Cambridge International (CAIE) Economics past paper questions: Utility

Essay questions on utility

Multiple choice questions

1. A-level Paper 3, November 2025, Q5

   The table gives the marginal utility of two goods, X and Y. The price of good X is $2.00 and the price of good Y is $1.00. If a consumer spends all of their income on goods X and Y, which combination of goods would they choose to maximise…

2. A-level Paper 3, November 2025, Q9

   What is the essential feature of nudge theory?

3. A-level Paper 3, June 2025, Q3

   A consumer spends all of their income on only two goods, X and Y. The consumer is initially in equilibrium, maximising their total utility. The consumer’s tastes change and they get less utility from consuming good Y. The prices of both…

4. A-level Paper 3, November 2024, Q1

   If consumers aim to maximise their utility, how will they arrange their spending?

5. A-level Paper 3, June 2024, Q1

   The table shows the total utility gained by a consumer from the consumption of water. What can be concluded from this table?

6. A-level Paper 3, March 2024, Q1

   A person buys two pairs of socks. What does the purchase of the second pair of socks lead to?

7. A-level Paper 3, November 2023, Q1

   The diagram shows the total utility of consumers Y and Z when each consumes bars of chocolate. What is the difference in the marginal utility of consumers Y and Z when each consumes four bars of chocolate?

8. A-level Paper 3, March 2023, Q1

   Utility theory is based on the assumption of the ‘rational consumer’. What is necessary to act as a ‘rational consumer’?

9. A-level Paper 3, March 2023, Q2

   The price of good S is $6 and the price of good T is $8. A consumer’s marginal utility for each good is shown. If this consumer wants to maximise total utility, which combination of goods would they consume?