Introduction
This guide is designed to empower both educators and students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Economics Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) courses. The prompts within are engineered to leverage the power of Generative AI tools, transforming them into powerful assistants for teaching, learning, and assessment.
The prompts are directly aligned with the latest IB Economics curriculum (first assessment 2022), focusing on the core units: Introduction to Economics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and The Global Economy. They are crafted to help you master key concepts, develop critical thinking skills, and excel in the various assessment components, including the Internal Assessment (IA) and external exams.
How to Use This Guide:
Simply copy and paste the desired prompt into your preferred Generative AI tool (like Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude). For best results, you can modify prompts by adding specific details, such as a country name, a particular market, or a time period. Treat the AI as a collaborator in your educational journey.
Section 1 – Educator Prompts (50)
A. Planning & Curriculum Design (15 Prompts)
- Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a full semester-long scheme of work for the IB Economics SL course, following the 2022 syllabus. The output should be a table with columns for ‘Week,’ ‘Unit/Topic,’ ‘Key Concepts,’ ‘Suggested Activities,’ and ‘Formative Assessment Ideas.’ - Role: Curriculum Coordinator
Task: Create a concept map illustrating the connections between the nine key concepts (scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence, intervention) and the ‘Microeconomics’ unit. - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: Design a project-based learning (PBL) activity for the ‘Market Failure’ sub-topic. The project should require students to identify a local externality, analyze it using diagrams, and propose a government intervention, culminating in a policy brief. - Role: Economics Department Head
Task: Develop a list of 10 real-world case studies that can be used across the ‘Macroeconomics’ unit. For each case study, provide a brief summary, the relevant economic concepts (e.g., inflation, unemployment, fiscal policy), and a key question for discussion. - Role: New IB Teacher
Task: Create a ‘starter pack’ of resources for teaching the ‘Theory of the Firm’ (HL only). Include key definitions, a simplified explanation of cost and revenue curves, and a low-stakes quiz with an answer key. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a detailed lesson plan for a 90-minute class introducing the concept of ‘Price Elasticity of Demand (PED).’ The plan should include a hook, direct instruction with diagrams, a collaborative activity, and an exit ticket. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Propose three different options for an Internal Assessment (IA) commentary based on a recent news article about a specific government intervention in the agricultural market. For each option, outline the key economic concepts and the appropriate diagrams to use. - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: Create a reading list of 5 academic articles or book chapters that extend student understanding of the ‘Terms of Trade’ concept. Provide a one-sentence summary for each resource. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Design a differentiated instruction plan for the topic of ‘Exchange Rates.’ Include activities for kinesthetic learners (e.g., a simulation), visual learners (e.g., diagram analysis), and auditory learners (e.g., a podcast summary). - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a list of 10 thought-provoking “Theory of Knowledge” (TOK) discussion questions that directly link to the IB Economics syllabus. Example: “To what extent are economic models a simplification of reality?” - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a checklist for students to self-assess their progress on the skills required for Paper 1, focusing on definitions, diagrams, and explanations. - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: Develop a framework for a class debate on the topic: “Is free trade always the best policy for developing countries?” Assign roles for ‘pro’ and ‘con’ teams and provide guiding research questions. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Outline a sequence of lessons for the ‘Poverty and Inequality’ sub-topic, ensuring a balanced perspective that covers both market-based and interventionist solutions. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a glossary of all the command terms used in IB Economics exam questions (e.g., ‘Explain,’ ‘Analyze,’ ‘Evaluate’). For each term, provide a definition and an example of its use in a question. - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: Design a research project that requires students to compare the effectiveness of monetary policy in two different countries with contrasting economic structures.
B. Lesson Delivery & Activities (15 Prompts)
- Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a real-time, hypothetical scenario of a supply-side shock (e.g., a sudden increase in oil prices). I will provide student responses, and you will act as the ‘global market,’ updating the scenario based on their proposed policy actions. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a script for a 5-minute explainer video on the ‘Circular Flow of Income’ model. The script should be engaging and use simple analogies. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a set of 5 data response questions for a worksheet on ‘Unemployment,’ using fictional but realistic data for a specific country. Include questions that require calculation and policy evaluation. - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: Act as a ‘devil’s advocate’ to critique a student’s argument about the benefits of a monopoly market structure. Challenge my assumptions and point out the welfare loss. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a ‘jigsaw’ reading activity. Provide four short texts, each explaining a different type of market failure (public goods, merit/demerit goods, positive/negative externalities). Also, create expert group questions and mixed group discussion prompts. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a step-by-step guide for students on how to draw and label a diagram showing a contractionary fiscal policy. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Provide 5 “What if…” scenarios to spur critical thinking. Example: “What if a universal basic income were introduced in the United States? Analyze the potential microeconomic and macroeconomic consequences.” - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a guided listening worksheet for a 15-minute podcast episode (e.g., from NPR’s Planet Money or The Economist) on the topic of ‘international trade.’ - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: I am teaching the Laffer Curve. Explain it from three different economic perspectives: a Keynesian economist, a classical economist, and a behavioral economist. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Design a classroom game to simulate the effects of a price floor in the market for wheat. Specify the roles for students (farmers, consumers, government) and the rules of the game. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a set of flashcards (term on one side, definition and diagram on the other) for the ‘Costs of Production’ (short-run and long-run). - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Write a short case study about a company that successfully uses price discrimination. Include discussion questions about the conditions that make it possible and the effects on consumers. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a prompt for a ‘one-pager’ summary assignment on the topic of ‘Economic Growth vs. Economic Development.’ The prompt should specify the required elements, such as key terms, diagrams, and a central summary. - Role: IB Economics HL Teacher
Task: Provide a simplified mathematical derivation of the Keynesian multiplier for students to follow along with. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a role-playing scenario where students act as members of a country’s central bank committee, debating whether to raise or lower interest rates based on a given set of economic data (inflation rate, unemployment rate, GDP growth).
C. Assessment & Feedback (10 Prompts)
- Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: Create a 15-mark essay question for Paper 1, in the style of the IB, on the topic of ‘government responses to negative externalities of production.’ Also, generate a detailed mark scheme with level descriptors. - Role: IB Economics HL Examiner
Task: Generate a Paper 3-style quantitative question based on a given set of data for a firm in perfect competition. The questions should require calculations of TR, MR, MC, and profit. Provide a full answer key with calculations shown. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: I will provide a student’s answer to a 10-mark question. Using the IB assessment criteria, provide constructive feedback on its strengths and weaknesses, and suggest specific ways to improve the analysis and evaluation. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a 20-question multiple-choice quiz covering the entire ‘Macroeconomics’ unit. Ensure questions test a range of skills, from definitions to diagram interpretation. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Develop a rubric for assessing a student’s Internal Assessment (IA). The rubric should be based on the official IB criteria but written in more student-friendly language. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Analyze this student-drawn diagram of an inflationary gap. Identify any errors in labeling or shifting of curves and explain how to correct them. - Role: IB Economics HL Examiner
Task: Create a challenging 15-mark essay question that requires students to compare and contrast two different policies for promoting economic development. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate three sample ‘evaluation’ points a student could make in an essay about the effectiveness of tariffs. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Write a model paragraph for a Paper 1 essay that demonstrates effective use of a diagram to support the explanation. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a peer-assessment form for students to use when reviewing each other’s IA drafts. The form should prompt them to check for clear application of theory, correct diagrams, and balanced evaluation.
D. Enrichment & Extension (10 Prompts)
- Role: Economic Historian
Task: Explain the 2008 Global Financial Crisis as if you were teaching it to an IB Economics class. Connect the events to the concepts of market failure, moral hazard, and macroeconomic policy responses. - Role: Behavioral Economist
Task: Design a simple experiment that an IB Economics class could conduct to demonstrate the concept of ‘loss aversion.’ - Role: Development Economist
Task: Create a profile of a successful microfinance institution. Explain its business model and evaluate its impact on poverty reduction in a specific community. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Propose a topic for an Extended Essay (EE) in Economics that has a narrow focus and allows for strong analysis and evaluation. Outline the research question and a potential methodology. - Role: Urban Economist
Task: Using the concepts of negative externalities and government intervention, analyze the economic case for and against congestion pricing in a major city like London or Singapore. - Role: Environmental Economist
Task: Compare and contrast the effectiveness of carbon taxes versus cap-and-trade schemes as solutions to climate change. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Generate a list of 5 must-watch documentaries that relate to the IB Economics curriculum, with a brief explanation of the relevant topics covered in each. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a challenge problem for advanced students: “Using the concept of consumer and producer surplus, mathematically prove the deadweight loss from a tax.” (HL Only) - Role: Trade Economist
Task: Analyze the economic impact of a recent major trade agreement (e.g., USMCA or RCEP) on a specific member country. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: Create a “day in the life” narrative of a central banker during a period of high inflation, explaining the decisions they have to make.
Section 2 – Student Prompts (50)
A. Understanding Concepts (15 Prompts)
- Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Explain the concept of ‘opportunity cost’ using three different real-world examples relevant to a high school student. - Role: Economics Expert
Task: I don’t understand the difference between a ‘shift in the demand curve’ and a ‘movement along the demand curve.’ Explain it clearly and show me what the diagrams look like for each. - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: Explain the law of diminishing marginal returns with a clear example and a diagram showing its effect on marginal product and marginal cost. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: What is the difference between ‘economic growth’ and ‘economic development’? Create a table that compares and contrasts the two concepts, including how they are measured. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Explain the role of the central bank in an economy. What are its three main functions? - Role: Economics Expert
Task: I’m confused about the components of Aggregate Demand (AD). Can you break down C + I + G + (X-M) and explain what influences each component? - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: Explain the concept of ‘consumer surplus’ and ‘producer surplus.’ Draw a diagram to show me where they are, and then show how a tax affects them. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Can you explain the ‘business cycle’ to me? Draw a simple, labeled diagram and describe what happens to GDP, unemployment, and inflation in each phase. - Role: Economics Expert
Task: What are the arguments for and against protectionism? List at least three for each side. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Explain the difference between absolute and comparative advantage. Use a simple numerical example with two countries and two goods to show who should specialize in what. - Role: Economics Expert
Task: What is a ‘negative externality of consumption’? Give a real-world example, draw the corresponding market failure diagram, and show the welfare loss. - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: Explain the different characteristics of market structures: perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: What is the difference between fiscal policy and monetary policy? Who is responsible for each, and what are their main tools? - Role: Economics Expert
Task: Explain how exchange rates are determined in a floating exchange rate system using supply and demand diagrams. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I need help understanding the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient as measures of income inequality. Explain how they work and what they show.
B. Practicing & Applying Skills (15 Prompts)
- Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: Give me a 10-mark practice question for Paper 1 on the topic of ‘subsidies.’ I will write an answer, and you can give me feedback. - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: Here is some data on a firm’s costs and revenues. Can you help me calculate the profit-maximizing level of output? [Provide a table with Q, P, TC]. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I have to find a news article for my IA. Can you suggest three recent news events that would be suitable for an IA commentary on the topic of ‘market failure’? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Let’s practice diagrams. Describe a scenario (e.g., “an increase in the price of cotton on the market for t-shirts”), and I will try to draw the correct supply and demand diagram. Then you can check my work. - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: I need to practice my calculation skills for Paper 3. Give me a problem where I have to calculate the value of the Keynesian multiplier and the total change in GDP from an initial injection. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I will explain the steps of how a central bank uses open market operations to increase the money supply. Can you tell me if my explanation is correct? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Give me a case study of a country that recently experienced high inflation. Ask me three questions about the causes and consequences of this inflation. - Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: I want to practice my evaluation skills. Give me a statement, like “Tariffs are the best way to protect domestic jobs,” and I will write a paragraph evaluating it. Then, give me feedback. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I need to define the term ‘sustainability’ in the context of economics. Can you help me write a clear, concise definition that I can use in my exams? - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: Let’s practice game theory. Give me a simple payoff matrix for two firms, and I will try to identify the Nash equilibrium. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I’m writing an IA on a price ceiling for rental apartments. Can you help me brainstorm the potential stakeholders and the different effects (positive and negative) on each of them? - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: Give me a problem where I need to calculate cross-price elasticity of demand (XED) and interpret the result (i.e., are the goods substitutes or complements?). - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I need to explain the limitations of using GDP as a measure of well-being. Can you help me list and explain at least four limitations? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I’m going to describe the effects of an appreciation of the Swiss Franc on the Swiss economy. Correct any mistakes in my reasoning. - Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: Let’s practice the structure of a 15-mark essay. I’ll choose a past question, and you can help me outline the introduction, the body paragraphs (with diagrams), and the conclusion.
C. Revision & Self-Assessment (10 Prompts)
- Role: IB Economics Quiz Master
Task: Give me a 10-question quiz on the ‘Microeconomics’ unit. Include multiple-choice and short-answer questions. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I’m revising for my final exams. Can you create a one-page “cheat sheet” summarizing the key diagrams and formulas for the ‘Macroeconomics’ unit? - Role: Economics Expert
Task: I’m going to list the nine central concepts of the course. Can you ask me to explain one of them and provide a real-world example? - Role: IB Economics Tutor
Task: I have my final exam in one month. Can you generate a 4-week revision plan that covers all the SL topics and incorporates practice questions? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Let’s play a game. You give me a definition, and I have to guess the economic term. Start with terms from ‘The Global Economy’ unit. - Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: I’m not sure if I’m using evaluation correctly. Can you give me a simple checklist to review my practice essays for evaluative statements? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Create a concept map linking all the key ideas within the topic of ‘Poverty and Inequality.’ - Role: IB Economics HL Tutor
Task: I’m revising the ‘Theory of the Firm.’ Can you ask me to draw the diagram for a monopolist earning supernormal profit and then explain the key features? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: I want to test my understanding of policy trade-offs. Can you explain the conflict between low unemployment and low inflation, referencing the short-run Phillips Curve? - Role: IB Economics Quiz Master
Task: Give me 5 “True or False” statements about the balance of payments. If a statement is false, I have to explain why.
D. Preparing for Assessment (10 Prompts)
- Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: I’m preparing for Paper 1. Give me a 15-mark essay question and a detailed outline of how to structure the answer for top marks, including which diagrams to use. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: I’m working on my IA. Here is the article I’ve chosen. Can you help me formulate a focused research question and identify the key economic terms I should define? - Role: IB Economics HL Examiner
Task: I need to practice for Paper 3. Give me a set of data (e.g., on market demand and supply) and ask me to calculate the equilibrium price and quantity, and then the value of consumer surplus. - Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: What are the most common mistakes students make in the IB Economics exams? Tell me what they are and how I can avoid them. - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Help me create a “definitions list” of the 20 most important terms that are likely to come up in the exams. - Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: Let’s do a mock exam scenario. I have 45 minutes to answer one 15-mark question from a choice of two. Give me two questions, I’ll choose one, and you can time me. - Role: IB Economics Teacher
Task: I’m finalizing my IA. Can you review my commentary (I’ll paste it here) and check if I have included sufficient evaluation and linked it back to the central concepts? - Role: IB Economics HL Examiner
Task: Explain the structure of the Paper 2 data response paper. What kind of questions should I expect for each part? - Role: Economics Tutor
Task: Help me brainstorm a real-world example for each of the nine key concepts (scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence, intervention) that I can use in my essays. - Role: IB Economics Examiner
Task: I’m going to write the introduction to a Paper 1 essay. I’ll paste it here. Can you give me feedback on whether it effectively defines key terms and sets out the structure of the essay?
Section 3 – Bonus Universal Prompt (1)
- Role: Interdisciplinary Think-Tank
Task: Choose a current global challenge (e.g., climate change, the rise of AI, a global pandemic, or mass migration). Analyze this challenge through the lens of an IB Economics student, incorporating the nine key concepts of the course. Then, expand the analysis by adopting the perspective of an IB History student (considering historical precedents) and an IB Environmental Systems and Societies student (considering the ecological impact). Present the final output as a script for a 3-person panel discussion.
