The Essay Paper in A level economics forms a significant percentage of the final mark awarded by all examination boards. This paper enables examiners to discriminate between candidates and also enables candidates to display the skills and abilities which they possess.

As the essay paper has evolved it has become more demanding with much more emphasis on posing questions which allow candidates to display the higher order skills. Professor Roy Wilkinson of Sheffield University has identified a pyramid of skills which A level economics examinations try to test.

As the essay paper has evolved it has become more demanding with much more emphasis on posing questions which allow candidates to display the higher order skills. Professor Roy Wilkinson of Sheffield University has identified a pyramid of skills which A level economics examinations try to test. The bottom two layers are "Lower-order skills", while the top four layers are "Higher-order skills".

As there is now less emphasis on testing the lower order skills this implies that it is not possible for candidates to perform well in the essay paper by rote learning of notes.