Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2023
Pearson Edexcel GCE A Level
in Business (9BS0)
Paper 03 Investigating business in a competitive
environmentEdexcel
... [Show More] 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 2023
Publications Code 9BS0_03_2306_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2023General 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.Question
Number Indicative content Mark
1 (a) Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 2, Evaluation 2
● Sales forecasts are estimates of future sales that are
usually based on previous sales figures, market surveys
or managerial estimates
● Sales forecasts may be less accurate due to changing
consumer trends (fashion for electric cars) / economic
variables (supply chain shortages, rising costs of fuel) /
the actions of competitors (e.g. potential price wars
between Audi and BMW)
● Higher interest rates might increase the cost of buying a
car using a loan which could reduce demand to lower
than was initially forecast
● Government grants should make purchasing electric cars
more attractive for consumers because they should now
be more affordable resulting in higher than expected
sales.
Possible counter-balance
● Sales forecasts may be accurate because future sales are
based on previous sales. Although fashions might change
market research re consumer car tastes could be useful,
a switch from diesel to petrol cars, from fuel to electric
cars, from 4 x 4s to smaller cars, etc.
● Past data e.g. the 78.7% increase in sales of BEVs
between 2021 and 2022 and experienced car
manufacturer managers can be a useful guide and
adjust on the basis of market intelligence
● Results from focus groups, product trials or test
ma [Show Less]