Mark Scheme
(Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel GCE In Politics
Paper 3: Comparative Politics – USA
(9PL0/3A)
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 P79073A
Publication Code 9PL0_3A _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.
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.
for more:
(Results)
Summer 2026
Pearson Edexcel GCE In Politics
Paper 3: Comparative Politics – USA
(9PL0/3A)
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 P79073A
Publication Code 9PL0_3A _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.
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.
for more:
