Making the most of the summer holiday for Year 12 economists

At the end of a long and challenging year of study, often culminating in end-of-year exams and the determination of UCAS predicted grades, the thoughts of Year 12 students inevitably turn to a well-deserved break over the summer holiday. While some rest and fun with friends and family is essential, this two-month period is crucial for students keen to maximise their chances in both their public examination and university applications.

UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS FOR ECONOMICS

Admissions to Economics-related university degrees in the UK are fiercely competitive, and not just at those university traditionally occupying the top places in the league tables. Given the desirable skills and knowledge developed during such degrees, it is no surprise that they are correlated with higher earning potential and employability rates.

 

Strong predicted grades are therefore not enough on their own and applicants need to devote their summer break to preparing the strongest possible UCAS personal statement. They must be able to demonstrate to admissions departments that they have a passion for the subject and the skills needed to thrive on such a course. There are a number of activities that can support this:

Reading

Students should be immersing themselves fully in the areas of the subject that really excite them. It may be reading academic books but equally valuable are periodicals such as The Economist, Money Week, and The Financial Timesl. Blogs and podcasts are also valuable means of keeping up to date with the latest economic issues and discussions. Oxford Economics has some great undergraduate reading suggestions and there are some other handy resources at the bottom of this page.  

Admissions tests

Applicants to Economics-related Oxford University courses (E&M, PPE, and Economics and History) are required to sit the Thinking Skills Assessment and some Economics-related courses at London School of Economics, Imperial College London, Cambridge University, and Warwick University require the TMUA. The summer is a crucial period for preparing for these assessments, through familiarisation with the style of questions and practice of past papers. At Economasters, we regularly support students with preparation for the TSA. 

Experience

The summer holiday is a great opportunity to get some real-life experience of Economics. That could be working in a local business, in a think tank, or attending a summer course. What matters is what you can learn from the experience rather than the reputation of the institution itself. Being able to develop your understanding and to apply your knowledge of the subject to a new context is what admissions departments want to see.

Competitions

There are a wide range of Economics competitions available to Year 12 students, like the Young Economist of the Year (Royal Economic Society / Financial Times), the LSE SU Economics Society Essay Competition or our own Economasters Essay Competition! While some do have very attractive top prizes available, far more important is the process of researching and producing an entry. The skills developed and knowledge gained will not only serve you well in your future studies but will provide evidence to admissions departments of your commitment to and interest in your chosen course. 

Lectures

Many distinguished institutions offer lectures throughout the summer that are open to the public. While some may seem quite advanced and focus on very specific topics, others are more accessible to a wider audience. Look through the programmes of lectures and pick out topics of interest. Remember to keep a note of the lectures you attend and the key points you found most interesting. Better yet, talk to someone else about what you learnt.  

Getting ahead with Year 13 work

It is essential to hit the ground running in September in the Year 13 Economics course. Whether A Level or IB, the content will likely feel a step up in difficulty with many new models to become familiar with. More technical analysis will be required and essay technique will need to be developed further. Many students have found it extremely valuable to spend time over the summer getting ahead with the Year 13 content. This helps to build confidence and provides a platform for success throughout the final year and into the exams. At Economasters, we work with Year 12 students over the summer to give them that valuable head-start with their studies.

Consolidation

Consolidation of material covered in the Year 12 course is essential for all students. The content covered in that year provides the foundations upon which the Year 13 models are built and so any gaps, however small, should be filled over the summer. Some students may feel they underperformed in their Year 12 exams, perhaps because they fell behind early and never recovered. It is certainly not too late, though, to begin the Year 13 course with a renewed sense of confidence and with a secure understanding of all of the Year 12 topics. At Economasters we have worked with many Year 12 students to strengthen their knowledge of the first year topics, often with the intention of improving their UCAS predicted grades in the autumn. We have seen that hard work, supported by high quality tutorial support, has led to huge gains in confidence and performance in students when they return to school in September. 

If you want to get a head start on your economics studies, we can help.