Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies specification (1CS0)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies (1CS0) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official Edexcel specification PDF.
Specification overview
This GCSE in Citizenship Studies enables students to take responsible citizenship actions and participate positively in democratic life. Learners explore democracy, government, the law, and international relations, gaining the skills to investigate, advocate, and influence decision-making. The course fosters critical thinking about political, legal and societal issues, and challenges students to apply their understanding through practical action to benefit their communities. The specification follows a ‘local to global’ model, guiding students to connect personal perspectives with broader national and international contexts:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
Theme A: Living together in the UK
- Explore diversity, identity, democratic values, and local government
- Understand rights, responsibilities, and community cohesion
- Examine the UK’s population, migration, Equality Act 2010, and Magna Carta
Theme B: Democracy at work in the UK
- Structure and roles of Parliament and government
- Voting systems, elections, and political participation
- Law making, devolution, taxation and public spending
Theme C: Law and justice
- Purpose and principles of law; civil, criminal, and youth justice systems
- Structure and function of courts, police and legal representatives
- Explore crime rates, sentencing, and the role of citizens in the justice process
Theme D: Power and influence
- Role of citizens, media, and organisations in political engagement
- Investigate UK’s global influence and international responsibilities
- Compare UK democracy with non-democratic systems
Theme E: Taking citizenship action
- Conduct a real-world investigation into a citizenship issue
- Undertake informed and collaborative action to deliver social benefit
- Evaluate effectiveness and impact of their action based on evidence:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Assessment structure
Paper 1: 1CS0/01
- Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 80 marks, 50% of qualification
- Sections:
- A: Living together in the UK (16 marks)
- B: Democracy at work in the UK (17 marks)
- C: Law and justice
- D: Citizenship issues and debates (31 marks)
- Includes source-based questions, extended responses, and multiple-choice
Paper 2: 1CS0/02
- Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 80 marks, 50% of qualification
Sections:
- A: Own citizenship action (24 marks)
- B: Power and influence – others’ actions (14 marks)
- C: Power and influence – broad knowledge and evaluation (42 marks)
- Assessment Objectives:
- AO1 (Knowledge): 30%
- AO2 (Application): 30%
- AO3 (Analysis/Evaluation): 40%
- Citizenship action must be authenticated and assessed via Paper 2 responses:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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