Pearson Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies (specification code 1CS0) develops students' understanding of democracy, rights, law, justice, and the role of citizens in shaping society — assessed through two written papers and an active citizenship component. With 146 resources, the archive spans both the current 9-1 specification and legacy unitised papers (Units 1–4 with option choices in Unit 3). For the current specification, Paper 1 — Active Citizenship — lasts 1 hour 45 minutes (90 marks) and assesses knowledge of the UK's political and legal system, rights and responsibilities, and the nature of democracy. The paper also assesses students' understanding of their citizenship project — the active citizenship enquiry or campaign they have conducted during the course — through questions that require them to evaluate the impact and methods of their own activity. Paper 2 — Citizenship in Context — also lasts 1 hour 45 minutes (90 marks) and focuses on global citizenship, international institutions and decision-making, human rights, and economic and environmental interdependence. It includes a significant analytical component where students evaluate evidence about citizenship issues and construct arguments for or against proposed courses of action. The legacy papers in this archive used a unitised structure (Units 1, 2, 3, and 4), with Unit 3 offering three option choices (3A, 3B, 3C) covering different aspects of citizenship in the real world. Unit 4 was the active citizenship controlled assessment component. Legacy papers provide excellent practice for the knowledge and analytical skills assessed in the current specification, despite structural differences. Citizenship Studies at Edexcel consistently rewards students who can apply knowledge to current real-world issues — referencing specific laws, institutions, rights, and current events to support their arguments.