Free Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) Exam Questions and Answers
Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) is Pearson Edexcel's GCSE History qualification, specification 1HI0, taken in England. The questions here come from Pearson Edexcel's published question papers from June 2018 to June 2025, plus its specimen papers, with answers and marking guidance taken from Pearson Edexcel'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.
Looking for Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) exam dumps or ExamTopics questions? These practice questions cover the same ground with verified answers and explanations, a downloadable PDF and a full practice test, kept current as Pearson Edexcel updates the exam.
Last updated: November 5, 2026
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Question #1
Describe two features of life in the Whitechapel workhouses.
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Correct answer: Any two valid features, each with supporting detail. E.g. (1) Food was basic: meals were gruel, bread and cheese. (2) Families were separated: separate sections for men, women and children. (3) Life was deliberately unpleasant: hard work and many punishments, e.g. William Valance banned women from drinking tea and men from smoking.
Explanation
1 mark for each valid feature identified (maximum two features). A second mark for each feature is given for supporting information. Total 4 marks. Other appropriate features and supporting information are accepted.
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Question #2
‘The work of the Fielding brothers led to a great improvement in law enforcement in the years c1500–c1900.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • town watchmen • the Bow Street Runners You must also use information of your own.
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Correct answer: Counter-arguments (points to challenge the statement): the Bow Street Runners were a small group that existed only a short time, so had little overall impact on crime; law enforcement problems continued through the nineteenth century; the Fieldings' work was London-based, and it was not compulsory for every area to have a police force until 1856, so impact was limited; until forensic science developed (footprints, fingerprints, blood types) law enforcement depended mainly on witnesses.
Explanation
Level-based, 20 marks (16 for AO1/AO2 plus up to 4 for spelling, punctuation and grammar). Level 4 (13–16) needs a sustained, analytical line of reasoning, precisely selected wide-ranging knowledge, and justified criteria leading to a judgement; it is not available if you only use the stimulus points (town watchmen, Bow Street Runners). Level 3 maximum 11 if you stay within the stimulus points. Level 2 maximum 7 if you stay within the stimulus points.
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Question #3
‘The establishment of Pentonville prison was a turning point in the use of prisons in the years c1700–present.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • the separate system • open prisons You must also use information of your own.
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Correct answer: Counter-arguments (points to challenge the statement): Pentonville built on the earlier work of John Howard and Elizabeth Fry rather than showing a new approach. Open prisons were created in the twentieth century to rehabilitate minor criminals or those nearing the end of their sentence, encouraging prisoners to mingle with the outside community, which shows Pentonville's approach (the separate system) did not last.
Explanation
Level-based, 20 marks: AO2 10 marks, AO1 6 marks, plus up to 4 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology. Level 1 (1–4): simple or generalised answer, limited knowledge, judgement missing or asserted. Level 2 (5–8): limited analysis, some accurate information, judgement given but asserted or insecure; maximum 7 if you only use the stimulus points. Level 3 (9–12): some analysis mainly directed at the question, good knowledge, judgement with some justification but some criteria implicit or not validly applied; maximum 11 if you only use the stimulus points. Level 4 (13–16): analytical, coherent, sustained line of reasoning, wide-ranging precisely selected knowledge, justified criteria applied to reach a judgement; no access to Level 4 if you only use the stimulus points (the separate system, open prisons). Counter-points: Pentonville built on Howard and Fry's work; open prisons show its approach did not last.
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Question #4
Describe two features of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee.
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Correct answer: Any two features with supporting detail, e.g. (1) a volunteer group formed in 1888 to protect people in Whitechapel in response to Jack the Ripper, led by George Lusk; (2) it asked the government to offer a reward for information about the killer, and when the government refused, put up its own reward; (3) it consisted of local shopkeepers and property owners and paid unemployed men to patrol the area at night.
Explanation
1 mark for each valid feature identified (maximum two features). A second mark for each feature for supporting information. Total 4 marks. Other appropriate features and supporting information are accepted.
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Question #5
‘The Norman Conquest (1066) led to significant changes in law enforcement in medieval England’. How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • Wergild • tithings You must also use information of your own.
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Correct answer: Open-ended judgement question. A strong answer weighs the changes brought by the Normans against the continuities from Anglo-Saxon law enforcement, and reaches a justified overall judgement. The stimulus points are Wergild and tithings, and answers must also use own knowledge.
Explanation
Marked by levels out of 16 (10 marks for analysis and evaluation of change and consequence, 6 marks for knowledge and understanding). Up to 4 extra marks are given for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology. Level 1 (1–4): simple or generalised answer, limited knowledge, and the judgement is missing or asserted. Level 2 (5–8): some explanation but limited analysis, and the line of reasoning is not sustained. Some accurate knowledge. The judgement is given but its justification is asserted or insecure. Maximum 7 marks if the answer does not go beyond the stimulus points. Level 3 (9–12): explanation with some analysis, mainly focused on change and consequence, and a generally sustained line of reasoning. Good knowledge. The judgement has some justification, but some criteria are implicit or not validly applied. Maximum 11 marks if the answer does not go beyond the stimulus points. Level 4 (13–16): analytical explanation focused consistently on the question, with a coherent, sustained and logical structure. Wide-ranging, precisely selected knowledge. The criteria for the judgement are justified and applied to reach the overall judgement. There is no access to Level 4 if the answer does not go beyond the stimulus points. The mark scheme pages give only the level descriptors and no indicative content.
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Question #6
‘There was little change in the nature of criminal activity in the period c1500-c1900’. How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • poaching • highway robbery You must also use information of your own.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: Open-ended judgement question. A strong answer weighs change against continuity in criminal activity from c1500 to c1900 and reaches a justified overall judgement. The stimulus points are poaching and highway robbery, and answers must also use own knowledge.
Explanation
Marked by levels out of 16 (10 marks for analysis and evaluation of change and continuity, 6 marks for knowledge and understanding). Up to 4 extra marks are given for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology. Level 1 (1–4): simple or generalised answer, limited knowledge, and the judgement is missing or asserted. Level 2 (5–8): some explanation but limited analysis, and the line of reasoning is not sustained. Some accurate knowledge. The judgement is given but its justification is asserted or insecure. Maximum 7 marks if the answer does not go beyond the stimulus points. Level 3 (9–12): explanation with some analysis, mainly focused on change and continuity, and a generally sustained line of reasoning. Good knowledge. The judgement has some justification, but some criteria are implicit or not validly applied. Maximum 11 marks if the answer does not go beyond the stimulus points. Level 4 (13–16): analytical explanation focused consistently on the question, with a coherent, sustained and logical structure. Wide-ranging, precisely selected knowledge. The criteria for the judgement are justified and applied to reach the overall judgement. There is no access to Level 4 if the answer does not go beyond the stimulus points. The mark scheme pages give only the level descriptors and no indicative content.
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Question #7
Describe two features of the growth of socialism in Whitechapel.
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Correct answer: Any two valid features, each with supporting detail. E.g. (1) Socialist ideas spread in Whitechapel, appealing to poorer groups such as Eastern European migrants and workers in 'sweated' trades. (2) Socialist organisations were set up, e.g. the International Workers' Educational Club and the newspaper 'The Workers' Friend'. (3) Growth of socialism led to fear of anarchist attacks, as socialism was associated with anarchism and people were suspicious of Irish, Russian and Jewish migrants after assassination attempts and bombings on the continent.
Explanation
1 mark for each valid feature identified (max two features) and 1 further mark for each feature for supporting information. Total 4 marks. Other appropriate features and supporting information are accepted.
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Question #8
Explain one way in which the treatment of young criminals in the years c1700–c1900 was different from the treatment of young criminals in the years c1900–present.
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Correct answer: No answer is given for this question in the mark scheme provided.
Explanation
Not available.
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Question #9
Explain why the role of local communities in law enforcement changed in the years c1000–c1700. You may use the following in your answer: • trial by ordeal • watchmen You must also use information of your own.
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Correct answer: Extended answer (12 marks) with no fixed answer; it needs a sustained, analytical explanation of why communities' role in law enforcement changed c1000–c1700, using the stimulus points plus own knowledge.
Explanation
Marked by levels. AO2 (analysis of causation and change) is worth 6 marks and AO1 (knowledge) is worth 6 marks. Level 1 (1–3): simple or generalised answer with limited knowledge. Level 2 (4–6): explanation with limited analysis; the line of reasoning is not sustained; maximum 5 if the answer stays within the stimulus points. Level 3 (7–9): some analysis, mainly directed at the question, with a generally sustained line of reasoning and good knowledge; maximum 8 if the answer stays within the stimulus points. Level 4 (10–12): analytical explanation directed consistently at why the role changed, with a coherent, logical line of reasoning and wide-ranging, precisely selected knowledge. Level 4 is not available if the answer stays within the stimulus points (trial by ordeal, watchmen), so you must add your own information.
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Question #10
‘There was significant change in the nature of criminal activity in the period c1000–c1700.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • Forest Laws • theft You must also use information of your own.
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Correct answer: Extended answer (16 marks plus up to 4 for SPaG) with no fixed answer; it needs a judgement on how far there was significant change in the nature of criminal activity c1000–c1700, using the stimulus points plus own knowledge.
Explanation
Marked by levels. AO2 (change and continuity, with a judgement) is worth 10 marks and AO1 (knowledge) is worth 6 marks. SPaG adds up to 4 marks. Level 1 (1–4): simple or generalised answer; judgement missing or asserted. Level 2 (5–8): limited analysis; judgement given but its justification is asserted or insecure; maximum 7 if the answer stays within the stimulus points. Level 3 (9–12): some analysis, mainly directed at the question; judgement has some justification, but some criteria are implicit or not validly applied; maximum 11 if the answer stays within the stimulus points. Level 4 (13–16): analytical, consistently directed explanation with wide-ranging, precisely selected knowledge; criteria for the judgement are justified and applied to reach the overall judgement. Level 4 is not available if the answer stays within the stimulus points (Forest Laws, theft), so you must add your own information.
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Discussion
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FAQ
- Q1: What is the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) exam?
- A: Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) is a Pearson Edexcel certification exam. Judging by the questions in our bank, it concentrates on c1700, c1900, explain, c1500 and agree.
- Q2: What topics does the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) exam cover?
- A: Questions in our Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) bank cluster around c1700, c1900, explain, c1500, agree, years, period and warfare. Working through the full set is the quickest way to find which of these you are weakest on.
- Q3: How should I prepare for Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0)?
- A: Work through the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) practice questions here, checking your answer on each one, then sit the practice test to rehearse the exam under timed conditions before the real thing.
- Q4: Are these real Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) exam questions?
- A: They are drawn from officially released past questions and from community members who have sat Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0). Answers are verified and updated weekly.
- Q5: Where do I register for the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) exam?
- A: Register through Pearson Edexcel directly. Exampractice is not affiliated with Pearson Edexcel and does not administer the exam.
- Q6: Is there a free Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) sample?
- A: Yes. Every Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0) page shows a free sample of real questions. Upgrading opens the full bank and the practice test.