Mark Scheme
(Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel GCE In Politics
Paper 2: UK Government and
Non-core Political Ideas
(9PL0/02)
for more:
,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 or .
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
contact us page at
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:
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P79072A
Publication Code 9PL0_02_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is
Pearson
for more:
,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.
for more:
, Paper 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas mark scheme
Section A: UK Government
Guidelines for Marking Questions 1a and 1b
AO1 (10 marks)
Marks here relate to knowledge and understanding.
They can be awarded for using the source and developing separate own knowledge.
When the rubric states that candidates should ‘use knowledge and understanding to
help you analyse and evaluate’ it means that candidates should use only knowledge
and understanding from the source. Newly introduced own knowledge cannot form
the basis for AO2 and AO3 points/marks.
AO2 (10 marks)
Candidates should focus their comparison on analysing the different opinions in the
source in terms of similarities and differences. They should look at the different
approaches and views that arise from political information and show how these can
form the basis for differing opinions.
AO3 (10 marks)
Candidates are expected to evaluate the information and arguments presented.
They may rank the importance of the analysis. They should be able to make and form
judgments based on the source and they should reach reasoned conclusion.
Marks for analysis (AO2) and evaluation (AO3) should only be awarded where they
relate to information in the source.
Candidates must consider both views in their answers in a balanced way. The
judgement a candidate reaches about these views should be reflected in their
conclusion.
Candidates who do not undertake any comparative analysis of the source and/or
have not considered both views in a balanced way cannot achieve marks beyond
Level 2.
Other valid responses are acceptable.
for more:
(Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel GCE In Politics
Paper 2: UK Government and
Non-core Political Ideas
(9PL0/02)
for more:
,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 or .
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
contact us page at
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:
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P79072A
Publication Code 9PL0_02_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is
Pearson
for more:
,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.
for more:
, Paper 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas mark scheme
Section A: UK Government
Guidelines for Marking Questions 1a and 1b
AO1 (10 marks)
Marks here relate to knowledge and understanding.
They can be awarded for using the source and developing separate own knowledge.
When the rubric states that candidates should ‘use knowledge and understanding to
help you analyse and evaluate’ it means that candidates should use only knowledge
and understanding from the source. Newly introduced own knowledge cannot form
the basis for AO2 and AO3 points/marks.
AO2 (10 marks)
Candidates should focus their comparison on analysing the different opinions in the
source in terms of similarities and differences. They should look at the different
approaches and views that arise from political information and show how these can
form the basis for differing opinions.
AO3 (10 marks)
Candidates are expected to evaluate the information and arguments presented.
They may rank the importance of the analysis. They should be able to make and form
judgments based on the source and they should reach reasoned conclusion.
Marks for analysis (AO2) and evaluation (AO3) should only be awarded where they
relate to information in the source.
Candidates must consider both views in their answers in a balanced way. The
judgement a candidate reaches about these views should be reflected in their
conclusion.
Candidates who do not undertake any comparative analysis of the source and/or
have not considered both views in a balanced way cannot achieve marks beyond
Level 2.
Other valid responses are acceptable.
for more:
