Ib Economics Hl Formula Booklet [new] -
Paper 3 is specifically designed to test your quantitative skills. It is often referred to as the "policy paper." You won’t just be asked to find "x"; you’ll be asked to calculate "x" and then explain Common Paper 3 quantitative tasks include:
1MPWthe fraction with numerator 1 and denominator cap M cap P cap W end-fraction 3. The Global Economy: Trade & Development
Why it matters: In a 15-mark policy question, simply stating who pays the tax is not enough. Using these formulas to show exactly what percentage of a $5 tax falls on consumers (e.g., 83.3% if demand is inelastic) turns a descriptive answer into a rigorous economic analysis. That’s HL distinction. ib economics hl formula booklet
Get a markscheme for Paper 3 (HL only, quantitative paper). For each calculation question, cover the answer. Use only the booklet to solve. Then check. You’ll quickly learn which formulas appear most often — typically:
Print out a clean copy of the official formula booklet and use only that document while solving past Paper 3 exams. This builds structural familiarity so you know exactly where to look during the real exam. Paper 3 is specifically designed to test your
Production at the minimum point of Average Cost (AC)Production at the minimum point of Average Cost (AC) 2. Macroeconomics: National Income & Indicators
Read the prompt carefully. Underline or list the raw numbers provided (e.g., P1cap P sub 1 P2cap P sub 2 Q1cap Q sub 1 Q2cap Q sub 2 Using these formulas to show exactly what percentage
If you are in the first cohort of the new syllabus (first exams 2025), note the following changes to the formula booklet:
Marginal Propensity to Withdraw (MPW)=MPS+MPT+MPMMarginal Propensity to Withdraw (MPW) equals MPS plus MPT plus MPM
The quantitative component of IB Economics HL can seem intimidating, but it is often the most predictable part of the entire DP course. Unlike subjective essay grading, math answers are either right or wrong. If you commit these formulas to memory, understand their underlying economic theory, and show your step-by-step working on Paper 3, you can easily secure full marks on the quantitative sections and push your final score toward a Grade 7.
Just like supply and demand, the value of a currency can be set as an equilibrium function of currency demanded vs currency supplied in foreign exchange markets. High-Scoring Strategies for IB Economics HL Mathematics