Effective IB Economics mock exam prep requires more than rereading notes. Before November, you need to identify the content your school will test, retrieve theory from memory, practise diagrams and calculations, and complete timed questions for the papers included in your mock.
The most reliable approach is a four-week cycle: diagnose weaknesses, repair content gaps, practise each paper separately, and finish with realistic simulations. Because November mocks are organized by individual schools, confirm the scope, paper format, timing, and permitted materials with your teacher before following any general plan.
Confirm the format of your November Economics mocks
The official IB course has four units: introduction to economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and the global economy. However, a November mock may test only the units your class has completed. It may also shorten or combine papers, so your teacher's instructions take priority over the final examination format.
The current official assessment structure is summarized below. The IB Economics course page links to the official SL and HL subject briefs.
| Component | SL | HL | Main skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 hour 15 minutes, 30% | 1 hour 15 minutes, 20% | Extended explanation, application, diagrams, and evaluation |
| Paper 2 | 1 hour 45 minutes, 40% | 1 hour 45 minutes, 30% | Data response, calculations, diagrams, and contextual analysis |
| Paper 3 | Not taken | 1 hour 45 minutes, 30% | Quantitative work and evidence-based policy recommendations |
| Internal assessment | 30% | 20% | Three economic commentaries |
These are official final assessment weightings, not mandatory mock weightings. A school can assess a smaller syllabus area or use modified timings in November.
Use a focused four-week study plan
Week 1: Diagnose and organize
Begin with a syllabus audit. Divide every topic included in the mock into three categories: secure, uncertain, and weak. Use the IB Economics revision notes to check definitions, models, policies, calculations, and HL extensions, but test yourself before opening the notes.
Complete one timed section or representative set without assistance. Mark it and classify each lost mark as a content gap, diagram error, weak application, limited evaluation, calculation error, or time-management problem. This error log should determine what you study next.
Week 2: Repair theory, diagrams, and examples
Study one weak topic at a time using a repeatable cycle:
- Write the key definitions from memory.
- Draw every relevant diagram without notes.
- Explain each movement, shift, and equilibrium change in words.
- Add one real-world example and two evaluation points.
- Complete two targeted questions from an IB Economics Questionbank.
For example, do not merely memorize an indirect tax diagram. Explain why the tax raises firms' costs, shifts supply left, changes the price paid by consumers and received by producers, reduces quantity, and creates government revenue. Then consider elasticity, stakeholder effects, administrative costs, and whether the tax addresses the underlying market failure.
Use Economics flashcards for definitions and formulas, but not as a substitute for written analysis. Knowing the definition of price elasticity of demand is different from interpreting its value in a policy context.
Week 3: Train for each paper
For Paper 1, practise selecting and planning a complete question before writing. A strong response defines relevant terms, develops clear causal reasoning, integrates correctly labelled diagrams, applies real-world examples, and answers the command term. Evaluation should consider conditions such as time period, elasticity, stakeholder effects, assumptions, policy trade-offs, and the scale of the problem.
For Paper 2, read the questions before studying the stimulus closely. Mark data, policies, stakeholder perspectives, and contextual details that can support each answer. Quoting the text is not enough; explain how the evidence connects to economic theory.
HL students should prepare separately for Paper 3. Practise writing the formula, substituting values, showing working, including units, and interpreting the result. Policy recommendations must follow from the data and theory rather than appearing as unsupported opinions. The Paper 1 and Paper 2 comparison provides further paper-specific practice guidance.
Week 4: Simulate, review, and retest
Complete at least one substantial timed paper or school-format mock under realistic conditions. Work without notes, silence notifications, obey the time limit, and handwrite at least some practice if your school mock will be handwritten.
Mark and review the attempt on the same day if possible. Rewrite the answer that lost the most avoidable marks, then use targeted practice to repair the underlying weakness. Retest that skill with a fresh question 2-3 days later rather than repeating the same prompt from memory.
RevisionDojo's mock exam guidance explains how to turn each simulation into an error-correction cycle. The IB Economics resource hub also brings together timed practice, model essays, notes, and question sets.
Build a manageable weekly timetable
Aim for focused sessions rather than long periods of passive review. A practical week might contain:
| Session | Task | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Weak topic review | Definitions, one diagram, and one explanation |
| Tuesday | Paper 1 practice | One plan and one timed response |
| Wednesday | Data and calculations | Paper 2 set or HL Paper 3 problems |
| Thursday | Second weak topic | Retrieval sheet and targeted questions |
| Friday | Examples and evaluation | Five examples and conditional judgments |
| Weekend | Timed mixed practice | Marked attempt and updated error log |
If time is limited, prioritize assessed topics, recurring errors, and high-demand skills. Do not spend an entire evening rewriting attractive notes while avoiding timed questions.
Common mistakes before November mocks
- Revising every topic equally: allocate more time to weaknesses confirmed by evidence.
- Memorizing diagrams without explanations: every curve movement must support a causal argument.
- Using vague examples: record the country, policy or market, approximate period, and relevant outcome.
- Ignoring command terms: an explanation needs developed reasoning, while discussion requires a balanced, supported judgment.
- Writing evaluation only at the end: integrate limitations and conditions throughout longer responses.
- Leaving full practice until the final week: timing and stamina improve through repeated exposure.
- Treating one mock grade as final: use the result to identify patterns, not to define your ability.
Final November mock checklist
Before the exam, confirm that you can:
- define central terms precisely without notes;
- draw and explain the required diagrams from memory;
- connect theory to specific real-world examples;
- distinguish explanation, analysis, discussion, and evaluation;
- interpret data and show complete calculation working;
- finish each included paper within your school's time limit;
- review an answer for labels, units, application, and judgment.
Conclusion
Strong IB Economics mock exam prep combines accurate knowledge with repeated exam performance. Confirm your school's November mock scope, follow a four-week diagnose-practise-review cycle, and use timed work to expose weaknesses that ordinary revision can hide. RevisionDojo can support this process through Study Notes, Flashcards, the Economics Questionbank, Mock Exams, and Jojo AI feedback, with timed questions and targeted review being the most useful final priorities.
Sources and referenced URLs
- Official IB Economics course page
- Official IB Economics standard level subject brief
- Official IB Economics higher level subject brief
- Official IB Diploma sample examination papers
- RevisionDojo IB Economics resources
- RevisionDojo IB Economics revision notes
- RevisionDojo IB Economics Questionbank
- RevisionDojo IB Economics flashcards
- RevisionDojo Paper 1 and Paper 2 comparison
- RevisionDojo IB mock exam guidance