Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2024
Pearson Edexcel GCE
In Politics (9PL0)
Paper 2: UK Government and Non-core
Political Ideas
,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 2024
Question Paper Log Number P76457A
Publications Code 9PL0_02_2024_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2024
,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.
, How to award marks when level descriptions are used
1. Finding the right level
The first stage is to decide which level the answer should be placed in. To do this, use a
‘best-fit’ approach, deciding which level most closely describes the quality of the answer.
Answers can display characteristics from more than one level, and where this happens
markers must use the guidance below and their professional judgement to decide which
level is most appropriate.
For example, one stronger passage at L4 would not by itself merit a L4 mark, but it might be
evidence to support a high L3 mark, unless there are substantial weaknesses in other areas.
Similarly, an answer that fits best in L3 but which has some characteristics of L2 might be
placed at the bottom of L3. An answer displaying some characteristics of L3 and some of L1
might be placed in L2.
2. Finding a mark within a level
After a level has been decided on, the next stage is to decide on the mark within the level.
The instructions below tell you how to reward responses within a level. However, where a
level has specific guidance about how to place an answer within a level, always follow that
guidance.
Levels containing two marks only
Start with the presumption that the work will be at the top of the level. Move down
to the lower mark if the work only just meets the requirements of the level.
Levels containing three or more marks
Markers should be prepared to use the full range of marks available in a level and not
restrict marks to the middle. Markers should start at the middle of the level (or the
upper-middle mark if there is an even number of marks) and then move the mark up or
down to find the best mark. To do this, they should take into account how far the
answer meets the requirements of the level:
• If it meets the requirements fully, markers should be prepared to award full marks
within the level. The top mark in the level is used for answers that are as good as
can realistically be expected within that level
• If it only barely meets the requirements of the level, markers should consider
awarding marks at the bottom of the level. The bottom mark in the level is used for
answers that are the weakest that can be expected within that level
• The middle marks of the level are used for answers that have a reasonable match to
the descriptor. This might represent a balance between some characteristics of the
level that are fully met and others that are only barely met.
Indicative content
Examiners are reminded that indicative content is provided as an illustration to markers of
some of the material that may be offered by students. It does not show required content and
alternatives should be credited where valid.
Summer 2024
Pearson Edexcel GCE
In Politics (9PL0)
Paper 2: UK Government and Non-core
Political Ideas
,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 2024
Question Paper Log Number P76457A
Publications Code 9PL0_02_2024_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2024
,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.
, How to award marks when level descriptions are used
1. Finding the right level
The first stage is to decide which level the answer should be placed in. To do this, use a
‘best-fit’ approach, deciding which level most closely describes the quality of the answer.
Answers can display characteristics from more than one level, and where this happens
markers must use the guidance below and their professional judgement to decide which
level is most appropriate.
For example, one stronger passage at L4 would not by itself merit a L4 mark, but it might be
evidence to support a high L3 mark, unless there are substantial weaknesses in other areas.
Similarly, an answer that fits best in L3 but which has some characteristics of L2 might be
placed at the bottom of L3. An answer displaying some characteristics of L3 and some of L1
might be placed in L2.
2. Finding a mark within a level
After a level has been decided on, the next stage is to decide on the mark within the level.
The instructions below tell you how to reward responses within a level. However, where a
level has specific guidance about how to place an answer within a level, always follow that
guidance.
Levels containing two marks only
Start with the presumption that the work will be at the top of the level. Move down
to the lower mark if the work only just meets the requirements of the level.
Levels containing three or more marks
Markers should be prepared to use the full range of marks available in a level and not
restrict marks to the middle. Markers should start at the middle of the level (or the
upper-middle mark if there is an even number of marks) and then move the mark up or
down to find the best mark. To do this, they should take into account how far the
answer meets the requirements of the level:
• If it meets the requirements fully, markers should be prepared to award full marks
within the level. The top mark in the level is used for answers that are as good as
can realistically be expected within that level
• If it only barely meets the requirements of the level, markers should consider
awarding marks at the bottom of the level. The bottom mark in the level is used for
answers that are the weakest that can be expected within that level
• The middle marks of the level are used for answers that have a reasonable match to
the descriptor. This might represent a balance between some characteristics of the
level that are fully met and others that are only barely met.
Indicative content
Examiners are reminded that indicative content is provided as an illustration to markers of
some of the material that may be offered by students. It does not show required content and
alternatives should be credited where valid.
