And how many students answer the wrong question without realising
One of the most underestimated skills in VCE Economics is understanding what the question is actually asking you to do. Not the topic. The task.
Every year, examiner reports point to the same issue. Students include relevant content, correct theory and appropriate terminology, yet still lose marks because their response does not match the task word.
In VCE Economics, task words are not interchangeable. They determine how your answer is marked.
The difference between knowing Economics and answering Economics
Many students revise Economics by topic. Monetary policy. Fiscal policy. Aggregate demand. Inflation. Unemployment.
This works well for recall, but it does not prepare students for how questions are structured. Exam questions are written to test specific Study Design outcomes, and those outcomes are embedded in the task words.
If the task word is misunderstood, even a knowledgeable response can miss the mark.
Why “explain” does not mean “describe”
One of the most common errors is treating explain questions as description tasks.
To explain in Economics means to show cause and effect. It requires movement. One variable must lead to another, and that relationship must result in an outcome.
Students who simply define a concept or outline how something works in general terms rarely earn full marks on explain questions. The examiner is looking for a chain of reasoning, not a summary.
What analyse actually demands
Analyse is one of the most misunderstood task words in VCE Economics.
When a question asks students to analyse, it is asking them to break down relationships between economic variables and show how they interact. This often involves linking data, theory and outcomes together.
Many students analyse by explaining one factor in isolation. This limits marks. Strong analysis shows interaction, not just explanation.
Why evaluate is where marks are most often lost
Evaluation is the biggest separator in Economics, particularly in Unit 4.
Evaluate requires students to make a judgement about effectiveness, significance or impact. It is not enough to list positives and negatives. A decision must be made.
Examiner reports repeatedly note that students avoid committing to a conclusion. They write balanced responses that sound thoughtful but lack control.
In Economics, balance without judgement is not evaluation.
Assess and justify require prioritisation
Questions that ask students to assess or justify require prioritisation.
Students must decide what matters most in the context provided and support that decision with economic reasoning. Listing multiple effects without prioritising them usually caps marks.
These task words reward students who can rank outcomes, not just name them.
Why task words matter even in short answers
Many students assume task words only matter in extended responses. This is not the case.
Short-answer questions are tightly written and tightly marked. A question that asks students to identify requires a different response to one that asks them to outline or explain.
Students who write too much for an identify question waste time. Students who write too little for an explain question lose marks.
Precision matters everywhere on the paper.
How strong students approach task words
High-performing students slow down just enough to identify the task word before they write.
They ask themselves what the examiner is actually looking for. Explanation. Analysis. Evaluation. Justification.
They then shape their response to match that demand, rather than defaulting to familiar content.
This habit alone lifts marks significantly.
What this means for Economics preparation
Effective preparation means practising how to respond to different task words deliberately.
Students should practise explaining cause and effect, analysing relationships, evaluating effectiveness and justifying decisions under exam conditions. Revising content without practising task interpretation leaves a major gap.
Learning the language of assessment makes Economics far more predictable.
Working with ATAR STAR
ATAR STAR Economics tutoring places strong emphasis on task-word literacy because it is one of the most reliable ways to lift marks quickly.
We teach students how to read questions with intent, identify what is being assessed, and structure responses that align precisely with Study Design expectations.
When students learn to answer the question they are actually asked, their understanding finally starts to show in their results.