QCAA 2025 Economics syllabus

Available January 2024, implementation Year 11 in 2025

2025 Syllabus is expected to be released in January 2024. Implementation is Year 11 in 2025.
QETA will provide further details when the syllabus is available.

Timeline
QCAA released draft 3 of the syllabus.  QETA provided feedback To Draft 1 from the Feedback session conducted in May.

Draft 2 and public feedback survey on this web page: Link

Draft 1 public consultation report PDF

QETA Commentary:

The first thing you will note is a change to the template. This has been explained at QCAA webinars as an improvement by reducing the number of words and reducing duplication and complexity in all syllabus templates. If you are concerned or unsure about how the Economics syllabus looks, check out any other syllabus in HASS to see how all syllabuses have changed. Look for reduced and clearer specifications and changes in how the word counts are expressed in the assessments.

Next, there is still no glossary attached. In its place, there is a new section called "Additional subject-specific information". This has information about Economic criteria, Use of data in Economics, Research report and Analytical essay. Check out how Modern History has approached this section, as that will give you another perspective on how this new section works.

From the Draft 1 consultation report, note the following.

• There are minor wording improvements, e.g. in the ISMGs for analysing, evaluating and creating a response, all based on feedback to draft 1.
• In Unit 1, there are no changes.
• In Unit 2 the number of case options has not been reduced in Topic 2. In Topic 1 there has been a significant  reduction in the content that must be taught (refer Draft 1). There is always a trade-off between depth and breadth of subject matter.
• In Unit 3, in response to feedback, there has been a change of subject matter between Topic 1 and Topic 2.
  • Topic 1 will be trade patterns, trade theories, exchange rates, PLUS balance of payments 
  • Topic 2 will be trade agreements, trade barriers and globalisation. Check that the cognitive levels are appropriate in these changes.
• In Unit 4, there are no major changes from Draft 1, and clarity provided. For example, Topic 2 will be focused on past budgets, and Topic 3 will focus on Monetary policy, microeconomic reform and aggregate supply (no change there), plus future fiscal policy measures.
• There were some changes in response to feedback on Draft 1 in the mark allocations in IA2 and IA3. Check these carefully.

If you have questions about the template, please contact the Senior Curriculum Unit: scu@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
if you have questions about the Draft 2 syllabus, please contact Economics@qcaa.qld.edu.au.