OCR · Microeconomics · Demand, supply and elasticity

OCR Economics past paper questions: Demand, supply and elasticity

Every OCR question on Demand, supply and elasticity from 2021 to 2025: 2 essays, 5 data response questions, 14 short answer questions and 41 multiple choice questions. It covers Government intervention in markets, The economic problem and resource allocation, Costs, revenues and profit, Market structures and The labour market. Each question links to its paper, mark scheme and examiner report.

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SubtopicsGovernment intervention in markets 5The economic problem and resource allocation 3Costs, revenues and profit 3Market structures 2The labour market 2Macroeconomic objectives and policy 2International trade and exchange rates 1Business growth and objectives 1Aggregate demand 1Measuring economic performance 1

Essay questions on demand, supply and elasticity

AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q17OptionalEvaluate20 marks

Evaluate, using an appropriate diagram(s) the impact of these changes in price on consumer surplus.

Question paper p.14 Mark scheme p.22 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool Draw it: supply and demand diagram

AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q17OptionalEvaluate20 marks

Evaluate, using an appropriate diagram(s), the factors that determine the price elasticity of demand for a product.

Question paper p.13 Mark scheme p.19 Open in the tool Draw it: PED and PES diagram

Data response questions on demand, supply and elasticity

A-level Paper 1, June 2025, Q1(c)4 marks

Case study: Bottled water in the UK

'Bottled water has seen a huge increase in its popularity in the last 50 years.' Lines 1–2. Explain, using an appropriate diagram, the impact on the level of producer surplus of an increase in demand for bottled water.

Question paper p.5 Mark scheme p.11 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool Draw it: supply and demand diagram

A-level Paper 1, June 2022, Q1(c)2 marks

Case study: Changing consumer trends in the UK?

Refer to lines 40–42. Calculate the percentage change in price required to achieve a 6.5% fall in demand for petrol in the short run.

Question paper p.5 Mark scheme p.9 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 1, October 2021, Q1(b)2 marks

Case study: The UK air travel sector

Refer to lines 14–18. Explain, using evidence from the stimulus material, what is meant by joint demand.

Question paper p.4 Mark scheme p.4 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 1, October 2021, Q1(d)4 marks

Case study: The UK air travel sector

"There is certainly a strong case for the current tax-free status of jet fuel to end." (lines 36–37) Explain, using a diagram, the impact on the level of consumer surplus if jet fuel is taxed by the UK government.

Question paper p.5 Mark scheme p.4 Open in the tool Draw it: indirect tax diagram

A-level Paper 1, October 2021, Q1(e)Evaluate8 marks

Case study: The UK air travel sector

Evaluate two factors which may determine the value of the price elasticity of demand for air travel.

Question paper p.5 Mark scheme p.4 Open in the tool Practise the PED and PES diagram

Short answer questions on demand, supply and elasticity

AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q16(d)(i)4 marks

Using the information on income and elasticity of demand in the extract, explain the likely effect of a continuing fall in real income on electric car producers.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.15 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q16(d)(ii)Explain2 marks

Explain the effect on the price and quantity demanded of electric cars of an increase in the price of cobalt.

Question paper p.11 Mark scheme p.15 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q16(e)Evaluate10 marks

Evaluate, using an appropriate diagram, the effect of an increase in demand for electric cars on people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Question paper p.12 Mark scheme p.18 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool Draw it: supply and demand diagram

AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q16(b)(ii)2 marks

Using the income elasticity value (line 25), explain how a fall in income will affect the demand for oat milk.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.16 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q16(d)(i)2 marks

Using the value of cross elasticity of demand (lines 20–21), explain the relationship between oat milk and dairy milk.

Question paper p.11 Mark scheme p.16 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q16(d)(ii)Explain4 marks

Explain how the change in demand for oat milk will affect the producer surplus of oat farmers.

Question paper p.11 Mark scheme p.16 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q16(e)Evaluate10 marks

Evaluate, using an appropriate diagram(s), the effects on farmers of an increase in demand for vegan products.

Question paper p.12 Mark scheme p.16 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool Draw it: supply and demand diagram

AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q16(b)(i)2 marks

Using the information in the case study, explain why there was an increase in demand for flour.

Question paper p.9 Mark scheme p.13 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q16(b)(ii)Explain2 marks

Explain what the price elasticity of supply is likely to be for flour.

Question paper p.9 Mark scheme p.13 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q16(b)(iii)2 marks

Using the information in the case study, explain what impact the change in demand for yeast would have had on Red Star Yeast's producer surplus.

Question paper p.9 Mark scheme p.13 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q16(d)Explain4 marks

Explain how a buffer stock system can be used to regulate the market supply of a product such as flour.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.14 Examiner report p.2 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q16(b)(ii)1 mark

State what impact the increase in electricity price would have on consumer surplus.

Question paper p.8 Mark scheme p.14 Open in the tool

AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q16(e)Evaluate10 marks

Evaluate, using an appropriate diagram(s), the effects of an increase in the supply of alternative greener energy on the electricity market.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.16 Open in the tool Draw it: supply and demand diagram

A-level Paper 3, October 2021, Q32Explain4 marks

Explain, using information in Extract 1, two reasons why the wage elasticity of supply of labour for public sector workers is likely to be inelastic. 1 2

Question paper p.19 Mark scheme p.14 Open in the tool

Multiple choice questions

A-level Paper 3, June 2025, Q7
The price elasticity of supply (PES) of tomatoes is 0.2. At a price of £2.40 per Kg the supply of tomatoes is 130 000 Kg. What would be the new quantity of tomatoes supplied if the price of tomatoes increased to £3.00 per Kg?
A-level Paper 3, June 2025, Q8
The diagram shows the price of the good increase from P to P1. Price P1 B P C A D O Q1 Q Quantity What is the change in the total revenue for the firm?
AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q3
What is most likely to occur, if the price of a smartphone fell from £950 to £800?
AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q5
AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q6
AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q7
The diagram shows a shift in the supply curve for wheat production. Price S1 S P1 P D 0 q1 q Quantity What could have caused this shift from S to S1?
AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q12
The table shows the price of good A and the quantity demanded for good B, a competitive good. Price of Good A Quantity Demanded of Good B £160 500 £200 560 What is the cross elasticity of demand?
A-level Paper 3, June 2024, Q5
As a result of a 12% reduction in the price of Good A, the quantity demanded of Good B increased by 3%. What is the relationship between the two goods?
A-level Paper 3, June 2024, Q18
In the diagram the demand for the good shifts from D to D1. Price X Y S P1 W P V D1 D Z O Quantity What area represents the change in the producer surplus?
A-level Paper 3, June 2024, Q22
A-level Paper 3, June 2024, Q25
AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q5
The diagram shows the demand and supply of oil. The market is initially in equilibrium at E. P S2 S E1 P2 P1 E D2 D Q1 Q What would be the most likely cause of the market equilibrium moving to E1?
AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q7
The table shows the quantity demanded and quantity supplied of a product at different prices. Price Quantity Quantity (£) Demanded Supplied 10 90 20 80 30 60 40 35 50 20 What is the state of the market for this product at a price of £30?
AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q10
The government sets a maximum price that can be charged for rents. This is below the market equilibrium price. What will be the result?
AS Paper 1, June 2024, Q13
The price of fidget toys was £5 and the quantity supplied at this price was 2750 units. The price of fidget toys has now increased to £6.25, and the quantity supplied has increased to 3575 units. What is the price elasticity of supply?
A-level Paper 3, June 2023, Q4
650 units of a good are demanded by consumers. If the income elasticity of demand is 0.4, what will the new quantity demanded of the good be if income decreases by 3%?
A-level Paper 3, June 2023, Q14
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q2
What is the income elasticity of demand if a 10% increase in consumer income leads to a 40% decrease in quantity demanded?
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q5
The diagrams show the relationship between price and quantity supplied of a product. Which supply curve shows unit price elasticity of supply along the curve?
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q7
The table shows the quantity demanded and quantity supplied of a product at different prices. Price Quantity Quantity Demanded Supplied £10 100 £15 80 £20 75 £25 60 £30 40 At the equilibrium price, what is the total revenue?
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q11
Which of these defines an inferior good?
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q12
The price elasticity of demand of widgets is –1.0. If the firm raises the price of widgets by 5%, this is likely to have what impact on the firm's total revenue?
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q13
The quantity demanded for oranges falls from 600 to 300 when the price of apples falls by 25%. In relation to the price of apples, what is the cross elasticity of demand for oranges?
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q14
A-level Paper 3, June 2022, Q1
What is the impact of a decrease in price?
A-level Paper 3, June 2022, Q14
The diagrams below show how the markets for goods X and Y respond to a change in one of the determinants of demand. What might it be possible to conclude from this? Good X Good Y Price S1 Price S1 P2 P2 P1 P1 D2 D2 D1 D1 0 Q1 Q2 Quantity 0…
A-level Paper 3, June 2022, Q17
Which elasticity is the availability of stock of the product likely to impact?
A-level Paper 3, June 2022, Q28
What is likely to be an irrational act?
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q2
The quantity supplied of a product is 2000 when its price is £40. If price elasticity of supply is 0.8, what will be the quantity supplied when price rises to £50?
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q3
Which of the following is an example of composite demand?
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q4
Which change would cause the demand curve for houses to shift to the right?
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q5
The diagrams below show the relationship between price and quantity supplied of a product. Diagram A Price S Quantity supplied Diagram B Price S Quantity supplied Diagram C Price S Quantity supplied Diagram D Price S Quantity supplied…
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q6
Due to excellent growing conditions the wheat harvest is much greater than is usual. What impact would this be most likely to have on the equilibrium price and output of wheat?
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q7
The table below shows the change in the demand for a product given a change in income. What type of good does this information indicate the product is? Quantity Year Income demanded per annum 2020 £30 000 2021 £36 000
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q8
The diagram below shows the supply and demand for strawberries. Price S P1 D Quantity Which of the following would be most likely to happen if the price was set at P1?
AS Paper 1, June 2022, Q13
If the cross elasticity of demand between two goods is –1.2 what are the two goods?
A-level Paper 3, October 2021, Q4
In 2020 Sony announced the launch of the PlayStation 5 games console. It was estimated that at a price of £500 Sony would sell 87 million consoles. Analysts suggested these sales would increase to 122 million if the price was reduced to…
A-level Paper 3, October 2021, Q17
A-level Paper 3, October 2021, Q19
What does area X in the diagram below represent? Wage S1 rate W1 X D1 0 Q1 Quantity of labour
A-level Paper 3, October 2021, Q23
Equilibrium in a market changes from X to Y in the diagram below. What area represents the new consumer surplus? Price
A-level Paper 3, October 2021, Q27
What does the kinked demand curve in the oligopoly model show?

Question text is quoted from the question papers, © OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA), for students’ private study. Open the official papers and mark schemes from the links on each question. Examiner insights are written with AI assistance and moderated by Finn.

Essay questions on demand, supply and elasticity

Data response questions on demand, supply and elasticity

Short answer questions on demand, supply and elasticity

Multiple choice questions

More OCR topics: Microeconomics