Is GCSE History Hard?: A Teacher’s Perspective

Written by: Natasha Smith

Reviewed by: Zoe Wade

Published

23 December 2024

Last updated

23 December 2024

Illustration of a thoughtful woman with text: "Is GCSE History Hard?: A Teacher's Perspective" on a pink background with historical icons.

Contents

Having taught GCSE History for 10 years, I’ve been asked this question more times than I can count: Is GCSE History hard? History, as a subject, often carries a reputation among students for being difficult. Many claim they “can’t remember the dates” or that they “don’t understand” the questions they’re expected to answer.

With the right attitude, dedication, and guidance, GCSE History can be just as manageable as any other subject.

In this article, you’ll learn why some students find GCSE History difficult. You’ll also find some top tips to help you make your journey through the subject more manageable, rewarding, and even enjoyable!

So, is GCSE History Hard?

GCSE History is challenging. By its very nature, history is a complex subject. It involves the study of events, people, and places, all of which can be complicated at times. However, it is not as difficult as some students might imagine.

There are several reasons why GCSE History is often perceived as hard.

The breadth and depth of knowledge required can be more than other GCSE subjects.
The range of skills needed is very broad.
- This includes answering low-level command words like describe to answering questions that require students to provide a complex explanation and form judgements.

That said, GCSE History becomes significantly more manageable with consistent revision, regular practice, dedication, and—most importantly—time.

What Makes GCSE History Difficult?

Historical Knowledge

In my experience, students often say that history is hard due to two main factors: historical knowledge and skills. William, a Year 11 student from Liverpool, supports this view, saying, “GCSE History is hard because of the amount of information you have to learn. There are too many dates and facts to remember.”

Since the release of the new exams in 2016, there has been much debate about the amount of content covered in GCSE History. Exam boards like Edexcel have undertaken research and interviewed students and teachers on this topic. Many students interviewed as a part of this research stated that they thought that there was too much content. In response to this research, Edexcel has reduced its content for the 2026 exams.

Historical knowledge and understanding account for approximately 70% of a student’s overall GCSE History grade. Most exam questions require some level of knowledge, and achieving the highest marks involves more than simply recalling facts. Students must also apply their knowledge effectively to the specific question, whether it involves analysing a historical source or addressing a second-order concept such as causation or significance.

In many cases, failing to apply accurate and relevant knowledge limits students to a maximum of Level 2 marks. The difficulty lies not only in knowing the material, but also in applying it correctly—and in mastering the sheer volume of information. For instance, in the AQA GCSE History Thematic Study, students are required to learn and remember 1,000 years of history for a single exam.

Admittedly, this can seem overwhelming—and to be honest, it is a lot. However, there are numerous effective strategies for managing the required knowledge and achieving a Grade 4 and above.

Historical skills

When students begin studying GCSE History, they often struggle with the historical skills required to achieve high grades. These skills are new, and, like any new skill, they take time and practice to master.

While many students find second-order concepts—such as causation, change and continuity, and significance, which are used to analyse and interpret the past— challenging, the most common difficulty lies in analysing and evaluating historical sources. This is because sources are so varied—no two are the same—and mastering this skill requires consistent practice and exposure to a wide range of examples.

Students often feel there isn’t enough time in class to fully develop these skills. However, practising outside the classroom through homework or revision is essential for improvement and success.

Exams

GCSE History exams are particularly challenging because students are often assessed on multiple studies simultaneously. For most AQA, Edexcel, and OCR B exam papers (with exceptions like OCR B Paper 2 and Edexcel Paper 3), students must revise and write about entirely different historical periods, each with unique question styles and focus areas.

For example, in Edexcel Paper 2, students answer three questions on their chosen period study (e.g. The American West, c1835–c1895) and three on their British depth study (e.g. Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88). These topics not only cover unrelated content but also require distinct skills, making preparation more demanding.

Coursework

GCSE History no longer includes coursework. It was removed in 2017 and replaced with a study of the historical environment. Many students find the subject challenging because it is now assessed entirely through exams, which may not suit every learning style.

Terminology

GCSE History can be challenging because it involves learning a lot of new and complex terminology. Students must not only understand names, events, and historical terms but also grasp key concepts like ‘significance,’ ‘useful,’ ‘content,’ and ‘purpose.’ Knowing how to use these terms properly is essential for getting good grades.

Many students struggle because they overlook the importance of these terms and don’t incorporate them into their revision.

Timings

In my experience, many students find timing one of the biggest challenges in GCSE History exams. They often feel there isn’t enough time to answer all the questions required for a good grade.

While exam boards like Edexcel and AQA have recently increased the time allowed for some questions, timing issues often arise from a lack of understanding of what each question demands or the inclusion of unnecessary details. All of these challenges can be resolved and managed through revision and practice.

Grade boundaries

Many students claim that History is hard to achieve the highest marks in comparison to other subjects. On the surface, this claim does not seem to be accurate. As in 2024, students studying AQA GCSE history to achieve a Grade 9 needed 69% of the marks, in comparison with English Language which needed 85% to achieve a Grade 9. This grade boundary is low because students in 2024 found the AQA GCSE History exam difficult.

However, this is not the same in all GCSE History exams. For example, for Edexcel, students needed 86% to achieve a Grade 9, and in OCR B, students needed 75% to achieve a Grade 9.

Reading ages

The GCSE History exam requires students to read and interpret questions, sources, and historical interpretations. Recent studies, including the ‘Read all about it: Why is reading the key to GCSE success’ report by GL Assessment, indicate that a quarter of 15-year-olds in England have a reading age of 12 years old or below. However, accessing most GCSE exam papers typically demands a reading age of 15.5 years.

As a result, many students find GCSE History challenging due to lower reading abilities, which can make the exam papers seem inaccessible.

Pace of a course

Exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, and OCR B recommend 120 guided teaching hours to cover the necessary skills and content for the exam. However, many teachers struggle to complete the curriculum due to factors such as mock exams, student absences, 'drop-down days', and time allocated for practising skills and providing feedback. This often leads to a fast-paced teaching schedule, which some students find hard to manage. However, with a robust revision schedule and an excellent work ethic, this challenge is easily managed.

How to Overcome the Challenges of GCSE History

Revision

Effective revision is key to success in GCSE History. Having a regular and organised revision schedule for assessments, mocks, and exams will make the subject more manageable. As the Edexcel History Team advises, “Make sure you know your stuff and don’t leave it too late to start your revision! 70% of the marks on your GCSE History exams are for knowledge and understanding, so it’s important that you know your topics well.

“Evidence shows that increased confidence in using and applying knowledge helps students to tackle questions in exams. Try creating timelines, revision flashcards and mind maps to help you to understand and memorise content and make sure you familiarise yourself with keywords from the specification and textbooks.

“Remember too, that in order to do well it's not just about how much you know, but how you can select what you know to support your analysis effectively.”

Moreover, it’s important to revise both historical knowledge and skills. Many students focus solely on content, forgetting that historical skills are just as essential for understanding and exam success.

Practice makes perfect

Practising exam skills and testing your knowledge is crucial for overcoming challenges in GCSE History. Challenges related to timing, retaining key knowledge, understanding events, and mastering historical skills can be addressed by practising past exam questions under timed conditions, completing quizzes, or testing your understanding through other methods.

For example, if you struggle to finish exam questions on time, practise working within time constraints to improve your speed and confidence. Testing yourself will also help identify areas where you need further study.

Understand your exam

Exam questions can be a common challenge in GCSE History. Take time during revision to understand the specific requirements of your exam board (AQA, Edexcel, or OCR B).

These exams often use history-specific terminology, so learning key terms and practising how to answer different types of questions will make the exams feel less daunting. Often, understanding the terminology and command words is the difference between a low to mid-grade and the top grades, so it is well worth mastering them!

Take advantage of the historical environments

Most GCSE History courses include a ‘Historical Environment’ question or paper. This section can be an opportunity to boost your marks if you prepare well. For example, AQA releases topics for this section two years in advance, giving you plenty of time to research and practise.

By focusing on this section during revision, you can approach the exam with more confidence and increase your chances of achieving higher marks.

Be proactive with your learning

GCSE History can feel fast-paced and content-heavy. To stay on top of things, complete homework regularly, attend all lessons, and try flipped learning, where you prepare for lessons by studying materials in advance, by reading ahead of classes.

If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Teachers are there to support you and will appreciate your efforts to improve.

However, if you’re unable to ask in class, Save My Exams offers guidance for many of the popular AQA, Edexcel, and OCR B History courses.

Understand the world around you

History is about understanding people, places, and events. The more you engage with the world, the easier you’ll find the subject. Read newspapers, watch the news, visit museums, and explore your local community.

Researching or visiting places related to your historical environment topic can also deepen your understanding and help you feel more prepared for exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Hard is it to Get a 9 in GCSE History?

Achieving a Grade 9 in history at GCSE is hard. In 2017, the numerical grade system replaced the previous letter system, and a Grade 9 was created to recognise the very highest-performing students in this subject. However, achieving a Grade 9 depends on many different factors, such as:

The exam board.
What options have you chosen?
How many people took your exam?
How other people performed who took the same exam as you.

As shown below, achieving a Grade 9 is harder for students who take Edexcel, as the overall percentage needed to achieve a Grade 9 is harder compared with OCR B and AQA History. However, Edexcel and OCR exam skills are easier than AQA. Therefore, more people perform well, making it harder to achieve a 9.

Exam board	Maximum mark	The minimum mark needed for a Grade 9 in the 2024 exam series	The lowest overall percentage needed to achieve a Grade 9 in the 2024 exam series
Edexcel	168	145	86%
OCR B	210	146	69%
AQA	168	113	67%

Is GCSE History Hard to Pass?

All GCSEs present challenges, and passing any subject requires effort. The difficulty of passing History depends on the data you examine.

It is widely recognised that History is one of the more difficult GCSEs. In England, a Grade 4 is considered a pass. According to JCQ in 2024, History had one of the lowest pass rates at 64.4%, compared with the national average of 70.3%.

Is History a Good Option for GCSE?

History is an excellent choice for GCSE. It is essential for careers in history-focused fields, such as museum curation, teaching, or archival work. However, the transferable skills you develop—critical thinking, research, and communication—are valuable in diverse careers, including marketing, journalism, politics, human resources, and law.

Beyond career opportunities, history is a great subject for understanding the world around you. It allows you to explore cultures and events that you may never have encountered before, broadening your perspective.

Is GCSE History Harder than Geography?

I think that this question depends on individual strengths. Some students may find history skills, exam questions, and knowledge requirements more manageable, while others might excel in geography.

According to JCQ in 2024, the pass rate for Geography was 65.5%, slightly higher than History’s 64.4%, suggesting Geography is marginally easier. However, the difference is minimal.

Both subjects share similar challenges, such as requiring substantial knowledge and the ability to interpret and apply information. Geography exams are often considered easier because they include a wider variety of question types and are less essay-focused than history.

Boost Your Confidence 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