Examiners’ Report
June 2023
GCE Economics B 9EB0 01
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications come from 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.
Giving you insight to inform next steps
ResultsPlus is Pearson's free online service giving instant and detailed analysis of your
students' exam results.
See students' scores for every exam question.
Understand how your students' performance compares with class and national averages.
Identify potential topics, skills and types of question where students may need to develop
their learning further.
For more information on ResultsPlus, or to log in, visit www.edexcel.com/resultsplus. Your
exams officer will be able to set up your ResultsPlus account in minutes via Edexcel Online.
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.
June 2023
Publications Code 9EB0_01_2306_ER
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2023
GCE Economics B 9EB0 01 2
, Introduction
This paper discriminated well, with candidates accessing a wide range of marks with some
very good responses to the questions set. Candidates with sound economic understanding
did well, with some excellent and thoughtful responses, particularly for the longer questions.
By contrast, there were also some very weak responses that showed little understanding of,
or even familiarity with, the specification content. The main reasons for some candidates
underachieving were the usual ones of not following the command words and not reading
the questions carefully enough. Instructions to 'assess’ and ‘evaluate’ were not followed by
some. Some candidates missed out on marks because they did not answer the question that
was set; this was a particular problem for Q01(a), Q01(c) and Q01(f), where a failure to read
the wording of the question carefully, cost valuable marks. It is worth reminding future
candidates of the need to apply proper context to all responses. Repeating generic or stock
answers or just copying the extracts will not access the higher levels of the mark scheme. All
of the levels-based questions refer to the use of relevant evidence in the descriptor table
therefore responses must make good use of relevant evidence (context) to access the higher
levels and marks.
Marking Levels – a holistic approach
This specification continues to use marking descriptors for all levels-based questions. It is
essential that centres look at these and understand how these are applied. The levels-based
mark schemes are applied in a holistic way rather than looking for individual assessment
objectives. This means that a candidate who attempts evaluation with some context will not
necessarily be placed in the top levels and may only achieve a maximum of level 2 if the
evaluation is weak or context is lacking. Far too many candidates are simply copying out large
sections of the extracts with an attempt at limited evaluation; this will only achieve lower
levels.
3 GCE Economics B 9EB0 01
, Question 1 (a)
This question requires candidates to give one suitable method the CMA could use to
research the music industry. Unfortunately, many candidates did not read the question
carefully and instead explained the role of the CMA or simply copied out part of Extract A
which referenced the use of a market study (which could not be rewarded).
The knowledge mark was only awarded for a suitable method and not for any definitions.
This will always be the case so candidates should not waste time defining the key term in the
question. Marks are awarded for stating primary or secondary market research or for giving
an example of primary or secondary market research methods such as questionnaires, focus
groups, market mapping and surveys.
As with all 4 mark 'explain' questions, there are two application marks available. Often
candidates only gave one piece of application so could only be awarded 1 mark. This could
be in the form of data such as market share figures or context applicable to the industry such
as monthly download figures. Just stating 'music industry' is not considered to be application
because this is in the question itself. Responses that could apply to any industry or market
are likely to be generic and can only score a maximum of 2 marks. Always ensure there are
two separate pieces of application used in the response.
The analysis mark is awarded for demonstrating some consequence for the CMA from
researching the market such as being able to see the level of market power held by the main
firms in the music industry rather than evaluating the method stated. Better candidates were
able to properly structure their response rather than writing a series of unconnected
sentences.
GCE Economics B 9EB0 01 4
June 2023
GCE Economics B 9EB0 01
,Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Edexcel and BTEC qualifications come from 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.
Giving you insight to inform next steps
ResultsPlus is Pearson's free online service giving instant and detailed analysis of your
students' exam results.
See students' scores for every exam question.
Understand how your students' performance compares with class and national averages.
Identify potential topics, skills and types of question where students may need to develop
their learning further.
For more information on ResultsPlus, or to log in, visit www.edexcel.com/resultsplus. Your
exams officer will be able to set up your ResultsPlus account in minutes via Edexcel Online.
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.
June 2023
Publications Code 9EB0_01_2306_ER
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2023
GCE Economics B 9EB0 01 2
, Introduction
This paper discriminated well, with candidates accessing a wide range of marks with some
very good responses to the questions set. Candidates with sound economic understanding
did well, with some excellent and thoughtful responses, particularly for the longer questions.
By contrast, there were also some very weak responses that showed little understanding of,
or even familiarity with, the specification content. The main reasons for some candidates
underachieving were the usual ones of not following the command words and not reading
the questions carefully enough. Instructions to 'assess’ and ‘evaluate’ were not followed by
some. Some candidates missed out on marks because they did not answer the question that
was set; this was a particular problem for Q01(a), Q01(c) and Q01(f), where a failure to read
the wording of the question carefully, cost valuable marks. It is worth reminding future
candidates of the need to apply proper context to all responses. Repeating generic or stock
answers or just copying the extracts will not access the higher levels of the mark scheme. All
of the levels-based questions refer to the use of relevant evidence in the descriptor table
therefore responses must make good use of relevant evidence (context) to access the higher
levels and marks.
Marking Levels – a holistic approach
This specification continues to use marking descriptors for all levels-based questions. It is
essential that centres look at these and understand how these are applied. The levels-based
mark schemes are applied in a holistic way rather than looking for individual assessment
objectives. This means that a candidate who attempts evaluation with some context will not
necessarily be placed in the top levels and may only achieve a maximum of level 2 if the
evaluation is weak or context is lacking. Far too many candidates are simply copying out large
sections of the extracts with an attempt at limited evaluation; this will only achieve lower
levels.
3 GCE Economics B 9EB0 01
, Question 1 (a)
This question requires candidates to give one suitable method the CMA could use to
research the music industry. Unfortunately, many candidates did not read the question
carefully and instead explained the role of the CMA or simply copied out part of Extract A
which referenced the use of a market study (which could not be rewarded).
The knowledge mark was only awarded for a suitable method and not for any definitions.
This will always be the case so candidates should not waste time defining the key term in the
question. Marks are awarded for stating primary or secondary market research or for giving
an example of primary or secondary market research methods such as questionnaires, focus
groups, market mapping and surveys.
As with all 4 mark 'explain' questions, there are two application marks available. Often
candidates only gave one piece of application so could only be awarded 1 mark. This could
be in the form of data such as market share figures or context applicable to the industry such
as monthly download figures. Just stating 'music industry' is not considered to be application
because this is in the question itself. Responses that could apply to any industry or market
are likely to be generic and can only score a maximum of 2 marks. Always ensure there are
two separate pieces of application used in the response.
The analysis mark is awarded for demonstrating some consequence for the CMA from
researching the market such as being able to see the level of market power held by the main
firms in the music industry rather than evaluating the method stated. Better candidates were
able to properly structure their response rather than writing a series of unconnected
sentences.
GCE Economics B 9EB0 01 4
