MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL ECONOMICS – 7136/1 – JUNE
2023
AQA
A-level
ECONOMICS
7136/1
Paper 1 Markets and Market Failure
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL ECONOMICS – 7136/1 – JUNE
2023
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL ECONOMICS – 7136/1 – JUNE
2023
Section A
Below is the levels of response marking grid to be used when marking any 25-mark question.
Level of Max
Response
response 25 marks
Sound, focused analysis and well-supported evaluation that:
is well organised, showing sound knowledge and understanding of
economic terminology, concepts and principles with few, if any, errors
includes good application of relevant economic principles to the given
21–25
5 context and, where appropriate, good use of data to support the
marks
response
includes well-focused analysis with clear, logical chains of reasoning
includes supported evaluation throughout the response and in a final
conclusion.
Sound, focused analysis and some supported evaluation that:
is well organised, showing sound knowledge and understanding of
economic terminology, concepts and principles with few, if any, errors
includes some good application of relevant economic principles to the
16–20
4 given context and, where appropriate, some good use of data to
marks
support the response
includes some well-focused analysis with clear, logical chains of
reasoning
includes some reasonable, supported evaluation.
Some reasonable analysis but generally unsupported evaluation that:
focuses on issues that are relevant to the question, showing satisfactory
knowledge and understanding of economic terminology, concepts and
principles but some weaknesses may be present
includes reasonable application of relevant economic principles to the
given context and, where appropriate, some use of data to support the 11–15
3
response marks
includes some reasonable analysis but which might not be adequately
developed or becomes confused in places
includes fairly superficial evaluation; there is likely to be some attempt to
make relevant judgements but these aren’t well-supported by arguments
and/or data.
A fairly weak response with some understanding that:
includes some limited knowledge and understanding of economic
terminology, concepts and principles is shown but some errors are
likely 6–10
2
includes some limited application of relevant economic principles to the marks
given context and/or data to the question
includes some limited analysis but it may lack focus and/or become
confused
includes some evaluation which is weak and unsupported.
A very weak response that:
includes little relevant knowledge and understanding of economic
1–5
1 terminology, concepts and principles
marks
includes application to the given context which is, at best, very weak
includes attempted analysis which is weak and unsupported.
4
2023
AQA
A-level
ECONOMICS
7136/1
Paper 1 Markets and Market Failure
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL ECONOMICS – 7136/1 – JUNE
2023
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – A-LEVEL ECONOMICS – 7136/1 – JUNE
2023
Section A
Below is the levels of response marking grid to be used when marking any 25-mark question.
Level of Max
Response
response 25 marks
Sound, focused analysis and well-supported evaluation that:
is well organised, showing sound knowledge and understanding of
economic terminology, concepts and principles with few, if any, errors
includes good application of relevant economic principles to the given
21–25
5 context and, where appropriate, good use of data to support the
marks
response
includes well-focused analysis with clear, logical chains of reasoning
includes supported evaluation throughout the response and in a final
conclusion.
Sound, focused analysis and some supported evaluation that:
is well organised, showing sound knowledge and understanding of
economic terminology, concepts and principles with few, if any, errors
includes some good application of relevant economic principles to the
16–20
4 given context and, where appropriate, some good use of data to
marks
support the response
includes some well-focused analysis with clear, logical chains of
reasoning
includes some reasonable, supported evaluation.
Some reasonable analysis but generally unsupported evaluation that:
focuses on issues that are relevant to the question, showing satisfactory
knowledge and understanding of economic terminology, concepts and
principles but some weaknesses may be present
includes reasonable application of relevant economic principles to the
given context and, where appropriate, some use of data to support the 11–15
3
response marks
includes some reasonable analysis but which might not be adequately
developed or becomes confused in places
includes fairly superficial evaluation; there is likely to be some attempt to
make relevant judgements but these aren’t well-supported by arguments
and/or data.
A fairly weak response with some understanding that:
includes some limited knowledge and understanding of economic
terminology, concepts and principles is shown but some errors are
likely 6–10
2
includes some limited application of relevant economic principles to the marks
given context and/or data to the question
includes some limited analysis but it may lack focus and/or become
confused
includes some evaluation which is weak and unsupported.
A very weak response that:
includes little relevant knowledge and understanding of economic
1–5
1 terminology, concepts and principles
marks
includes application to the given context which is, at best, very weak
includes attempted analysis which is weak and unsupported.
4
