Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91223 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to use economics models and concepts to explain how and why international trade changes, and then describe what those changes mean for different groups of New Zealanders. You'll use supply-and-demand models and exchange rate models to show your understanding of real trade issues like export prices, import values, and the NZ dollar.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91223?

Accepted Answer

1. Identify and define key international trade concepts like New Zealand's major exports, imports, trading partners, and the balance of trade 2. Use supply-and-demand models (the two-country model, price taker model, or exchange rate model) to explain what causes changes in trade flows 3. Correctly annotate and shift the curves on economic models to match the scenario being analysed 4. Explain how changes in international trade (like higher kiwifruit exports or a falling NZ dollar) affect real groups in New Zealand—such as exporters, workers, consumers, and tourists 5. Use the labels and details from your model diagrams as evidence when you write your explanations

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91223?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You correctly complete the economic models, describe the impact of trade changes on consumers or producers (like lower prices helping shoppers or higher exports helping farmers), and identify New Zealand's trading patterns. Merit: You correctly complete all the models with accurate labels, refer back to what the graphs show when explaining impacts, calculate values from the graphs (like export receipts), and explain how trade changes affect different groups differently—such as how a weaker NZ dollar helps exporters but hurts overseas tourists. Excellence: You complete all models perfectly and integrate what the graphs show into detailed explanations, then compare and contrast how the same trade change affects different groups in opposite ways—for example, explaining that higher kiwifruit exports help growers but might affect workers differently, or that a dollar depreciation helps importers but hurts tourists.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91223?

Accepted Answer

1. Drawing the models incorrectly—shifting curves the wrong way or not at all, or not showing the change happens at all—then writing explanations that contradict what your diagram actually shows 2. Simply restating facts from the resource material (like 'kiwifruit is our major export') without using it as a starting point to explain causes or impacts using the economic model 3. Forgetting to refer back to the model labels, values, and shifts when you explain the answer—examiners need to see you using the graph as evidence, not just talking about trade in general

International trade

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