Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
in English Language and Literature (8EL0)
Paper 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We provide
a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes
for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or
www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page
at www.edexcel.com/contactus.
Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere
Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress
in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever
they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across
70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high
standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we
can help you and your students at: www.pearson.com/uk
Summer 2025
Question Paper Log Number P76046A
Publications Code 8EL0_02_2506_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2025
,General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners
must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they
mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must
be rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than
penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not
according to their perception of where the grade boundaries
may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark
scheme should be used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded.
Examiners should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if
the answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also
be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response
is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will
provide the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must
be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has
replaced it with an alternative response.
, Marking Guidance – specific
The marking grids have been designed to assess student work holistically. The
grids identify which Assessment Objective is being targeted by each bullet point
within the level descriptors. One bullet point is linked to one Assessment
Objective, however please note that the number of bullet points in the level
descriptor does not directly correlate to the number of marks in the level
descriptor.
When deciding how to reward an answer, examiners should consult both the
indicative content and the associated marking grid(s). When using a levels-based
mark scheme, the ‘best fit’ approach should be used:
• examiners should first decide which descriptor most closely matches the
answer and place it in that level
• the mark awarded within the level will be decided based on the quality of
the answer and will be modified according to how securely all bullet points
are displayed at that level
• in cases of uneven performance, the points above will still apply.
Candidates will be placed in the level that best describes their answer
according to each of the Assessment Objectives described in the level.
Marks will be awarded towards the top or bottom of that level
depending on how they have evidenced each of the descriptor bullet
points
• examiners of Advanced GCE English should remember that all
Assessment Objectives within a level are equally weighted. They must
consider this when making their judgements
• the mark grid identifies which Assessment Objective is being targeted by
each bullet point within the level descriptors
• Indicative content is exactly that – they are factual points that candidates
are likely to use to construct their answer. It is possible for an answer to
be constructed without mentioning some or all of these points, as long as
they provide alternative responses to the indicative content that fulfils the
requirements of the question. It is the examiner’s responsibility to apply
their professional judgement to the candidate’s response in determining
if the answer fulfils the requirements of the question.
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
in English Language and Literature (8EL0)
Paper 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We provide
a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes
for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at www.edexcel.com or
www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page
at www.edexcel.com/contactus.
Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere
Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress
in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever
they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across
70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high
standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we
can help you and your students at: www.pearson.com/uk
Summer 2025
Question Paper Log Number P76046A
Publications Code 8EL0_02_2506_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2025
,General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners
must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they
mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must
be rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than
penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not
according to their perception of where the grade boundaries
may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark
scheme should be used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded.
Examiners should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if
the answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also
be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response
is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will
provide the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must
be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has
replaced it with an alternative response.
, Marking Guidance – specific
The marking grids have been designed to assess student work holistically. The
grids identify which Assessment Objective is being targeted by each bullet point
within the level descriptors. One bullet point is linked to one Assessment
Objective, however please note that the number of bullet points in the level
descriptor does not directly correlate to the number of marks in the level
descriptor.
When deciding how to reward an answer, examiners should consult both the
indicative content and the associated marking grid(s). When using a levels-based
mark scheme, the ‘best fit’ approach should be used:
• examiners should first decide which descriptor most closely matches the
answer and place it in that level
• the mark awarded within the level will be decided based on the quality of
the answer and will be modified according to how securely all bullet points
are displayed at that level
• in cases of uneven performance, the points above will still apply.
Candidates will be placed in the level that best describes their answer
according to each of the Assessment Objectives described in the level.
Marks will be awarded towards the top or bottom of that level
depending on how they have evidenced each of the descriptor bullet
points
• examiners of Advanced GCE English should remember that all
Assessment Objectives within a level are equally weighted. They must
consider this when making their judgements
• the mark grid identifies which Assessment Objective is being targeted by
each bullet point within the level descriptors
• Indicative content is exactly that – they are factual points that candidates
are likely to use to construct their answer. It is possible for an answer to
be constructed without mentioning some or all of these points, as long as
they provide alternative responses to the indicative content that fulfils the
requirements of the question. It is the examiner’s responsibility to apply
their professional judgement to the candidate’s response in determining
if the answer fulfils the requirements of the question.
