May 2025 History subject update
This update contains useful information, news and advice for Edexcel History teachers including an update on the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review Interim Report and Paper 3 GCSE History student walkthrough videos for the Summer 2025 exams. There’s also updated GCSE History topic booklets to reflect the 2026 content changes.
Key Dates
Exam timetables
The exam season is upon us and we extend our best wishes to all students and teachers during this period. As always, please do get in touch if you have any queries.
This summer we will be releasing question papers, mark schemes and examiner reports via the relevant qualification page on our website on the following dates:
- GCSE / International GCSE question papers will be released on 24 June 2025.
- GCSE / International GCSE mark schemes will be released on 22 July 2025.
- GCSE / International GCSE examiners reports will be made available on our website from 26 August 2025.
- AS / A level question papers will be released on 1 July 2025.
- AS / A level mark schemes will be released on 15 July 2025.
- AS / A level examiner reports will be available on our website from 19 August 2025.
- You will also be able to download GCSE and A level examiner reports from results day via ResultsPlus.
Training for History teachers
We are running the following paid-for training events for Edexcel History teachers this academic year:
Resources and support materials
With the exam season upon us we'd like to share our student guide with top tips on preparing for exams, where to find further support and what happens once exams end. We also have GCSE History specific revision tips for students:
Ofqual have also provided information for students about arrangements for regulated qualifications. This explains what your students need to know before, during and after exams and assessments.
Reminder of changes to GCSE History assessment for Summer 2025
For GCSE History exams in Summer 2025 and beyond, we have made some minor amendments to the assessment model to improve the ramping on opening questions and to add a bit more time in exams for reading and planning responses.
The Pearson Edexcel GCSE History Paper 2 exam is due to be sat by students on 5 June. This exam paper is divided into two booklets: British Depth Study and Period Study. In addition to the separate question paper booklets for the Paper 2 Period Study and British Depth study, centres will also receive a cover sheet which will explain how the papers are to be assessed on the day.
Centres must give students both booklets at the start of the examination and it is up to students which they answer first and how much time they allocate to each paper, however they will be advised to split their time evenly across both topics.
Use of additional sheets of paper
Students are required to answer the questions in both booklets, and we are aware that some students may wish to use additional sheets of paper when writing their answers. If students need to use additional paper, they must use a separate piece of paper for each booklet and clearly write their name, candidate number, centre name and the correct name of the exam paper booklet on each additional sheet used. Students must not use the same sheet of additional paper to answer questions from both booklets. If they do, there is a risk that the additional answers to both booklets might not be seen and separated out during the scanning process.
If students are using a word processor for Paper 2, please remind them to record their answers for the British Depth Study and Period Study on two separate word documents, clearly detailing centre/candidate/ paper details.
Please ask your invigilators to make this clear to all students at the start of the Paper 2 exam.
We have started the process of dispatching our general qualifications exam papers to centres.
For GCSE History Paper 2, our dispatch schedule is slightly different this year. The P and B papers and cover sheets will be dispatched in separate packages rather than in the same pack as you will have been used to in previous years.
Please be assured that this is all part of our planned dispatch process to ensure a smooth and efficient delivery. You will receive all question papers and cover sheets ahead of the Paper 2 exam.
GCSE History Paper 3 student walkthrough videos for Summer 2025 exams
We have worked with Harris Federation to create a new set of GCSE History student walkthrough videos to support students with the Summer 2025 exams and beyond.
We shared the Paper 1 and 2 videos with you before Easter and we’ve recently added new walkthrough videos for Paper 3.
We've also created a handy pdf document containing links to all our student support and walkthrough videos for Summer 2025, as well as last year's videos should you wish to use them (NB Summer 2024 videos do not include the 2025 changes to the assessment model). You can also download the powerpoint presentations for these videos should you wish to use them yourself in class:
Updated GCSE History topic booklets to reflect 2026 content changes
We’ve updated the GCSE History topic booklets to reflect the latest version of the specification content. Each topic booklet contains clarification of content, as well as suggested resources and a student timeline. The links to relevant resources have also been updated where necessary. You can find the updated documents below – we are still updating the Middle East topic booklet and that will be added to the folder when ready:
Curriculum and Assessment Review: Interim report
Last summer the government commissioned an independent review chaired by Professor Becky Francis into curriculum and assessment. The review covers Key stages 1–5, and is focusing on the key challenges to attainment for young people, especially those who are economically disadvantaged, or with special education needs or disabilities.
The final report with recommendations is due to be published in Autumn 2025. We will keep teachers up to date with any developments in newsletters and via training events.
Subject advisor
Mark Battye
History
