 86083 871 2; Order code: T1824emn

The volume is available as…

  • Photocopiable book, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the book and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery

Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the book or CD…