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100+ Free GCSE History Practice Questions

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Hereward the Wake led an Anglo-Saxon resistance against the Normans based in which marshland location?

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Key Facts: GCSE History Exam

9-1

Grading scale

Ofqual

May-June

Exam series

AQA, Edexcel, OCR timetable

3 boards

Specifications available

AQA, Edexcel, OCR

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

AQA, Edexcel, OCR GCSE History is assessed through linear end-of-course exam papers (Key Stage 4). Coverage spans british study, modern world depth study, thematic study, and grading uses the 9-1 scale on 2026 specifications.

Sample GCSE History Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your GCSE History exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Who was the Kaiser of Germany from 1888 until his abdication in 1918?
A.Wilhelm I
B.Wilhelm II
C.Friedrich III
D.Otto von Bismarck
Explanation: Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled Germany from 1888 to 1918. He dismissed Bismarck in 1890 and pursued Weltpolitik (world policy), expanding the navy and empire. He abdicated on 9 November 1918 and fled to the Netherlands.
2What was the name of Kaiser Wilhelm II's foreign policy of building a German overseas empire and large navy?
A.Lebensraum
B.Weltpolitik
C.Kulturkampf
D.Realpolitik
Explanation: Weltpolitik (world policy) was Wilhelm II's aggressive foreign policy aimed at making Germany a global power, with colonies and a navy to rival Britain's. It contributed to the naval arms race and tensions before WWI.
3Which 1919 treaty imposed harsh terms on Germany, including a 'war guilt' clause and reparations?
A.Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
B.Treaty of Versailles
C.Treaty of Saint-Germain
D.Treaty of Locarno
Explanation: The Treaty of Versailles, signed 28 June 1919, included Article 231 (the War Guilt clause), 132 billion gold marks in reparations, loss of 13% of Germany's territory and all colonies, and limits on its armed forces. Germans called it the 'Diktat'.
4What sum was Germany ordered to pay in reparations by the London Schedule of 1921?
A.6.6 billion gold marks
B.132 billion gold marks
C.50 billion gold marks
D.269 billion gold marks
Explanation: The Reparations Commission set the figure at 132 billion gold marks in 1921. Germany's failure to pay led to the 1923 French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr, triggering hyperinflation.
5What feature of the Weimar Constitution allowed the President to rule by decree in an emergency?
A.Article 48
B.Article 231
C.Article 25
D.Article 81
Explanation: Article 48 gave the President emergency powers to suspend civil rights and rule by decree. Hindenburg used it repeatedly from 1930, and Hitler exploited it after the Reichstag Fire in February 1933.
6What was the right-wing attempt in March 1920 to overthrow the Weimar government, led by Wolfgang Kapp?
A.The Spartacist Uprising
B.The Kapp Putsch
C.The Munich Putsch
D.The Night of the Long Knives
Explanation: The Kapp Putsch (March 1920) saw Freikorps units led by Wolfgang Kapp seize Berlin. The government fled to Dresden, and a general strike by Berlin workers paralysed the city, causing the putsch to collapse within days.
7What event in January 1923 triggered Germany's hyperinflation crisis?
A.The Wall Street Crash
B.The Munich Putsch
C.The French occupation of the Ruhr
D.The Dawes Plan
Explanation: After Germany defaulted on reparations, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr in January 1923. The German government ordered passive resistance and printed money to pay striking workers, causing hyperinflation: a loaf cost 200 billion marks by November.
8Which Chancellor and Foreign Minister introduced the Rentenmark and negotiated the Dawes Plan in 1923-24?
A.Friedrich Ebert
B.Gustav Stresemann
C.Heinrich Brüning
D.Franz von Papen
Explanation: Gustav Stresemann was Chancellor for 100 days in 1923 and Foreign Minister until 1929. He introduced the Rentenmark to end hyperinflation, negotiated the Dawes Plan (1924) and Young Plan (1929), and won the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.
9Under which 1925 treaty did Germany voluntarily accept its western borders with France and Belgium?
A.The Treaty of Rapallo
B.The Locarno Treaties
C.The Kellogg-Briand Pact
D.The Young Plan
Explanation: The Locarno Treaties (October 1925) saw Germany, France, Belgium, Britain and Italy guarantee the western borders set at Versailles. This 'Locarno honeymoon' led to Germany joining the League of Nations in 1926.
10What was the result of Hitler's Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch of November 1923?
A.Hitler became Chancellor
B.The Nazis seized Bavaria
C.It failed and Hitler was imprisoned
D.The Weimar government collapsed
Explanation: On 8-9 November 1923 Hitler tried to seize power in Munich. Police killed 16 Nazis; Hitler was arrested, tried for treason, and sentenced to five years (serving only nine months in Landsberg, where he dictated Mein Kampf to Hess).

About the GCSE History Exam

GCSE History is offered by AQA, Edexcel, OCR as part of the UK General Certificate of Secondary Education qualification framework. The course covers british study, modern world depth study, thematic study, historic environment and is assessed primarily through written exam papers at the end of the two-year course.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3-5 hours total across multiple papers

Passing Score

Grade 4 is the standard pass, Grade 5 is the strong pass (1-9 scale)

Exam Fee

£40-£80 per subject (school-set entry fee) (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

GCSE History Exam Content Outline

Core

British Study

Common options: Migration, Empires, Health and the People, Crime and Punishment, Power and the People

Core

Period Study

World examples: America 1840-95 (Expansion and Consolidation); Germany 1890-1945

Core

Wider World Depth Study

Conflict and tension (1894-1918, 1918-39, or Cold War 1945-72)

Core

Historic Environment

A site study connected to the period study (e.g., Elizabethan England, Anglo-Saxon England)

How to Pass the GCSE History Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade 4 is the standard pass, Grade 5 is the strong pass (1-9 scale)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 3-5 hours total across multiple papers
  • Exam fee: £40-£80 per subject (school-set entry fee)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

GCSE History Study Tips from Top Performers

1Use past papers from your specific exam board — questions follow the same style year on year
2Time yourself on full papers to build pacing for the long extended-response questions
3Build a clear understanding of mark schemes — examiners reward specific assessment objectives
4Review examiner reports each summer; common errors repeat

Frequently Asked Questions

What exam boards offer GCSE History?

GCSE History is offered by AQA, Edexcel, OCR. All boards follow Ofqual subject content but vary in the choice of set texts, optional topics, and paper structure.

When is the GCSE History exam taken?

Exams are written in the May-June series at the end of the two-year Key Stage 4 course. Most students sit the papers in Year 11.

How is GCSE History graded?

GCSEs are graded on the 9-1 scale, where 9 is the highest grade. A grade 4 is a standard pass, and grade 5 is a strong pass. Grade 7 is broadly equivalent to the old A grade.

How many papers does GCSE History have?

Most GCSE subjects have 2-3 written papers. The exact number, timing, and weighting depend on the chosen exam board. Some subjects also include a non-examined assessment (NEA) coursework component.