GCSE History assessment changes for 2025: new guidance, FAQs and training

We recently published a detailed guidance document which contains exemplification of the 2025 assessment changes, along with FAQs. There is also a recording of the recent training event we ran to explain the changes in more detail.

Survey on GCSE History assessment changes

We’d love to get your feedback on the 2025 GCSE History assessment changes – please fill in this quick survey to give us some feedback and to suggest any further guidance and training you feel we could provide to support you.

GCSE History mark scheme update: Level 3 and Level 4 stimulus cap rephrased

We have made a minor amendment to the wording of the stimulus cap in Level 3 and Level 4 of the mark scheme to make the requirement clearer to students. This change will apply for first assessment Summer 2024 and will be used in the 2024 mark schemes onwards. This change does not affect how teachers prepare students for exams and it does not change how responses will be marked.

You can read more details about this amendment in the document below, which can also be found on the GCSE History qualification page:

The sample assessment materials will be updated to reflect this change in the summer when Issue 5 is published to reflect the additional 2025 changes to the assessment model.

Pearson Edexcel: survey on the use of AI in History and Geography

We are keen to find out more about how History and Geography teachers and students are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in schools. We'd welcome your thoughts on this important issue, even if you aren't using it or aren’t aware of how it can be used. We've created a short questionnaire to capture your views and we plan to share the results with teachers later this year. It will also help us to ensure we are making the most of any opportunities AI provides in supporting teachers and students.

A level History coursework marking and submission

If you are submitting A level History coursework this May you can find guidance on how to mark coursework, along with how to submit marks and samples on our website.

We are still working on a new A level History coursework guidance document and hope to make it available to centres in early April via the qualification page.

HA Mini Teacher Fellowship: Sickness, Social Reform and the Victorian and Edwardian Post Office

The Historical Association have a fully funded mini teacher fellowship in partnership with the Wellcome Trust Collaborative Research project. The focus is health, welfare and reform in the 19th century. The deadline for applications Tuesday 2 April 2024.

Student walkthrough videos for GCSE History Paper 1

We are working with Harris Federation to create a series of pre-recorded student walkthroughs to help your students prepare for this summer’s exam series. There will be one recording for each component, and in them we’ll remind students about the structure and focus of each paper, the specific questions and what they are assessing, and we’ll suggest some general revision tips as well.

You can now view the Paper 1 walkthrough videos for the thematic study and historic environment via the History subject page:

We hope to release the Paper 2 and Paper 3 student walkthrough videos over the Easter holidays, and they will also be available on the History subject page.

Thank you to Katie Matthews from Harris Federation and Ben Armstrong (one of our GCSE History specialist trainers) for creating these fantastic student resources!

KS3 History topic of the month: Gay Berlin

This month we are dedicating our history topic to 'Gay Berlin' and the fight for acceptance and equality. Download this month's resources to learn about the struggles of LGBTQ+ people in Germany's capital.