Free AQA GCSE Citizenship (8100) Exam Questions and Answers
AQA GCSE Citizenship (8100) is AQA's GCSE Citizenship qualification, specification 8100, taken in England. The questions here come from AQA's published question papers from November 2020 to June 2025, plus its specimen papers, with answers and marking guidance taken from AQA's own mark schemes. Written-answer questions let you work out your answer and then reveal what the mark scheme accepts; diagrams, graphs and source material appear with the questions that use them.
If you searched for AQA GCSE Citizenship (8100) dumps, an ExamTopics discussion or a free PDF, this is the question bank for it: practice questions with verified answers and explanations, a timed practice test and updates whenever AQA changes the exam.
Last updated: October 12, 2026
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Question #1
Investigating the action of others Which of the following does a trade union represent?
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct answer is B (Employees). 1 mark.
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Question #2
Investigating the action of others What is an ‘e-petition’?
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: A petition that is completed or signed online.
Explanation
1 mark for a definition: a petition completed/signed online. An example that serves as a definition also earns the mark, e.g. signing a petition on the government petition website or a campaign group's website.
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Question #3
Investigating the action of others Identify two differences between special constables and regular police officers.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: Special constables are volunteers (may get an allowance), part-time (minimum 4 hours a week) alongside other employment, and mainly do local patrols targeting problem areas. Regular officers are paid, have it as a career, work part-time or full-time, and cover the full range of police duties.
Explanation
1 mark for each correct difference (2 marks max). Possible differences: voluntary (sometimes an allowance) vs paid role; members of the public taking on a role vs a career; part-time (min 4 hours a week) alongside other employment vs part-time or full-time; main role of local patrols targeting problem areas vs full range of police duties. Do not award marks for answers saying special constables lack the same powers (they have the same powers once initial training is completed). Any other relevant answer is credited.
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Question #4
Investigating the action of others Using an example, explain what a tribunal is.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: A tribunal is an informal, small court that deals with specific complaints and issues, e.g. an Employment Tribunal dealing with disputes over employment contracts.
Explanation
1 mark for a correct definition (informal small court dealing with specific complaints/issues) and 1 mark for an appropriate example. Examples can be a tribunal (e.g. Employment Tribunal, panels on school admissions) or the complaints they deal with (e.g. employment contract issues).
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Question #5
Investigating the action of others Explain one reason why a person would stand for election.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: For example: to represent the electorate and so democratically serve the public. Other reasons: to hold those in power to account, to promote a cause, to support a party's policies, or to be involved in and influence the local community.
Explanation
1 mark for identifying a valid reason and 1 mark for developing the explanation. Examples: hold those in power to account (1) if an injustice has been done (1); be an independent candidate (1) to speak and vote as they wish, or to represent a particular group and its needs (1); promote a cause (1) to benefit themselves or their community (1); be involved in the local community (1) and influence decisions affecting it (1); support a political party (1) and promote its policies in a campaign (1); represent the electorate (1) and democratically serve the public (1). Any other relevant answer is credited.
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Question #6
Investigating the action of others Source A The real Living Wage Founded by Citizens UK in 2001, the Living Wage is calculated according to the cost of living in the UK: The Living Wage is £9.50 per hour. The London Living Wage is £10.85 per hour. This is different to the government’s National Living Wage (minimum wage) which is £8.72 per hour. Citizens of Greater Manchester, together with Manchester food banks, have published an open letter campaigning for Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs to help tackle poverty in their city by becoming Living Wage Employers. Dear Ferran Soriano and Ed Woodward, We’re writing to ask you to do the right thing on behalf of the lowest paid staff at your clubs. Both clubs are loved by so many in the city, and many have been inspired by the vital work your clubs have done… But the reality is that many of your own staff, including caterers and cleaners, are themselves struggling to put food on the table because they don’t earn the real Living Wage. Everton FC and Liverpool FC were the first two Premier League clubs to accredit and have since been followed by West Ham, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Today we urge you to join them, do the right thing by your staff and supporters, and become Living Wage Employers without delay. Yours Sincerely, [signed by Greater Manchester citizens, food banks, various places of worship and community groups] Examine the actions UK citizens could take to persuade their local football club to become a Living Wage Employer. In your response you should refer to Source A and examples from your own knowledge.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: Actions citizens could take: write an open letter to the club with local pressure groups and charities (as in Source A); join the existing Citizens UK campaign and local groups; help casual workers join a trade union; start a petition of local supporters; lobby a player to pressure the club's management; organise or join a demonstration outside the ground to gain media attention; run a social media campaign or comment on the club's posts. A strong answer develops these with evidence from Source A and own examples and ends with a coherent conclusion.
Explanation
8 marks (AO2 = 4, AO3 = 4), level based. Level 4 (7–8): well-chosen evidence from Source A and own examples; excellent, relevant application of knowledge of citizenship actions; well developed and analysed arguments; coherent conclusion. Level 3 (5–6): appropriate evidence from Source A and own examples; good, mostly relevant application; arguments not always fully developed or analysed; conclusion may not be completely coherent. Level 2 (3–4): some evidence from Source A and own examples; some, occasionally relevant application; weak arguments not necessarily linked to the evidence; some attempt at concluding remarks. Level 1 (1–2): basic application of the actions in Source A; little or no analysis or own examples; no integration of points. Level 0: nothing to credit. Any other relevant points are credited.
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Question #7
Your Active Citizenship Investigation State what your investigation is about. Explain one reason why you would consider changing the topic of your investigation.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: State your own investigation topic. A reason to change it: if secondary research was difficult to find, because reliable statistics/evidence are needed for conclusions. Another: too few team members for a topic needing a lot of input.
Explanation
2 marks for the explained reason: 1 mark for identifying a reason and 1 mark for developing the explanation. Examples: secondary research difficult to find (1) as reliable statistics/evidence are needed in conclusions (1); insufficient team members (1) and the topic needed a lot of input (1). Credit valid points about adapting the action due to public health restrictions if they meet the criteria. The topic statement itself is personal to the student.
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Question #8
Your Active Citizenship Investigation State what your investigation is about. Discuss which part of the investigation process you found most difficult and why.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: A clearly identified area of the investigation process that was difficult (e.g. research, methodology, results, planning or taking the action, or reflection), with a justified explanation of why it was difficult.
Explanation
4 marks, two levels. Level 2 (3–4 marks): good application of knowledge and understanding; response is clear and relevant to the citizenship action. Level 1 (1–2 marks): basic application; response is muddled and lacks relevance. Look for one area of difficulty clearly identified and discussed, and a clear attempt to justify why it was difficult. It may relate to the nature of the research, the methodology, the results, planning the action, taking the action or reflections. Credit valid points about adapting the action because of public health restrictions.
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Question #9
Your Active Citizenship Investigation State what your investigation is about. Evaluate the usefulness of the secondary research you used for your investigation.
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Correct answer: An evaluation of the secondary research used: the range of sources gathered, how they were collected, how they helped choose the issue and set the aims, and how suitable and reliable they were, including any limitations.
Explanation
6 marks. Level 3 (5–6): comprehensive summary of the secondary research; arguments about its usefulness are developed, justified, analysed and evaluated, and are generally coherent. Level 2 (3–4): basic attempt to report and organise the research; some analysis and evaluation, but arguments are not fully justified or developed and are not always coherent. Level 1 (1–2): little report of the research, little or no organisation, analysis or evaluation, and little coherence. Content to look for: the range of secondary research and the methods used to collect it (may include data or extracts); the kinds of resources used and their limitations; how the research informed the choice of issue and the aims; evaluation of suitability and reliability and whether this limited its usefulness. Credit valid points about adapting to public health restrictions.
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Question #10
Your Active Citizenship Investigation State what your investigation is about. Analyse the ways in which your citizenship action was useful to you and others. Your answer should refer to: • how your action enabled you to use and develop your citizenship skills • ways in which your action was useful to others • whether there were any limitations which affected its usefulness.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: An analysis of how the student's own citizenship action was useful to themselves and to others. It should cover the citizenship skills used and developed, the benefits to others or the wider community, and any limitations that affected usefulness. It should end with a well-judged conclusion.
Explanation
12 marks, four levels. Level 4 (10–12): clear, precise analysis supported by well-chosen evidence from the investigation; analysis is developed, justified and evaluated in context; leads to a well-judged, coherent conclusion. Level 3 (7–9): appropriate evidence used to support arguments, but analysis is not always fully developed, justified or evaluated; conclusions may not be fully coherent. Level 2 (4–6): some evidence selected; weak arguments not necessarily tied to the evidence; analysis not relevant to the context; some attempt at concluding remarks. Level 1 (1–3): basic application; little or no analysis, evaluation or integration of points. Content to look for: the student's own participation and the skills used and developed; some description of the action taken; the benefits to others and the wider community; criteria or evidence for judging usefulness; consideration of how limitations affected usefulness. Credit valid points about adapting to public health restrictions.
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