Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Thursday 14 May 2026
Morning (Time: 2 hours) Paper
reference 8ET0/01 Mark Scheme (Results)
English Literature
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 1: Poetry and Drama
Summer 2026
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
Instructions Edexcel Level 3 GCE
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number. English Literature
• Answer one question in Section A and one question in Section B on your
chosen texts. Advanced Subsidiary (8ET0)
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Paper 1: Poetry and Drama
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 72.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79570A
P:1/1/1/1/1
Education Ltd. *P79570A0128*
, SECTION A
Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Poetry
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question. Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by the UK’s
Begin your answer on page 4. largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications
including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
EITHER programmes for employers. For further information visit our
1 Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about culture in Ode On A Grayson qualifications websites at or .
Perry Urn by Tim Turnbull and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011. contact us page at
In your answer, you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 1 = 24 marks) helping people progress, everywhere
OR 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
2 Compare the ways in which poets explore ideas about motherhood in The Deliverer
learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been
by Tishani Doshi and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade:
An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011. 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
In your answer, you should consider the following: high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find
• the poets’ development of themes out more about how we can help you and your students at:
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 2 = 24 marks)
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P 79570A
Publication Code 8ET0_01_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is
2
*P79570A0228*
, General Marking Guidance
List of prescribed poems
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the
Poems of the Decade: An anthology of the Forward books of poetry 2002–2011
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
(Faber and Faber, 2015) /
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded
New edition Old edition
Poem title Poet for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
page page
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
Eat Me Patience Agbabi 3 13
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass Simon Armitage 6 16 • There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be
Material Ros Barber 10 20 used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners
History John Burnside 25 35
should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the
An Easy Passage Julia Copus 37 47 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.
The Deliverer Tishani Doshi 43 53
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles
The Lammas Hireling Ian Duhig 51 61 by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme
To My Nine-Year-Old Self Helen Dunmore 52 62
to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
A Minor Role U A Fanthorpe 57 67 • Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it
The Gun Vicki Feaver 62 72 with an alternative response.
The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled Leontia Flynn 64 74
Specific Marking Guidance
Giuseppe Roderick Ford 66 76
The marking grids have been designed to assess student work holistically. The
Out of the Bag Seamus Heaney 81 91 grids identify which Assessment Objective is being targeted by each bullet
point within the level descriptors. One bullet point is linked to one Assessment
Effects Alan Jenkins 92 102 Objective; however, please note that the number of bullet points in the level
descriptor does not directly correlate to the number of marks in the level
Genetics Sinéad Morrissey 125 135 descriptor.
From the Journal of a Disappointed Man Andrew Motion 127 137 When deciding how to reward an answer, examiners should consult both the
indicative content and the associated marking grid(s). When using a levels-
Look We Have Coming to Dover! Daljit Nagra 129 139 based mark scheme, the ‘best fit’ approach should be used:
Please Hold Ciaran O’Driscoll 132 142 • examiners should first decide which descriptor most closely matches the
answer and place it in that level
On Her Blindness Adam Thorpe 170 180
• the mark awarded within the level will be decided based on the quality of the
Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn Tim Turnbull 172 182 answer and will be modified according to how securely all bullet points are
displayed at that level
3
*P79570A0328* Turn over
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Thursday 14 May 2026
Morning (Time: 2 hours) Paper
reference 8ET0/01 Mark Scheme (Results)
English Literature
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 1: Poetry and Drama
Summer 2026
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
Instructions Edexcel Level 3 GCE
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number. English Literature
• Answer one question in Section A and one question in Section B on your
chosen texts. Advanced Subsidiary (8ET0)
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Paper 1: Poetry and Drama
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 72.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79570A
P:1/1/1/1/1
Education Ltd. *P79570A0128*
, SECTION A
Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Poetry
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question. Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by the UK’s
Begin your answer on page 4. largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications
including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
EITHER programmes for employers. For further information visit our
1 Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about culture in Ode On A Grayson qualifications websites at or .
Perry Urn by Tim Turnbull and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011. contact us page at
In your answer, you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 1 = 24 marks) helping people progress, everywhere
OR 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
2 Compare the ways in which poets explore ideas about motherhood in The Deliverer
learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been
by Tishani Doshi and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade:
An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011. 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
In your answer, you should consider the following: high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find
• the poets’ development of themes out more about how we can help you and your students at:
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 2 = 24 marks)
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P 79570A
Publication Code 8ET0_01_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is
2
*P79570A0228*
, General Marking Guidance
List of prescribed poems
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the
Poems of the Decade: An anthology of the Forward books of poetry 2002–2011
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
(Faber and Faber, 2015) /
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded
New edition Old edition
Poem title Poet for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
page page
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
Eat Me Patience Agbabi 3 13
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass Simon Armitage 6 16 • There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be
Material Ros Barber 10 20 used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners
History John Burnside 25 35
should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the
An Easy Passage Julia Copus 37 47 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.
The Deliverer Tishani Doshi 43 53
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles
The Lammas Hireling Ian Duhig 51 61 by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme
To My Nine-Year-Old Self Helen Dunmore 52 62
to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
A Minor Role U A Fanthorpe 57 67 • Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it
The Gun Vicki Feaver 62 72 with an alternative response.
The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled Leontia Flynn 64 74
Specific Marking Guidance
Giuseppe Roderick Ford 66 76
The marking grids have been designed to assess student work holistically. The
Out of the Bag Seamus Heaney 81 91 grids identify which Assessment Objective is being targeted by each bullet
point within the level descriptors. One bullet point is linked to one Assessment
Effects Alan Jenkins 92 102 Objective; however, please note that the number of bullet points in the level
descriptor does not directly correlate to the number of marks in the level
Genetics Sinéad Morrissey 125 135 descriptor.
From the Journal of a Disappointed Man Andrew Motion 127 137 When deciding how to reward an answer, examiners should consult both the
indicative content and the associated marking grid(s). When using a levels-
Look We Have Coming to Dover! Daljit Nagra 129 139 based mark scheme, the ‘best fit’ approach should be used:
Please Hold Ciaran O’Driscoll 132 142 • examiners should first decide which descriptor most closely matches the
answer and place it in that level
On Her Blindness Adam Thorpe 170 180
• the mark awarded within the level will be decided based on the quality of the
Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn Tim Turnbull 172 182 answer and will be modified according to how securely all bullet points are
displayed at that level
3
*P79570A0328* Turn over
