ECAA 2016 Economics Admissions Assessment D563/11
37 questions37 marks80Updated August 2025
The ECAA 2016 Economics Admissions Assessment D563/11 paper in full: all 37 questions, each with its answer. ECAA is the Economics Admissions Assessment. Sit it cold under exam timing, mark it, then work back through anything you missed using the solutions below.
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Question 1
1 markI have booked a flight from London to Auckland, which is in a time zone 12 hours ahead of GMT. I am due to leave London at 17:30 GMT on 19 August and will arrive in Auckland at 06:15 on 21 August (local time). My journey includes a 1-hour stop in Los Angeles and a 1.5-hour stop in Hawaii.
How many hours am I due to spend in the air?
How many hours am I due to spend in the air?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
Answer: B
Question 2
1 markAnton wants to ride one of the top 8 roller coasters in the world to celebrate his 13th birthday. The top 8 roller coasters are spread around the world. Anton has to decide which roller coaster to visit, taking into consideration:
- Anton's height: 143 cm
- $400 maximum for two one-way flights
- The roller coaster must reach at least 90mph
- Queue time is no longer than 40 minutes

Which roller coaster will Anton choose to ride?
- Anton's height: 143 cm
- $400 maximum for two one-way flights
- The roller coaster must reach at least 90mph
- Queue time is no longer than 40 minutes

Which roller coaster will Anton choose to ride?
- A.Intimidator 305
- B.Dodonpa
- C.Kingda Ka
- D.Superman
- E.Voyage
Answer: C
Question 3
1 markA cube is labelled with six letters and, when viewed in two positions, looks like this:

Which one of the following nets could be folded to make the above cube?


Which one of the following nets could be folded to make the above cube?

- A.Net A
- B.Net B
- C.Net C
- D.Net D
- E.Net E
Answer: D
Question 4
1 markThree night security guards, Robert, Sheila and Tom, are assigned to guard a factory for five consecutive nights, Monday night to Friday night inclusive.
Two of the guards are to be on duty each night. Tom must be on duty for four nights and Robert and Sheila are on duty for three nights each. Regulations do not allow any guard to work for more than two consecutive nights.
If Robert is on duty on Friday night, then the nights when Sheila is on duty are
Two of the guards are to be on duty each night. Tom must be on duty for four nights and Robert and Sheila are on duty for three nights each. Regulations do not allow any guard to work for more than two consecutive nights.
If Robert is on duty on Friday night, then the nights when Sheila is on duty are
- A.Monday, Tuesday, Thursday.
- B.Monday, Tuesday, Friday.
- C.Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.
- D.Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
- E.Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday.
Answer: C
Question 5
1 markAs a treat for my sixth birthday I am going swimming with my family next Saturday afternoon. My mum is a nurse and my dad is unemployed. My sister is three years younger than me and my brother is two years older but they will both enjoy the treat too. Grandma is coming but she will watch rather than swim. Grandpa loves swimming even though he is nearly 72 years old, so he will be in the pool enjoying the swim.
The charges at the local swimming centre are shown below:

*Adults must be Unemployed or Senior Citizens
Off-peak - Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Peak - all other times and school holidays
What is the lowest price that we could pay for our tickets?
The charges at the local swimming centre are shown below:

*Adults must be Unemployed or Senior Citizens
Off-peak - Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Peak - all other times and school holidays
What is the lowest price that we could pay for our tickets?
- A.£7.00
- B.£9.10
- C.£9.30
- D.£12.10
- E.£12.30
Answer: C
Question 6
1 markThe floor of the reception area of the head office of Stott and Walsh is tiled as shown below:

Which one of these tiles could not be used to replace a damaged tile on this floor?


Which one of these tiles could not be used to replace a damaged tile on this floor?

- A.Tile A
- B.Tile B
- C.Tile C
- D.Tile D
- E.Tile E
Answer: B
Question 7
1 markThis diagram shows the roads that connect four towns and the distances involved.
[not to scale]

I live in Essover. This afternoon I have to visit clients in Arford, Teechester and Yewton before returning to Essover. It does not matter in which order I visit the clients.
What is the minimum distance I could travel this afternoon?
[not to scale]

I live in Essover. This afternoon I have to visit clients in Arford, Teechester and Yewton before returning to Essover. It does not matter in which order I visit the clients.
What is the minimum distance I could travel this afternoon?
- A.78 km
- B.83 km
- C.86 km
- D.89 km
- E.93 km
Answer: C
Question 8
1 markThe following is from a report on road accidents in Scotland in 1998:
A total of 13,828 car users were injured in road accidents, representing 62% of all casualties. Of these people, a total of 2,386 were either fatally or seriously injured, 223 of whom died. Roads in built-up areas accounted for a little over half of all car-user casualties (53%: 7,389 out of 13,828). Presumably because average speeds are higher in non-built-up areas, they accounted for much higher percentages of the total numbers of car users who were fatally injured (84%: 187 out of 223) or were fatally or seriously injured (72%: 1,724 out of 2,386).
How many car users suffered serious, but not fatal, injuries in accidents on roads in Scotland in non-built-up areas in 1998?
A total of 13,828 car users were injured in road accidents, representing 62% of all casualties. Of these people, a total of 2,386 were either fatally or seriously injured, 223 of whom died. Roads in built-up areas accounted for a little over half of all car-user casualties (53%: 7,389 out of 13,828). Presumably because average speeds are higher in non-built-up areas, they accounted for much higher percentages of the total numbers of car users who were fatally injured (84%: 187 out of 223) or were fatally or seriously injured (72%: 1,724 out of 2,386).
How many car users suffered serious, but not fatal, injuries in accidents on roads in Scotland in non-built-up areas in 1998?
- A.1,537
- B.1,724
- C.2,199
- D.6,439
- E.7,389
Answer: A
Question 9
1 markOne of the exhibits in the Interactive Art Exhibition at the Hanson Gallery consists of 16 identical free-standing cubes. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to handle these cubes and rearrange them to create their own work of art.
This is the arrangement that I have made:

What is the side view of my arrangement from the direction indicated by the arrow?

This is the arrangement that I have made:

What is the side view of my arrangement from the direction indicated by the arrow?

- A.View A
- B.View B
- C.View C
- D.View D
- E.View E
Answer: E
Question 10
1 markLast night I took part in a quiz night, and my team won first prize.
The quiz consisted of three rounds:
Round 1 was 20 easy questions worth 1 point each;
Round 2 was 20 medium questions worth 2 points each;
Round 3 was 20 hard questions worth 5 points each.
Our winning score was 138 points, having answered just nine questions incorrectly.
The runners-up were annoyed because they had fewer incorrect answers, but fortunately for us (although a little embarrassing) we had more incorrect answers in Round 1 (the easy questions) than in either of the other two rounds.
How many questions did we answer incorrectly in Round 1?
The quiz consisted of three rounds:
Round 1 was 20 easy questions worth 1 point each;
Round 2 was 20 medium questions worth 2 points each;
Round 3 was 20 hard questions worth 5 points each.
Our winning score was 138 points, having answered just nine questions incorrectly.
The runners-up were annoyed because they had fewer incorrect answers, but fortunately for us (although a little embarrassing) we had more incorrect answers in Round 1 (the easy questions) than in either of the other two rounds.
How many questions did we answer incorrectly in Round 1?
- A.4
- B.5
- C.6
- D.7
- E.8
Answer: B
Question 11
1 markI need to buy new printer paper for my fax machine. The paper comes in rolls. My machine needs paper 210mm wide and will take a roll up to 25.4 mm in diameter.
I do not really care how long the paper in the roll is and will buy rolls in bulk if they are cheaper. I will just buy the most economical paper to use. I cannot, however, afford to spend more than £30.00.
The prices in the catalogue are as follows:

(RRP=Recommended Retail Price)
How much will the transaction cost me?
I do not really care how long the paper in the roll is and will buy rolls in bulk if they are cheaper. I will just buy the most economical paper to use. I cannot, however, afford to spend more than £30.00.
The prices in the catalogue are as follows:

(RRP=Recommended Retail Price)
How much will the transaction cost me?
- A.£2.49
- B.£4.16
- C.£7.49
- D.£20.94
- E.£24.96
Answer: D
Question 12
1 markAfter having some carpets fitted recently I was left with these five remnants.

I have stitched four of these pieces together to create a rectangular 'patchwork' mat whose length is twice its width.
Which one of the pieces is not part of my mat?

I have stitched four of these pieces together to create a rectangular 'patchwork' mat whose length is twice its width.
Which one of the pieces is not part of my mat?
- A.V
- B.W
- C.X
- D.Y
- E.Z
Answer: A
Question 13
1 markA company is producing a one-page flysheet 24 cm high by 18 cm wide. It will have a text area in the centre which has a margin of the same width all the way around. The text must occupy exactly half of the total area:

What is the width of the margin?

What is the width of the margin?
- A.3.00 cm
- B.4.50 cm
- C.5.25 cm
- D.6.00 cm
- E.12.00 cm
Answer: A
Question 14
1 markDaria and her three friends are planning a trip to London to see a musical in the West End. Ticket prices vary according to the location of seats in the theatre. Monday to Friday, Balcony seats are £78.20 per person; seats in the Dress Circle cost £95.50 per person; seats in the Grand Circle £88.99 per person; and seats in the Orchestra Stalls £82.00 per person.
At the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), Balcony seats are £81.35 per person, seats in the Dress Circle cost £99.99 per person; seats in the Grand Circle £93.20 per person; and seats in the Orchestra Stalls £86.00 per person.
The theatre also sells Boxes which seat four people and cost £320.00 in total. A special offer of 15% off group booking for four or more people is available on seats in the Dress Circle.
Daria and her friends decide that they want to sit together in the same part of the theatre. What is their cheapest option?
At the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), Balcony seats are £81.35 per person, seats in the Dress Circle cost £99.99 per person; seats in the Grand Circle £93.20 per person; and seats in the Orchestra Stalls £86.00 per person.
The theatre also sells Boxes which seat four people and cost £320.00 in total. A special offer of 15% off group booking for four or more people is available on seats in the Dress Circle.
Daria and her friends decide that they want to sit together in the same part of the theatre. What is their cheapest option?
- A.Balcony
- B.Box
- C.Dress Circle
- D.Grand Circle
- E.Orchestra Stalls
Answer: A
Question 15
1 markBob, Eve, Nan, Pip and Viv took part in a 6-hour sponsored bowling marathon to raise money for charity. They were all sponsored per complete 100 points scored.
Bob was sponsored for a total of £63 per 100 points.
Eve was sponsored for a total of £56 per 100 points.
Nan was sponsored for a total of £72 per 100 points.
Pip was sponsored for a total of £54 per 100 points.
Viv was sponsored for a total of £68 per 100 points.
During the 6-hour marathon:
Pip scored 2,835 points.
Eve scored 2,782 points.
Bob scored 2,407 points.
Viv scored 2,293 points.
Nan scored 2,169 points.
Remarkably, four of them raised exactly the same amount. Who raised a different amount to the other four?
Bob was sponsored for a total of £63 per 100 points.
Eve was sponsored for a total of £56 per 100 points.
Nan was sponsored for a total of £72 per 100 points.
Pip was sponsored for a total of £54 per 100 points.
Viv was sponsored for a total of £68 per 100 points.
During the 6-hour marathon:
Pip scored 2,835 points.
Eve scored 2,782 points.
Bob scored 2,407 points.
Viv scored 2,293 points.
Nan scored 2,169 points.
Remarkably, four of them raised exactly the same amount. Who raised a different amount to the other four?
- A.Bob
- B.Eve
- C.Nan
- D.Pip
- E.Viv
Answer: E
Question 16
1 markThe payment systems which use pre-paid magnetic swipe cards are not all that wonderful. We had one put into the office last week to operate the tea and coffee dispensing machine. I was somewhat surprised to find, after having five coffees, that I had spent 121 p, and my colleague, after four teas, had spent 82 p. We were assured that there had been no changes in the prices; the problem appears to be that if you ask the machine how much you have left, it deducts a 'service' charge for this 'service'. We both enquired once. Charges for tea, coffee and service are whole numbers.
What is the minimum that the service charge could be?
What is the minimum that the service charge could be?
- A.1 p
- B.2 p
- C.4 p
- D.6 p
- E.14 p
Answer: D
Question 17
1 markI have a square field which is exactly one hectare (100 m × 100 m). On Monday I was surprised to find 4 mushrooms growing in a 1 m square formation, in the centre of my field. On Tuesday the group of mushrooms had expanded to 16, which were all 1 m apart.

When I looked at the group of mushrooms today (Wednesday), it had expanded to 36.

If the area covered by mushrooms continues to expand at this rate, how many days (including today) will it be until my field is covered in mushrooms?

When I looked at the group of mushrooms today (Wednesday), it had expanded to 36.

If the area covered by mushrooms continues to expand at this rate, how many days (including today) will it be until my field is covered in mushrooms?
- A.48
- B.50
- C.96
- D.100
- E.192
Answer: A
Question 18
1 markWater was poured into five containers at a steady rate until each was full. A graph of the depth of water (h) in the container against time (t) was sketched for each container. One of the graphs has been lost.

Which one of the following containers is not represented by any of the above graphs?


Which one of the following containers is not represented by any of the above graphs?

- A.Container A
- B.Container B
- C.Container C
- D.Container D
- E.Container E
Answer: D
Question 19
1 markAnna buys potatoes in the local market. She has noticed that the price on Saturday morning is 5 p per kilo more than the normal weekday price. However, an hour before the stall closes on a Saturday afternoon, the price drops to 5 p per kilo below the weekday price. She spends £3.00 a week on potatoes. This will buy her 3 kilos less in weight on a Saturday morning than on a weekday, but 5 kilos more in weight at the low Saturday afternoon price than on a weekday.
What is the weekday price of potatoes per kilo?
What is the weekday price of potatoes per kilo?
- A.12 p
- B.15 p
- C.20 p
- D.25 p
- E.30 p
Answer: C
Question 20
1 markMike wants to buy a second-hand car that offers the lowest depreciation per mile. He is not worried about the model. His family insist that the car has 4 or 5 doors and an engine of at least 1.6 litres so that it can tow a caravan. Mike plans to keep the car until it has covered 100 000 miles and then sell it for £1,000. He scans the following price list from his local garage:

Which make of car does Mike buy?

Which make of car does Mike buy?
- A.Ford
- B.Rover
- C.VW
- D.Vauxhall
- E.Renault
Answer: A
Question 21
1 markThe population pyramid below shows the age and gender distribution of the residents in England and Wales in 2010.

Which one of the following statements is not true?

Which one of the following statements is not true?
- A.Over the age of 34, the number of women is higher than that of men for every age group.
- B.Below the age of 35, the number of men is higher than that of women in every age group.
- C.There are more than twice as many women as men in the 85+ age group.
- D.Not taking children below the age of 1 into consideration, the least numerous age group is that of people aged 80 to 84.
- E.The most numerous age group consists of people aged between 40 and 44.
Answer: D
Question 22
1 markThe planet Melpomene has three moons, Othello, Hamlet and Romeo, each moving at a constant speed in the same direction in circular orbits.

Othello takes 20 days to complete one orbit of Melpomene, whereas Hamlet takes 45 days and Romeo takes 120 days.
How often are Melpomene and all three of its moons in line with each other in the order shown in the diagram?

Othello takes 20 days to complete one orbit of Melpomene, whereas Hamlet takes 45 days and Romeo takes 120 days.
How often are Melpomene and all three of its moons in line with each other in the order shown in the diagram?
- A.every 36 days
- B.every 72 days
- C.every 132 days
- D.every 180 days
- E.every 216 days
Answer: B
Question 23
1 markThe first three terms of a geometric series are equal to the first, fifth and sixth terms respectively of an arithmetic series.
Given that the terms in the geometric series are all different, find the value of the common ratio.
Given that the terms in the geometric series are all different, find the value of the common ratio.
- A.-1
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- F.1
Answer: D
Question 24
1 markOne of the roots of the equation , where is a constant, is 4 more than the other root.
The value of is
The value of is
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- F.
Answer: D
Question 25
1 markThe diagram shows the cross section of a cylindrical roll of paper towels which are used in domestic kitchens.
[diagram not to scale]

The roll consists of 64 towels, each of which is a square of side 250 mm, and they are tightly wrapped around an inner cardboard tube of diameter 5 cm. The outer diameter of the roll is 11 cm and the length of the cylinder is 25 cm.
The thickness of an individual towel, in millimetres, is estimated from this information.
Which one of these estimates is the best?
[diagram not to scale]

The roll consists of 64 towels, each of which is a square of side 250 mm, and they are tightly wrapped around an inner cardboard tube of diameter 5 cm. The outer diameter of the roll is 11 cm and the length of the cylinder is 25 cm.
The thickness of an individual towel, in millimetres, is estimated from this information.
Which one of these estimates is the best?
- A.0.01 mm
- B.0.05 mm
- C.0.1 mm
- D.0.5 mm
- E.1 mm
- F.2 mm
Answer: D
Question 26
1 markEach of the positive real numbers , , , and is increased by 20%.
What is the resulting percentage increase in the value of the expression ?
What is the resulting percentage increase in the value of the expression ?
- A.20%
- B.40%
- C.44%
- D.88%
- E.92%
- F.116%
- G.It depends on the values of , , , and .
Answer: C
Question 27
1 markA sector of a circle of radius cm contains an angle of radians.
The perimeter of the sector is 12 cm.
What is the maximum possible value of the area of the sector, in square centimetres, as varies?
[The area of a sector of radius containing an angle of radians is
The length of an arc subtended by an angle radians is , where is the radius.]
The perimeter of the sector is 12 cm.
What is the maximum possible value of the area of the sector, in square centimetres, as varies?
[The area of a sector of radius containing an angle of radians is
The length of an arc subtended by an angle radians is , where is the radius.]
- A.3
- B.6
- C.9
- D.18
- E.27
Answer: C
Question 28
1 markThe diagram shows a partial sketch of the curve where is constant.
[diagram not to scale]

The curve cuts the x-axis at one point only and does not touch the x-axis at any other point.
The y-coordinates of the turning points of the curve are both positive.
Find the complete range of values of .
[diagram not to scale]

The curve cuts the x-axis at one point only and does not touch the x-axis at any other point.
The y-coordinates of the turning points of the curve are both positive.
Find the complete range of values of .
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- F.
Answer: B
Question 29
1 markFind all possible positive values of for which is true.
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.There are no values of x.
Answer: B
Question 30
1 markLast Saturday, Jez visited his friend in a neighbouring town.
He cycled the first 5 km at an average speed of 10 km/h and then immediately caught a bus which travelled the remaining 10 km at an average speed of 30 km/h.
What was Jez's average speed for the whole journey?
He cycled the first 5 km at an average speed of 10 km/h and then immediately caught a bus which travelled the remaining 10 km at an average speed of 30 km/h.
What was Jez's average speed for the whole journey?
- A.12.5 km/h
- B.18 km/h
- C.20 km/h
- D.22 km/h
- E.28 km/h
Answer: B
Question 31
1 markFind the total area enclosed between the curve , the x-axis and the lines and , where is a positive constant.
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
Answer: D
Question 32
1 markA curve has equation and a line has equation .
What is the shortest distance parallel to the y-axis between the curve and the line?
What is the shortest distance parallel to the y-axis between the curve and the line?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
Answer: D
Question 33
1 markA bag only contains blue balls and red balls. All the balls are identical apart from colour.
One ball is randomly selected and not replaced. A second ball is then randomly selected.
What is the probability that at least one of the selected balls is red?
One ball is randomly selected and not replaced. A second ball is then randomly selected.
What is the probability that at least one of the selected balls is red?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- F.
Answer: E
Question 34
1 markThe real numbers , and are non-zero and .
Consider these three statements:
1.
2.
3.
Which of the above statements must be true?
Consider these three statements:
1.
2.
3.
Which of the above statements must be true?
- A.none
- B.1 only
- C.2 only
- D.3 only
- E.1 and 2 only
- F.1 and 3 only
- G.2 and 3 only
- H.1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Question 35
1 markA curve has the equation .
The curve has a maximum stationary point at and a minimum stationary point in the 4th quadrant (that is, the region where and ).
Which of the following set of conditions is sufficient to ensure this?
The curve has a maximum stationary point at and a minimum stationary point in the 4th quadrant (that is, the region where and ).
Which of the following set of conditions is sufficient to ensure this?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- F.
- G.
- H.
Answer: E
Question 36
1 markAn electronic circuit contains three light bulbs, X, Y and Z, which are each either on or off at any particular time. It is known that if bulb X is off or bulb Y is on, then bulb Z is on.
Which one of these statements necessarily follows from this?
Which one of these statements necessarily follows from this?
- A.If bulb Z is on, then bulb X is off or bulb Y is on.
- B.If bulb Z is on, then bulb X is on and bulb Y is off.
- C.If bulb Z is on, then bulb X is on or bulb Y is on.
- D.If bulb Z is off, then bulb X is off and bulb Y is off.
- E.If bulb Z is off, then bulb X is on or bulb Y is off.
- F.If bulb Z is off, then bulb X is on and bulb Y is on.
Answer: F
Question 37
1 markThe mean mass of a group of 20 people is 84 kg. When N people leave the group, the mean mass is reduced by 3 kg.
Which one of the following is an expression, in kilograms, for the mean mass of the people who left the group?
Which one of the following is an expression, in kilograms, for the mean mass of the people who left the group?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- F.
- G.
Answer: E