Pearson Edexcel A level Politics (9PL0)
Exam structure at a glance for Pearson Edexcel A level Politics: every paper with its time, marks and weighting, plus the facts and links you need.
- Board
- Pearson Edexcel
- Specification code
- 9PL0
- Level
- A level
- First teaching
- 2017
- First exams
- 2019
- Exam papers
- 4
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.
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Papers and weightings
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight | What it is (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% | Participation, parties, elections and voting (a source question and an essay) plus conservatism, liberalism and socialism (24 marks). |
| Component 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% | Constitution, Parliament, PM and executive (source question and essay) plus one non-core idea (24 marks). |
| Component 3A: Comparative Politics: USA (option) | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% | US constitution, Congress, presidency, Supreme Court and comparative theories. |
| Component 3B: Comparative Politics: Global Politics (option) | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% | Sovereignty and globalisation, global governance, power, regionalism and the EU, and comparative theories. |
Times are exam lengths; weightings are shares of the whole qualification. Summaries are in our own words.
Routes (2): 9PL0/01 + 9PL0/02 + 9PL0/3A; 9PL0/01 + 9PL0/02 + 9PL0/3B. Each route adds up to 100%.
Good to know
- Routes: 2 possible combinations of papers; each adds up to 100%.
- Weightings: Board gives each component as 33⅓%.
Key dates
Summer 2027 exam series
- First exam (GCSE and A level): Mon, 10 May 2027
- Contingency day: Wed, 23 June 2027
- Special consideration deadline: Wed, 30 June 2027
A levels are linear: all exams are sat at the end of the two-year course. Source: JCQ key dates June 2027. Check each board's final timetable for paper dates and results day.
Specification, past papers and grade boundaries
- Pearson Edexcel: Specification at a glance (board website)
- Pearson Edexcel: Specification (PDF, board website)
- Pearson Edexcel: Past papers and mark schemes (board website)
- Pearson Edexcel: Grade boundaries (board website)
Facts checked against: qualifications.pearson.com.
More packs
Exam facts (paper names, times, marks, weightings, codes) are taken from each awarding body's own specification and summarised in our own words; no specification text, papers, mark schemes or booklets are reproduced. Exam details checked against the board's specification on 2026-10-20. Always check the current specification on the board's website.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ofqual and DfE pages on GOV.UK). Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.
Questions teachers ask
How long are the Pearson Edexcel A level Politics exams?
Component 1: 2 h; Component 2: 2 h; Component 3A: 2 h; Component 3B: 2 h.