Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level
In Economics A (9EC0)
Paper 3 Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
,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 2025
Question Paper Log Number P75866A
Publications Code 9EC0_03_2506_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2025
,General marking guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark
the last candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the first.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be
rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than be
penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme – not according to
their perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• 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/indicative
content will not be exhaustive.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark
scheme to a candidate’s response, a senior examiner must be consulted
before a mark is given.
• Crossed-out work should be marked unless the candidate has replaced it
with an alternative response.
, Question Answer Mark
Number
1(a) Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 1
Knowledge and analysis (3) e.g.
● Understanding of social optimum quantity (1)
● Imperfect / asymmetric information (1) means that
consumers are not aware / do not perceive actual benefits
(1)
● Irrationality (1) leads to:
● habitual consumption of unhealthy foods (1)
● herd behaviour/influence of others/impact of advertising
(1)
● weakness at computation (1)
● Positive externalities (1)
● Cost of living crisis (1) reduces purchasing power /choosing
cheap foods (1)
● Supermarket promotion of low-cost products/unhealthy food
is cheaper (1) so more affordable than healthy food (1)
● Social trends e.g. convenience (1) choose packaged and
processed options which are less healthy (1)
● Lack of government intervention (1)
● Consumers are unaware that the cheaper food is unhealthy
(1) and therefore make their decisions on perceived benefit
rather than actual benefit (1)
Application (2) e.g.
2 marks for data (1+1 or 2): e.g.
● Reference to BOGOF/ 3 for 2 in Extract A (1)
● Extract A – consumers face heavy marketing for unhealthy
foods (1)
● Advertising and online promotion affect people so they seem
to behave irrationally (1)
● The restrictions banning HFSS adverts on TV before 9pm
and paid-for adverts online were set for January 2024 (1)
● Government rules limiting the location of unhealthy foods
in shops began in 2022 e.g. checkouts and store entrances
(1)
● Own examples of external benefits and brand behaviour (1)
NB Maximum 2 marks for an effectively used diagram,
as any of knowledge, analysis or application. (5)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level
In Economics A (9EC0)
Paper 3 Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
,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 2025
Question Paper Log Number P75866A
Publications Code 9EC0_03_2506_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2025
,General marking guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark
the last candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the first.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be
rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than be
penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme – not according to
their perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• 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/indicative
content will not be exhaustive.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark
scheme to a candidate’s response, a senior examiner must be consulted
before a mark is given.
• Crossed-out work should be marked unless the candidate has replaced it
with an alternative response.
, Question Answer Mark
Number
1(a) Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 1
Knowledge and analysis (3) e.g.
● Understanding of social optimum quantity (1)
● Imperfect / asymmetric information (1) means that
consumers are not aware / do not perceive actual benefits
(1)
● Irrationality (1) leads to:
● habitual consumption of unhealthy foods (1)
● herd behaviour/influence of others/impact of advertising
(1)
● weakness at computation (1)
● Positive externalities (1)
● Cost of living crisis (1) reduces purchasing power /choosing
cheap foods (1)
● Supermarket promotion of low-cost products/unhealthy food
is cheaper (1) so more affordable than healthy food (1)
● Social trends e.g. convenience (1) choose packaged and
processed options which are less healthy (1)
● Lack of government intervention (1)
● Consumers are unaware that the cheaper food is unhealthy
(1) and therefore make their decisions on perceived benefit
rather than actual benefit (1)
Application (2) e.g.
2 marks for data (1+1 or 2): e.g.
● Reference to BOGOF/ 3 for 2 in Extract A (1)
● Extract A – consumers face heavy marketing for unhealthy
foods (1)
● Advertising and online promotion affect people so they seem
to behave irrationally (1)
● The restrictions banning HFSS adverts on TV before 9pm
and paid-for adverts online were set for January 2024 (1)
● Government rules limiting the location of unhealthy foods
in shops began in 2022 e.g. checkouts and store entrances
(1)
● Own examples of external benefits and brand behaviour (1)
NB Maximum 2 marks for an effectively used diagram,
as any of knowledge, analysis or application. (5)
