AQA Government and Politics Assessment Unit AS 1 assessing The Government and Politics of Northern Ireland Mark Scheme

The following guidance is provided to assist examiners. • Threshold performance: Response which just merits inclusion in the level and should be awarded a mark at or near the bottom of the range. • Intermediate performance: Response which clearly merits inclusion in the level and should be awarded a mark at or near the middle of the range. • High performance: Response which fully satisfies the level description and should be awarded a mark at or near the top of the range. Quality of written communication Quality of written communication is taken into account in assessing candidates’ responses to all tasks and questions that require them to respond in extended written form. These tasks and questions are marked on the basis of levels of response. The description for each level of response includes reference to the quality of written communication. For conciseness, quality of written communication is distinguished within levels of response as follows: Level 1: Quality of written communication is inadequate. Level 2: Quality of written communication is limited. Level 3: Quality of written communication is satisfactory. Level 4: Quality of written communication is good. Level 5: Quality of written communication is of a high standard. In interpreting these level descriptions, examiners should refer to the more detailed guidance provided below: Level 1 (Inadequate): The candidate makes only a very limited selection and use of an appropriate form and style of writing. The organisation of material may lack any clarity and coherence. There is very little use of specialist vocabulary. Presentation, spelling, punctuation and grammar may be such that intended meaning is consistently unclear. Level 2 (Limited): The candidate makes only a limited selection and use of an appropriate form and style of writing. The organisation of material may lack clarity and coherence. There is little use of specialist vocabulary. Presentation, spelling, punctuation and grammar may be such that intended meaning is not clear in places. Level 3 (Satisfactory): The candidate makes a reasonable selection and use of an appropriate form and style of writing. Relevant material is organised with some clarity and coherence. There is some use of appropriate specialist vocabulary. Presentation, spelling, punctuation and grammar are sufficiently competent to make meaning clear. Level 4 (Good): The candidate makes a good selection and use of an appropriate form and style of writing. Relevant material is organised with a good standard of clarity and coherence. There is good use of appropriate specialist vocabulary. Presentation, spelling, punctuation and grammar are of a sufficiently good standard to make meaning clear. Level 5 (High Standard): The candidate successfully selects and uses the most appropriate form and style of writing. Relevant material is organised with a high degree of clarity and coherence. There is widespread and accurate use of appropriate specialist vocabulary. Presentation, spelling, punctuation and grammar are of a sufficiently high standard to make meaning clear. 1 Two marks for each of the Bills passed by the Assembly. These are actual pieces of legislation and not types of Bills. The precise name of the Bill is not a requirement of achieving the marks. Candidates may refer to the Taxi Bill, Human Trafficking Bill, Shared Education Bill or any other. (AO1: 4 marks) [4] 2 Background What has become known as “victims’ Issues” is one of several areas of disagreement that has dogged Northern Ireland politics since the Good Friday Agreement and more especially since the restoration of devolution in 2007. The term broadly refers to a range of contentious issues over the recognition and treatment of victims and survivors. One of the most contentious is the definition of who victims are, with unionists and nationalists having very different interpretations. Following on from this, there is disagreement on who should receive recognition and what level of state support should be available. Level 1 ([1]–[2]) The candidate offers a basic explanation of what is meant by “victims’ issues”. There is limited or no use of the Source or own knowledge. Level 2 ([3]–[4]) The candidate offers a more developed explanation of what is meant by “victims’ issues”. There is some use of the Source or own knowledge. If no reference to the Source is made a maximum of 4 marks can be awarded. Level 3 ([5]–[6]) The candidate provides a full explanation of what is meant by the term “victims’ issues”. There is good use of the Source and own knowledge. (AO1: 6 marks)