Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
English Language and Literature
Advanced Subsidiary (8EL0)
PAPER 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
,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 P79491A
Publication Code 8EL0_02_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.
Marking Guidance – specific
The marking grids have been designed to assess student work holistically.
The grids identify which Assessment Objective is being targeted by each
bullet point within the level descriptors. One bullet point is linked to one
Assessment 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 descriptor.
When deciding how to reward an answer, examiners should consult both
the indicative content and the associated marking grid(s). When using a
levels-based mark scheme, the ‘best fit’ approach should be used:
• examiners should first decide which descriptor most closely
matches the answer and place it in that level
, • the mark awarded within the level will be decided based on the
quality of the answer and will be modified according to how
securely all bullet points are displayed at that level
• in cases of uneven performance, the points above will still apply.
Candidates will be placed in the level that best describes their
answer according to each of the Assessment Objectives
described in the level. Marks will be awarded towards the top or
bottom of that level depending on how they have evidenced each
of the descriptor bullet points
• examiners of Advanced GCE English should remember that all
Assessment Objectives within a level are equally weighted. They
must consider this when making their judgements
• the mark grid identifies which Assessment Objective is being
targeted by each bullet point within the level descriptors
• Indicative content is exactly that – they are factual points that
candidates are likely to use to construct their answer. It is possible
for an answer to be constructed without mentioning some or all of
these points, as long as they provide alternative responses to the
indicative content that fulfils the requirements of the question. It is
the examiner’s responsibility to apply their professional judgement
to the candidate’s response in determining if the answer fulfils the
requirements of the question.
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
English Language and Literature
Advanced Subsidiary (8EL0)
PAPER 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
,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 P79491A
Publication Code 8EL0_02_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.
Marking Guidance – specific
The marking grids have been designed to assess student work holistically.
The grids identify which Assessment Objective is being targeted by each
bullet point within the level descriptors. One bullet point is linked to one
Assessment 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 descriptor.
When deciding how to reward an answer, examiners should consult both
the indicative content and the associated marking grid(s). When using a
levels-based mark scheme, the ‘best fit’ approach should be used:
• examiners should first decide which descriptor most closely
matches the answer and place it in that level
, • the mark awarded within the level will be decided based on the
quality of the answer and will be modified according to how
securely all bullet points are displayed at that level
• in cases of uneven performance, the points above will still apply.
Candidates will be placed in the level that best describes their
answer according to each of the Assessment Objectives
described in the level. Marks will be awarded towards the top or
bottom of that level depending on how they have evidenced each
of the descriptor bullet points
• examiners of Advanced GCE English should remember that all
Assessment Objectives within a level are equally weighted. They
must consider this when making their judgements
• the mark grid identifies which Assessment Objective is being
targeted by each bullet point within the level descriptors
• Indicative content is exactly that – they are factual points that
candidates are likely to use to construct their answer. It is possible
for an answer to be constructed without mentioning some or all of
these points, as long as they provide alternative responses to the
indicative content that fulfils the requirements of the question. It is
the examiner’s responsibility to apply their professional judgement
to the candidate’s response in determining if the answer fulfils the
requirements of the question.
