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GCSE History (Edexcel)

Key study periods, source skills and interpretations. Edexcel board.

Written against the published specification.

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Pass mark 24/40 60 minutes Edexcel How many can I get wrong?
About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our GCSE History (Edexcel) questions are written and reviewed in-house to match the current syllabus, each with a plain-English worked explanation. They are original practice material, not the official exam questions and not affiliated with or endorsed by Edexcel. Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
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Q1. According to the Theory of the Four Humours, illness was believed to be caused by an imbalance of which substances in the body?
  • A.  Blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile
  • B.  Blood, water, air and fire
  • C.  Bile, urine, sweat and mucus
  • D.  Blood, phlegm, bone marrow and lymph
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A. Blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile
The Four Humours theory, developed by Hippocrates and later Galen, held that the body contained blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile, and that illness resulted from these being out of balance. This idea dominated medical thinking in medieval Britain because it fitted with Church teaching about balance and order in God's creation. It was not properly challenged until Vesalius and later scientists used dissection to question Galen's ideas.
Q2. Why did the Normans build motte-and-bailey castles quickly across England after 1066?
  • A.  To act only as trading posts
  • B.  To house livestock exclusively
  • C.  To provide rapid, defensible control over conquered territory
  • D.  Because stone was unavailable anywhere in England
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C. To provide rapid, defensible control over conquered territory
Motte-and-bailey castles could be built fast from earth and timber, letting a small Norman garrison dominate and control a hostile local population. Stone castles came later once Norman control was more secure.
Q3. Which term describes German public anger that the Treaty of Versailles was signed without genuine negotiation?
  • A.  Kulturkampf
  • B.  Diktat
  • C.  Lebensraum
  • D.  Anschluss
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. Diktat
Germans called the treaty a 'Diktat' — a dictated peace — because they were not allowed to negotiate its terms and simply had to accept them or face invasion. Lebensraum ('living space') was a later Nazi expansionist idea, unrelated to 1919. Anschluss refers to the 1938 union with Austria.
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Medicine & health through time · 37
Warfare & conflict · 35
Germany 1890-1945 · 35
Cold War & superpower relations · 36
Elizabethan England · 37
Source analysis & interpretations · 37

Who has to sit the GCSE History (Edexcel)

Who needs a GCSE History (Edexcel)?

Typically sat by students in the UK completing their secondary education (Years 10 and 11)

What it costs, and what a resit costs

How much does the GCSE History (Edexcel) cost?

Rebooking after a fail: Standard GCSE History is only available in the summer exam series (May-June). Resits for this qualification mean waiting until the following summer.

How hard is it

What is the GCSE History (Edexcel) pass rate?

Real exam first-time pass rate: In 2026, 63.3% of Edexcel GCSE History entries achieved a Grade 4 or higher. Difficulty: Generally considered accessible yet challenging. Teacher and student surveys for Summer 2024 indicated high satisfaction with paper clarity and appropriate challenge.

Why people fail it

Why do people fail the GCSE History (Edexcel)?

Figures for the real exam from google.com, vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the test provider before you book.
GCSE History (Edexcel): common questions
Frequently asked
How many questions are in the GCSE History (Edexcel)?
The exam has 40 questions. Every Revision Robin mock uses the same 40-question format so your practice matches the real thing.
What is the pass mark for the GCSE History (Edexcel)?
You need 24 out of 40 correct to pass, which is about 60%. Our mocks mark you against this exact threshold.
How long do you get?
The test is timed at 60 minutes. Our full mock runs on the same clock so you can practise your pacing.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. Our questions are original and written to match the current syllabus, so they give realistic practice without copying the official paper. Every answer comes with a plain-English explanation. Always confirm current rules and content with Edexcel.