Edexcel A-Level Politics | Paper 1 | 2027 Predicted Paper | Question 1 Mark Scheme
Question 1 Mark Scheme
Questions 1(a) and 1(b) are 30-mark source questions. The command “Using the source, evaluate the view that…” requires students to compare the competing arguments in the source, analyse them using relevant political knowledge, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and reach a substantiated judgement. Pearson allocates 10 marks each to AO1, AO2 and AO3 and suggests approximately 45 minutes for the question. There is no prescribed word count, but a 30-mark response needs a sustained, balanced argument rather than a short explanation.
A crucial feature of this question type is that outside knowledge can strengthen AO1, but AO2 and AO3 must remain tied to political information already contained in the source. Students must compare the source arguments rather than using the source merely as a prompt for a pre-prepared essay.
Generic level guidance
Level | Marks | Indicative characteristics |
Level 1 | 1-6 | Limited knowledge and understanding. Little meaningful comparison of the source. Evaluation is weak or largely asserted. |
Level 2 | 7-12 | Some relevant knowledge and some engagement with both views, but analysis is uneven and judgements are only partly supported. |
Level 3 | 13-18 | Mostly accurate knowledge, some effective comparison and a developing argument. Evaluation is present but may not be sustained. |
Level 4 | 19-24 | Accurate and relevant knowledge, consistent comparison of source arguments and mostly well-supported judgements. |
Level 5 | 25-30 | Thorough, well-selected knowledge, perceptive comparative analysis and sustained evaluation, with substantiated judgements leading to a focused conclusion. |
Pearson confirms the five mark bands above and states that a response which does not compare the source or does not consider both views in a balanced way cannot progress beyond Level 2.
Question 1(a)
Using the source, evaluate the view that extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds would strengthen democracy in the UK.(30 marks)
The answer should remain focused on whether extending the franchise would actually strengthen democracy, rather than becoming a general essay on votes at 16. The strongest responses will pair arguments from the source, for example greater inclusion and legitimacy against the argument that possessing the vote does not necessarily produce meaningful participation.
This question directly addresses specification point 1.2, a wider franchise and debates over suffrage, which requires the historical widening of the franchise and a current movement seeking to extend it.
Indicative content
Arguments supporting the view
Students may develop the following source arguments:
The historical development of UK democracy has involved a progressive widening of the franchise. Extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds could therefore be seen as a continuation of democratic development.
The source identifies the reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1969 as an earlier example of age-based franchise reform.
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