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How Many GCSE History Papers Are There?

Every exam board assesses GCSE History using examination papers. However, the type and number of papers you need to sit can be very different depending on the exam board you are taking.

This article will give a detailed breakdown of the number and types of GCSE History papers, what each paper will cover, and how Save My Exams can help you ace your GCSE History exam.

Zoe Wade

Written by: Zoe Wade

Reviewed by: Angela Yates

Published

Last updated

Illustration of GCSE History exam papers with red text asking their quantity. Papers show an A+ grade on a pink background with faint historical icons.

Contents

  1. 1. GCSE History Exam Boards
  2. 2. AQA GCSE History Papers
  3. 3. Edexcel GCSE History Papers
  4. 4. OCR B GCSE History Papers
  5. 5. Key Differences Between Exam Boards
  6. 6. Boost Your Grades with Save My Exams

GCSE History Exam Boards

Each exam board for GCSE History has varying numbers and types of exam papers. This is because each course is structured slightly differently, assessing key historical skills attached to different History topics than their competitors. 

I will discuss the structure of the top three exam boards for GCSE History. These are:

  • AQA.

  • Edexcel. 

  • OCR B.

The breakdown of the GCSE History courses for these exam boards will explain:

  • The number of papers.

  • The format and structure of each paper.

AQA GCSE History Papers

Number of Papers

AQA GCSE History has two papers, split into four sections.

Paper 1A:

This paper is made up of six questions (40 marks)

  • Question 1-3 focuses on two historical interpretations.

    • Question 1: How are the interpretations different? (4 marks).

    • Question 2: Why are the interpretations different? (4 marks).

    • Question 3: Which interpretation is more convincing? (8 marks).

  • Question 4: Describe two… (4 marks).

  • Question 5: In what ways… (8 marks).

  • Question 6: The bullet points question (12 marks).

This section will only ask questions about the period study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

  • America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation.

  • Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship.

  • Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism.

  • America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality.


Paper 1B:

This paper is made up of four questions (40 marks)

  • Questions 1 and 2 focus on source analysis.

    • Question 1: Study Source A. How do you know…? (4 marks).

    • Question 2: Study Sources B and C. How useful…? (12 marks).

  • Question 3: Write an account… (8 marks).

  • Question 4: How far do you agree… (16 marks).

    • Question 4 has 4 additional marks for SPaG.

This section will only ask questions about the wider world depth study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

  • Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918.

  • Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939.

  • Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972.

  • Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975.

  • Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009.

Paper 2A:

This paper is made up of four questions (40 marks)

  • Question 1: Study Source A. How useful… ? (8 marks).

  • Question 2: Explain the significance… (8 marks).

  • Question 3: Explain two ways… (8 marks).

  • Question 4: The factors question (16 marks).

    • Question 4 has 4 additional marks for SPaG.

This section will only ask questions about the thematic study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

  • Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day.

  • Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day.

  • Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day.

Paper 2B:

This paper is made up of four questions (40 marks)

  • Question 1: How convincing is Interpretation A? (8 marks).

  • Question 2: Explain the importance… (8 marks).

  • Question 3: Write an account… (8 marks).

  • Question 4: How far do you agree? (16 marks).

This section will only ask questions about the British depth study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

  • Norman England, c1066–c1100.

  • Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307.

  • Elizabethan England, c1568–1603.

  • Restoration England, 1660–1685.

  • Question 4 will always be based on the historic environment.

    • The historic environment assessed in the exam changes every year. 

    • Below are the historical environments for each option for 2025 and 2026:

Year

Norman England

Medieval England

Elizabethan England

Restoration England

2025

Durham Cathedral

Stokesay Castle, Shropshire

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Royal Observatory, Greenwich

2026

Pevensey Castle, East Sussex

Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd

The Globe Theatre

Ham House, Richmond

A flowchart for AQA GCSE History showing Paper 1 and Paper 2 sections with topics like periods, world depth, thematic and British depth studies.

A diagram showing the breakdown of papers for AQA GCSE History

Revision Resources for AQA GCSE History

At Save My Exams, we’ve got course-specific revision notes for AQA GCSE History on a range of topics. 

Edexcel GCSE History Papers

Number of Papers

Edexcel GCSE History has three papers.

Format and Structure

Paper 1: 

Edexcel GCSE History Paper 1 is split into two sections:

Section A - Three questions (16 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Question 1 (Parts A and B)

Describe a feature

(2x2 marks)

Question 2a

How useful are the sources

(8 marks)

Question 2b

The follow-up question

(4 marks)

This section will only ask questions about the historic environment that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

  • Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present.

  • Medicine in Britain, c1250–present.

  • Warfare and British society, c1250–present.

  • Migrants in Britain, c800–present.

  • The historic environment assessed in the exam is the same every year.

  • Below are the historical environments for each option:

Option

Historic environment

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present

Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city

Medicine in Britain, c1250–present

The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches

Warfare and British society, c1250–present

London and the Second World War, 1939–45

Migrants in Britain, c800–present

Notting Hill, c1948–c1970

Section B - Three questions (36 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Question 3

Explain one way

(4 marks)

Question 4

Explain why

(12 marks)

Question 5 or 6

How far do you agree?

(16 marks)

  • You have a choice whether to answer Question 5 or Question 6.

  • Answering either Question 5 or 6 has 4 additional marks for SPaG.

  • This section will only ask questions about the thematic study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present.

    • Medicine in Britain, c1250–present.

    • Warfare and British society, c1250–present.

    • Migrants in Britain, c800–present.

Paper 2: 

Edexcel GCSE History Paper 2 is separated into two booklets

Booklet P- Three questions (32 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Question 1 (Parts A and B)

Explain one consequence

(2x4 marks)

Question 2

Write a narrative account

(8 marks)

Question 3

Explain two of the following

(2x8 marks)

  • This section will only ask questions about the period study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • Spain and the ‘New World’, c1490–c1555.

    • British America, 1713–83: empire and revolution.

    • The American West, c1835–c1895.

    • Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91.

    • Conflict in the Middle East, 1945–95.

Booklet B - Three questions (32 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Question 1 (Parts A and B)

Describe a feature

(2x2 marks)

Question 2

Explain why

(12 marks)

Question 3 or 4

How far do you agree?

(16 marks)

  • You have a choice whether to answer Question 3 or Question 4.

  • This section will only ask questions about the British depth study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88.

    • The reigns of King Richard I and King John, 1189–1216.

    • Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509–40.

    • Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88.

Paper 3: 

Edexcel GCSE History Paper 3 will only ask questions about the modern depth study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

  • Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917–41.

  • Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39.

  • Mao’s China, 1945–76.

  • The USA, 1954–75: conflict at home and abroad.

There are six questions in this paper.

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Question 1

Give two things you can infer about Source A

(4 marks)

Question 2

Explain why

(12 marks)

Question 3a

How useful are the sources

(8 marks)

Questions 3b to 3d focus on interpretations.

  • What is the difference

  • Why are the interpretations different

  • How far do you agree with Interpretation

  • (4 marks).

  • (4 marks).

  • (16 marks).

  • Question 3(d) has 4 additional marks for SPaG.

  • There are 52 marks available.

Flowchart of Edexcel GCSE History exam structure with three papers outlined, detailing sections, topics, and periods including historic and thematic studies.

A diagram showing the breakdown of papers for Edexcel GCSE History

Revision Resources for Edexcel GCSE History

Explore our revision notes for Edexcel GCSE History on a range of topics.

OCR B GCSE History Papers

Number of Papers

OCR B GCSE History has three papers.

Format and Structure

Paper 1: 

OCR GCSE History B Paper 1 is split into two sections:

Section A - Four questions (40 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Questions 1a to 1c

Short

(1x3 marks)

Question 2

Write a clear and organised summary

(9 marks)

Question 3

Why

(10 marks)

Question 4 or 5

How far do you agree…?

(18 marks)

  • You have a choice whether to answer Question 4 or Question 5.

  • This section will only ask questions about the thematic study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • The People’s Health, c.1250 to present.

    • Crime and Punishment, c.1250 to present.

    • Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present.

Section B - Five questions (40 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Questions 1 and 2 focus on interpretations

Question 1a

Identify and explain one way

(3 marks)

Question 1b

Further research on Interpretation A question

(5 marks)

Question 2

How far do Interpretations B and C differ…?

(12 marks)

Question 3 or 4

How far do you agree with this view…?

(20 marks)

  • Question 2 awards SPaG marks

  • You have a choice whether to answer Question 3 or Question 4.

    • You will be awarded marks for SPaG

  • This section will only ask questions about the British depth study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087.

    • The Elizabethans, 1580–1603.

    • Britain in Peace and War, 1900–1918.

Paper 2: 

  • OCR GCSE History B Paper 2 is based entirely on History Around Us

  • History Around Us is a site study that allows schools to select a historical place to study. 

  • The chosen site could be:

    • From any period of prehistory or history

    • On any scale

    • An iconic site or a lesser-known site

    • Located at any distance from the school, including abroad

  • Students should be able to understand:

    • The positives and negatives of the physical site in showing its past

  • How the site fits into its historical context

  • This section is worth 40 marks.

  • You have to answer two questions out of a choice of three.

  • There are 10 marks available for SPaG.

Paper 3: 

OCR GCSE History B Paper 3 is split into two sections:

Section A - Four questions (40 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Questions 1a to 1c

Short

(1x3 marks)

Question 2

Write a clear and organised summary

(9 marks)

Question 3

Why

(10 marks)

Question 4 or 5

How far do you agree…?

(18 marks)

  • You have a choice whether to answer Question 4 or Question 5.

  • This section will only ask questions about the period study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050.

    • The Mughal Empire, 1526–1707.

    • The Making of America, 1789–1900.

Section B - Four questions (40 marks).

Question number

Question stem

Marks

Question 1

What can Source A tell us

(7 marks)

Question 2

Source and Interpretations question

(15 marks)

Question 3 or 4

How far do you agree…?

(18 marks)

  • You have a choice whether to answer Question 3 or Question 4.

  • This section will only ask questions about the world depth study that your school has selected, which is one of the below choices:

    • The First Crusade, c.1070–1100.

    • Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519–1535.

    • Living under Nazi Rule, 1933–1945.

Flowchart of OCR B GCSE History structure: Paper 1, 2, and 3; each with sections on thematic, British, site study, period, and world depth studies.

A diagram showing the breakdown of topics and Papers for OCR GCSE History B

Revision Resources for OCR B GCSE History

Access past papers for OCR B on Save My Exams.

Key Differences Between Exam Boards

The key differences between AQA, Edexcel and OCR B GCSE History are:

  • Historical topics

    • All exam boards choose different topics to form their courses around.

      • In addition, there is a large amount of optionality in GCSE History.

    • Even if topics are similar, the historical skills that each exam board assesses for the topic can be different.

      • For example, OCR B requires interpretation skills for their Elizabethan topic, whereas Edexcel does not.

  • Length

    • OCR B has more exam papers, but they are shorter in length.

      • Most assessments are one hour long.

    • AQA has fewer papers, but they are longer in length.

      • Both exam papers are two hours long.

  • Types of questions

    • Edexcel and AQA have many questions which are similar, for example, writing accounts and why are the interpretations different.

    • OCR B has different question styles, such as assessing sources and interpretations together and writing summaries.

Boost Your Grades with Save My Exams

Save My Exams helps students to study effectively and get higher grades than they ever thought possible. Our revision resources are written by teachers and examiners. That means notes, questions by topic and worked solutions that show exactly what the examiners for each specific exam are looking for. 

GCSE History Revision Resources

References

AQA | History | GCSE | GCSE History

Edexcel GCSE History (2016) | Pearson qualifications

GCSE - History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) - J411 - OCR

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Zoe Wade

Author: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

Angela Yates

Author: Angela Yates

Expertise: Religious Studies

Angela graduated with a first-class degree in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Manchester. After completing a PGCE and CCRS, she taught RE for around fifteen years before becoming a full-time writer and educational content creator. Angela is passionate about creating Religious Education resources to enable students to achieve their full potential.

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