Utility
7.1What the syllabus asks of you
- definition and calculation of total utility and marginal utility
- diminishing marginal utility
- equi-marginal principle
- derivation of an individual demand curve
- limitations of marginal utility theory and its assumptions of rational behaviour
Drill this topic
Every question on Utility, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
34 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 31 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Adifferent consumers have different marginal utilities for the same good
Bmoney does not measure utility accurately
Cprice is better at measuring the value of exchange than the value of satisfaction
Dprice is determined by both marginal utility and marginal cost
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 32 · Q1Show mark scheme →
AWhen each additional unit of a product consumed decreases by equal amounts.
BWhen the average utility per dollar spent is the same for each product.
CWhen the marginal utility per dollar spent is the same for each product.
DWhen the total utility for each product consumed is the same.
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 33 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Adifferent consumers have different marginal utilities for the same good
Bmoney does not measure utility accurately
Cprice is better at measuring the value of exchange than the value of satisfaction
Dprice is determined by both marginal utility and marginal cost
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 31 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Aan increase in the marginal utility of good Y
Ban increase in the price of good Y
Can increase in the tax on the consumption of good Y
Dan increase in the tax on the income of consumers
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5May / June 2025 · Paper 31 · Q1Show mark scheme →
AAs consumption of a product increases, the satisfaction from consumption of the product decreases by an equal amount.
BConsumers maximise utility where their marginal valuation for each product consumed is the same.
CThe total satisfaction received by consumers from consumption of a product is constant.
DThe marginal utility derived by consumers from the consumption of one more unit of a product is constant.
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 32 · Q3Show mark scheme →
Abuy less good X, buy more good Y
Bbuy more good X, buy less good Y
Cbuy more good X, unchanged good Y
Dunchanged good X, buy less good Y
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7May / June 2025 · Paper 33 · Q1Show mark scheme →
AAs consumption of a product increases, the satisfaction from consumption of the product decreases by an equal amount.
BConsumers maximise utility where their marginal valuation for each product consumed is the same.
CThe total satisfaction received by consumers from consumption of a product is constant.
DThe marginal utility derived by consumers from the consumption of one more unit of a product is constant.
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8Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 31 · Q1Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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9Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 32 · Q1Show mark scheme →
Ato obtain the same total utility from each commodity
Bto obtain the same total utility per $ spent on each commodity
Cto obtain the same utility from the last unit of each commodity
Dto obtain the same utility from the last $ spent on each commodity
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10Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 33 · Q1Show mark scheme →
Awhen MU_Y = MU_Z
Bwhen MU_Y × P_Y = MU_Z × P_Z
Cwhen MU_Y × P_Z = MU_Z × P_Y
Dit is not possible to tell from the information available
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11May / June 2024 · Paper 31 · Q1Show mark scheme →
ADiminishing marginal utility means that producers become less efficient the more they produce.
BIf marginal utility is above average utility, average utility must be rising.
CThe equi-marginal principle says that a consumer gets equal total satisfaction from each item purchased.
DTotal utility continually rises as the level of consumption rises.
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12May / June 2024 · Paper 32 · Q1Show mark scheme →
AMarginal utility increases as consumption increases.
BThe consumer cannot switch expenditure to another product to increase total utility.
CThe marginal utility of the 3rd unit is 8.
DThe marginal utility of the 5th unit is 2.
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13May / June 2024 · Paper 33 · Q1Show mark scheme →
ADiminishing marginal utility means that producers become less efficient the more they produce.
BIf marginal utility is above average utility, average utility must be rising.
CThe equi-marginal principle says that a consumer gets equal total satisfaction from each item purchased.
DTotal utility continually rises as the level of consumption rises.
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14Feb / March 2024 · Paper 32 · Q1Show mark scheme →
Aa decrease in marginal productivity
Ba decrease in marginal utility
Can increase in marginal productivity
Dan increase in marginal utility
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15Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 31 · Q1Show mark scheme →
ATotal satisfaction falls at a decreasing rate.
BTotal satisfaction falls at an increasing rate.
CTotal satisfaction rises at a decreasing rate.
DTotal satisfaction rises at an increasing rate.
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16Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 32 · Q1Show mark scheme →
A0
B5
C10
D30
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17Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 33 · Q1Show mark scheme →
AIt falls continuously.
BIt falls and then rises.
CIt rises continuously.
DIt rises and then falls.
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18May / June 2023 · Paper 31 · Q1Show mark scheme →
ATotal utility becomes negative if the quantity consumed increases from Y to Z.
BTotal utility decreases if the quantity consumed increases from X to Y.
CTotal utility decreases if the quantity consumed increases from Y to Z.
DTotal utility is maximised at X.
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19May / June 2023 · Paper 33 · Q1Show mark scheme →
ATotal utility becomes negative if the quantity consumed increases from Y to Z.
BTotal utility decreases if the quantity consumed increases from X to Y.
CTotal utility decreases if the quantity consumed increases from Y to Z.
DTotal utility is maximised at X.
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20Feb / March 2023 · Paper 32 · Q1Show mark scheme →
Aaccess to complete information: no; addictive behaviour: yes; choice is independent of other consumers: yes
Baccess to complete information: yes; addictive behaviour: no; choice is independent of other consumers: no
Caccess to complete information: yes; addictive behaviour: yes; choice is independent of other consumers: no
Daccess to complete information: yes; addictive behaviour: no; choice is independent of other consumers: yes
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21Feb / March 2023 · Paper 32 · Q2Show mark scheme →
Agood S: 1; good T: 1
Bgood S: 2; good T: 1
Cgood S: 3; good T: 4
Dgood S: 5; good T: 5
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22Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 31 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AThe marginal utility of X must equal the marginal utility of Y.
BThe marginal utility of X divided by the price of X must equal the marginal utility of Y divided by the price of Y.
CThe marginal utility of X divided by the price of Y must equal the marginal utility of Y divided by the price of Y.
DThe price of X must equal the price of Y.
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23Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 32 · Q4Show mark scheme →
A3
B4
C5
D6
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24Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 33 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AJo's demand for coffee will increase from X to Y where her total utility for coffee is zero.
BJo's demand for coffee will increase from X to Y where her marginal utility for coffee is zero.
CJo will not drink extra coffee because its marginal utility is less than $2.
DJo will not drink extra coffee because her total utility will fall.
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25May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
AThe additional satisfaction an individual gets from consuming most goods decreases as consumption increases.
BThe additional satisfaction an individual gets from consumption decreases as income rises.
CThe individual has finite income which is used to attempt to satisfy many wants.
DFor most goods the price charged by producers falls as the quantity purchased increases.
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26May / June 2022 · Paper 31 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AAs more is consumed of a normal good, the additional satisfaction gained increases.
BConsumers are in equilibrium when the marginal utility gained from good X equals the price of good Y.
CConsumers are in equilibrium when the ratio of the marginal utility of goods X and Y are equal to the ratio of their prices.
DConsumers are in equilibrium when the total utility gained from good X is the same as gained from good Y.
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27May / June 2022 · Paper 33 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AAs more is consumed of a normal good, the additional satisfaction gained increases.
BConsumers are in equilibrium when the marginal utility gained from good X equals the price of good Y.
CConsumers are in equilibrium when the ratio of the marginal utility of goods X and Y are equal to the ratio of their prices.
DConsumers are in equilibrium when the total utility gained from good X is the same as gained from good Y.
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28Feb / March 2022 · Paper 32 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AConsumer tastes and preferences only change when their spending power increases.
BExtra utility gained from consuming successive units of a good will fall continuously.
CSatisfaction of consuming one more unit of a good is greater than the loss of money spent.
DTotal utility gained from buying more and more units of a good will continue to increase indefinitely.
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29Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 31 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AMarginal utility per dollar spent is equal for both goods.
BThe total utility of 3X is equal to the total utility of 4Y.
CThe consumer should buy one more unit of good X to maximise utility.
DGood Y has greater marginal utility than good X.
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30Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 33 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Amarginal utility
Bthe consumer's income
Cthe price of the product
Dtotal utility
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31May / June 2021 · Paper 31 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Athe final course of an 'eat all you can' banquet to end an evening out
Bthe last coin to complete an enthusiast's coin collection
Cthe second of the two rolls of wallpaper needed to decorate a room
Dthe tenth driving lesson needed to enable a learner to pass the driving test
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32May / June 2021 · Paper 32 · Q4Show mark scheme →
A2 utils
B12 utils
C16 utils
D24 utils
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33May / June 2021 · Paper 33 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Athe final course of an 'eat all you can' banquet to end an evening out
Bthe last coin to complete an enthusiast's coin collection
Cthe second of the two rolls of wallpaper needed to decorate a room
Dthe tenth driving lesson needed to enable a learner to pass the driving test
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34Feb / March 2021 · Paper 32 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Aherb X 2 grams, spice Y 3 grams
Bherb X 3 grams, spice Y 5 grams
Cherb X 4 grams, spice Y 5 grams
Dherb X 5 grams, spice Y 4 grams
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