Edexcel A-Level Politics | Paper 1 | 2027 Predicted Paper | Question 3(b) Mark Scheme
Question 3 Mark Scheme
Questions 3(a) and 3(b) are 24-mark Core Political Ideas essays. The command “To what extent…” requires students to compare areas of agreement and disagreement within the ideology and reach a sustained judgement about which is more significant. Students must use appropriate named thinkers from the specification, and the 24 marks are divided equally between AO1, AO2 and AO3, 8 marks each.
Pearson's current guidance is especially important here: stronger answers should be strand driven rather than thinker driven. Thinkers should support the comparison between ideological strands, rather than becoming five separate mini-biographies. Students who do not use named specification thinkers, or who consider only one side, cannot progress beyond Level 2.
Level | Marks | Indicative characteristics |
Level 1 | 1–4 | Limited knowledge, little relevant comparison and weak or unsupported judgement. |
Level 2 | 5–9 | Some accurate knowledge, but comparison or balance is limited and judgements are only partially supported. |
Level 3 | 10–14 | Mostly accurate knowledge with some effective comparison of similarities and differences. Evaluation is present but uneven. |
Level 4 | 15–19 | Accurate and relevant knowledge, sustained comparative analysis and mostly substantiated judgements. |
Level 5 | 20–24 | Thorough knowledge, perceptive comparison between strands and sustained evaluation leading to a focused judgement about the extent of agreement or disagreement. |
Pearson advises students to make mini-conclusions throughout and says a conclusion is essential because AO3 requires an overall judgement.
Question 3(b), Conservatism
To what extent is conservatism divided over its view of human nature?(24 marks)
Students should compare the different conservative understandings of human nature, particularly the traditional conservative principle of human imperfection against the more individualistic assumptions found within the neo-liberal New Right. Strong responses should also recognise that the New Right itself combines neo-liberal and neo-conservative elements, so the division is not simply “traditional conservatives versus everyone else”.
The specification states that conservative human imperfection has psychological, moral and intellectual dimensions. It also contrasts the more hierarchical and paternalistic traditions of conservatism with a New Right combining neo-liberal atomistic individualism and neo-conservative concern about social fragmentation.
Indicative content
Arguments suggesting substantial division
Traditional conservatives may be presented as holding a pessimistic view of human nature:
Humans are psychologically imperfect, meaning they seek security and familiarity.
Humans are morally imperfect, meaning they may act selfishly or wrongly.
Humans are intellectually imperfect, meaning reason alone cannot allow people to design a perfect society.
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