Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level In Business
Investigating Business in a Competitive
Environment
9BS0/03
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s
largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications
including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
programmes for employers. For further information visit our
qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus
Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere
Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help
everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of
learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been
involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in
100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to
high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find
out more about how we can help you and your students at:
www.pearson.com/uk
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P82490A
Publication Code 9BS0_03_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson
,General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the
first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded
for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be
used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners
should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the
mark scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the
candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles
by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme
to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it
with an alternative response.
, Question
Answer Mark
Number
1(a) Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 2, Evaluation 2
• Global niche markets are segments within a larger market
that meet the needs of a specialised group of consumers
across various countries.
• Lotus sells its biscuits worldwide and benefits from the
unique taste and long shelf life, which helps to differentiate
its products from competitors, such as McVitie’s
• Its unique taste and tradition means that Lotus Biscoff
does not need to compete directly with other brands sold
globally, such as those owned by Mondelez.
• Selling a global niche product, such as Biscoff allows Lotus
to sell at a premium price in market segments around the
world, increasing its revenue from $1.1bn.
Possible counterbalance
• Lotus may face delivery and supply challenges ensuring
retailers in smaller differentiated markets, such as
independent retailers in new markets including the US,
France and Germany have sufficient stock to meet the
increased demands for Biscoff.
• Lotus may face higher marketing costs, such as adapting
labelling and packaging to smaller markets around the
world, reducing its profit margin on each sale.
• Limited overall market size compared to more mass
markets products, such as Oreo, means that Lotus may not
achieve the economies of scale larger manufacturers such (8)
as Mondelez can achieve.
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level In Business
Investigating Business in a Competitive
Environment
9BS0/03
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s
largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications
including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
programmes for employers. For further information visit our
qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus
Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere
Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help
everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of
learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been
involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in
100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to
high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find
out more about how we can help you and your students at:
www.pearson.com/uk
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P82490A
Publication Code 9BS0_03_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson
,General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the
first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded
for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be
used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners
should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the
mark scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the
candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles
by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme
to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it
with an alternative response.
, Question
Answer Mark
Number
1(a) Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 2, Evaluation 2
• Global niche markets are segments within a larger market
that meet the needs of a specialised group of consumers
across various countries.
• Lotus sells its biscuits worldwide and benefits from the
unique taste and long shelf life, which helps to differentiate
its products from competitors, such as McVitie’s
• Its unique taste and tradition means that Lotus Biscoff
does not need to compete directly with other brands sold
globally, such as those owned by Mondelez.
• Selling a global niche product, such as Biscoff allows Lotus
to sell at a premium price in market segments around the
world, increasing its revenue from $1.1bn.
Possible counterbalance
• Lotus may face delivery and supply challenges ensuring
retailers in smaller differentiated markets, such as
independent retailers in new markets including the US,
France and Germany have sufficient stock to meet the
increased demands for Biscoff.
• Lotus may face higher marketing costs, such as adapting
labelling and packaging to smaller markets around the
world, reducing its profit margin on each sale.
• Limited overall market size compared to more mass
markets products, such as Oreo, means that Lotus may not
achieve the economies of scale larger manufacturers such (8)
as Mondelez can achieve.
