Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
English Literature
Advanced Subsidiary (8ET0)
PAPER 2: Prose
,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 P79572A
Publication Code 8ET0_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 Literature
Advanced Subsidiary (8ET0)
PAPER 2: Prose
,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 P79572A
Publication Code 8ET0_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.
