Edexcel A-Level Politics | Paper 3a USA | 2026 Predicted Paper | Mark Scheme Question 3(c)
Evaluate the view that the Electoral College is the most significant weakness in the process used to elect the US President.
You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way.
(30 marks)
“Evaluate” requires students to test the stated view against alternative explanations and reach a reasoned, substantiated conclusion. This is a 30-mark essay, worth 10 marks each for AO1, AO2 and AO3, with approximately 45 minutes recommended. Pearson states that students should support and reject the view, an introduction is desirable, a conclusion is essential, and mini-conclusions can help maximise AO3.
The indicative content below deliberately supports either conclusion. The mark scheme does not require students to reach one particular judgement about which weakness is most significant.
Levels-based marking
Level | Marks | Indicative characteristics |
Level 5 | 25–30 | Thorough and effectively selected knowledge. Sustained analysis focused specifically on whether the Electoral College is the most significant weakness. Perceptive evaluation directly compares it with alternative weaknesses and produces a substantiated conclusion. |
Level 4 | 19–24 | Accurate and relevant knowledge with consistent analysis. Both sides are addressed and there is generally effective evaluation, although comparative weighing may not be completely sustained. |
Level 3 | 13–18 | Mostly accurate knowledge and some developed analysis. There is relevant evaluation but the response may become a sequence of strengths and weaknesses rather than directly answering “most significant”. |
Level 2 | 7–12 | Some relevant knowledge, but analysis is limited, descriptive or substantially one-sided. Judgements are weakly substantiated. |
Level 1 | 1–6 | Superficial knowledge with limited analysis and little meaningful evaluation. |
0 | 0 | No rewardable material. |
Pearson's guidance states that candidates who do not consider both the stated view and the alternative in a balanced way cannot progress beyond Level 2.
Indicative content
Arguments supporting the view
1. The Electoral College can produce a President who did not win the national popular vote
The most fundamental criticism is that the Electoral College rather than the national popular vote formally determines the winner.
This has produced different popular-vote and Electoral College winners. In 2000, George W. Bush won 271 electoral votes despite receiving fewer popular votes than Al Gore. In 2016, Donald Trump won 304 electoral votes while Hillary Clinton received more votes nationally. The National Archives confirms that both 2000 and 2016 produced this divergence.
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