Edexcel A-Level Politics | Paper 2 | 2026 Predicted Paper | Question 6(a) Mark Scheme
Question 6 Mark Scheme: Multiculturalism
Question 6 is a 24-mark Political Ideas essay, worth 8 marks each for AO1, AO2 and AO3. “To what extent” requires students to compare areas of agreement and disagreement within multiculturalism and reach a supported judgement about the degree of unity or division.
For both questions, students should compare liberal, pluralist and cosmopolitan multiculturalism and use the prescribed thinkers, Isaiah Berlin, Charles Taylor, Bhikhu Parekh, Tariq Modood and Will Kymlicka, to deepen those comparisons. The specification centres multiculturalism on balancing cultural and religious diversity with civic unity, including recognition, culture and identity, minority rights, diversity and different forms of integration.
Levels of response
Level | Marks | Characteristics |
Level 1 | 1–4 | Superficial knowledge, limited comparison and largely unsupported judgements. |
Level 2 | 5–9 | Some accurate knowledge and some comparison, but analysis and evaluation are uneven or only partly developed. |
Level 3 | 10–14 | Mostly accurate knowledge, focused comparison and generally effective evaluation with some supported judgements. |
Level 4 | 15–19 | Accurate and carefully selected knowledge, consistent comparative analysis and mostly substantiated judgements. |
Level 5 | 20–24 | Thorough knowledge, perceptive and sustained comparison, consistently substantiated evaluation and a fully focused, justified conclusion. |
Question 6(a)
Question
To what extent is multiculturalism united in its belief that cultural diversity should be actively protected by the state?
The crucial issue is not simply whether multiculturalists value diversity. Students need to consider whether the different strands agree that the state should actively protect cultures, and if so, how far state action should extend.
The specification explicitly requires students to understand why minority cultures might be protected, why the state may grant particular groups minority rights, and criticisms of favouring minority cultures. It also distinguishes the different justifications for diversity.
Indicative content
Arguments suggesting substantial agreement
All multiculturalists reject the idea that cultural diversity is inherently undesirable.
Multiculturalism begins from the view that cultural and religious diversity can be accommodated within a political community.
The specification states that diversity is possible, positive and should be celebrated, although its extent is disputed.
Liberal, pluralist and cosmopolitan multiculturalists therefore all depart from the conservative criticism that diversity and unity are incompatible.
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