AQA-A-level Economics Specimen Assessment Material Paper 2
Mark scheme 7136/2 June 2015
SECOND SET SPECIMEN MARK SCHEME
A-level
Economics
Specimen Assessment Material A-level Paper
2 Mark scheme
7136/2
June 2015
Version/0.1: Specimen material
, AQA-A-level Economics Specimen Assessment Material Paper 2
Mark scheme 7136/2 June 2015
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together
with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes
any amendments made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in
and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation
process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and
that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation
for standardisation, each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts: alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If,
after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not
been raised, they are required to refer these to the Lead Assessment Writer.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further
developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper.
Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be
avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will
change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk.
, MARK SCHEME – A Level Economics – Paper 2 – Specimen
Material
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a
descriptor. The descriptor for the level shows a description of the response at the
middle of the level. There are marks in each level based on the division of the total
number of marks for the question.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer, read through the answer
and annotate it (as instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can
then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the
answer meets the descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the
different qualities that might be seen in the student’s answer for that level. If it meets
the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it meets this level, and so on,
until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With practice and
familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through
the lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level, you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not
look to pick holes in small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not
performed quite as well as the rest. If the answer covers different aspects of different
levels of the mark scheme, you should use a best fit approach for defining the level
and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within the level,
ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it
would be placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because
of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on
how to allocate marks will help with this. The exemplar materials used during
standardisation will illustrate the performance needed to achieve a specific mark.
There will be an answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each
level of the mark scheme. This answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead
Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer with the example to determine if it
is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then use this to
allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark
scheme to clarify points and assure yourself that the level and the mark are
appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not
intended to be exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not
have to cover all of the points mentioned in the indicative content to reach the
highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no
marks.
3 of
20
Mark scheme 7136/2 June 2015
SECOND SET SPECIMEN MARK SCHEME
A-level
Economics
Specimen Assessment Material A-level Paper
2 Mark scheme
7136/2
June 2015
Version/0.1: Specimen material
, AQA-A-level Economics Specimen Assessment Material Paper 2
Mark scheme 7136/2 June 2015
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together
with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes
any amendments made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in
and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation
process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and
that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation
for standardisation, each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts: alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If,
after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not
been raised, they are required to refer these to the Lead Assessment Writer.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further
developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper.
Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be
avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will
change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk.
, MARK SCHEME – A Level Economics – Paper 2 – Specimen
Material
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a
descriptor. The descriptor for the level shows a description of the response at the
middle of the level. There are marks in each level based on the division of the total
number of marks for the question.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer, read through the answer
and annotate it (as instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can
then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the
answer meets the descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the
different qualities that might be seen in the student’s answer for that level. If it meets
the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it meets this level, and so on,
until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With practice and
familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through
the lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level, you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not
look to pick holes in small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not
performed quite as well as the rest. If the answer covers different aspects of different
levels of the mark scheme, you should use a best fit approach for defining the level
and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within the level,
ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it
would be placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because
of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on
how to allocate marks will help with this. The exemplar materials used during
standardisation will illustrate the performance needed to achieve a specific mark.
There will be an answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each
level of the mark scheme. This answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead
Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer with the example to determine if it
is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then use this to
allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark
scheme to clarify points and assure yourself that the level and the mark are
appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not
intended to be exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not
have to cover all of the points mentioned in the indicative content to reach the
highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no
marks.
3 of
20
