Reminder of GCSE History Paper 2 assessment arrangements for Summer 2025

Paper 2 assessment arrangements

The Paper 2 Period Study and British Depth Study will be assessed on the same day in the same sitting. See the exam timetable below:

The Paper 2 Period Study and British Depth study will be assessed in two separate booklets and students will only receive questions on the specific topics they have been entered for. It is therefore important that centres ensure they have the correct combination of Paper 2 topics before the exam starts.

The total exam time for Paper 2 in Summer 2025 will now be 1 hr 50 minutes. Centres must give students both booklets at the start of the examination and students have a total of 1 hr 50 minutes to answer both booklets. 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 (55 minutes per topic).

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.

Examples of the Paper 2 cover sheets for all topic combinations can be found in the set of mock papers which were created by adapting the Summer 2024 papers to reflect the assessment model in place from 2025 (cover sheets have the new time of 1 hr 50 minutes):

Assessment changes from 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. 

Additional time in exams

The extra time in Paper 2 is intended to provide a better time split of 55 minutes per paper.

Changes to opening questions

The changes to assessment will help ensure opening questions on exam papers are as accessible as possible to a wide range of students; give students more opportunity to show their knowledge; and improve the overall balance of content assessed on each paper.

Paper 2B simplified question numbering

The change to the question structure of Paper 2B (British depth study) provided an opportunity to apply more consistent question numbering on this paper.

Updated sample assessment materials to reflect 2025 changes

Specification language changes

We are also updating some of the language used in our specification to replace terms which are now considered outdated. The most significant changes concern the terms ‘slaves’ and ‘Plains Indians’, which appear in Period study options P1, P2 and P3.

The term Indigenous peoples will be glossed in live exam series from 2025:

In any exam series, students are credited for any relevant and appropriate terms that they use.

Find out more about the assessment and language changes for Summer 2025 and beyond

Writing answers in the correct space in GCSE History exams

It is important to write answers in the correct space and continue on a separate piece of paper if extra space is needed. This is to ensure that the full answer is seen by the examiner before a mark is awarded. The extra sheets of paper should not be attached so tightly that the answer booklet cannot be opened without ripping the papers.

Students should be made aware of these instructions by their subject teacher but also reminded of them by invigilators at the start of the examination and if they ask for extra paper during the examination.

Answers should be written in the correct answer space for each question.

If candidates need additional space for an answer, they should use a fresh sheet of paper, instead of continuing an answer elsewhere in the exam paper.

Candidates should also state in the answer space, that the answer has been continued on an additional sheet of paper.

Every additional sheet used should include the following details:

• Centre number
• Candidate number
  
• Candidate name
• Qualification and Paper code
• Question number

The Paper 2 British Depth Study and Period Study should be treated as discrete units as they will be marked by different examiners. If additional paper is taken for either of these papers, please ensure it is attached to the correct booklet. If additional paper is taken for the British Depth Study and Period Study, separate pieces of paper should be used for each unit, and they should be attached to the correct answer booklet. Please do not merge answers for the British Depth and Period Study on the same additional piece of paper.

If candidates 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.