GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies - Frequently asked questions on changes made to Issue 2

Oct 20, 2026

Frequently asked questions explain the timeline and impact of revisions to Pearson’s GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies Specification Issue 2. Guidance covers when to start teaching the revised content, when references to new materials may appear in future exams, and whether students are disadvantaged in the June 2023 series. It also states how examiners handle correct answers under changing EU and Council of Europe contexts, where to access the revised 2022 specification, and what support resources are available, plus clarification routes for teachers.

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Reading Time5 min

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Frequently asked questions on changes made to Issue 2

Teaching timeline and exam impact

Access to specification, support resources, and clarification contacts

GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies Frequently asked questions on changes made to Issue 2 When should I begin teaching the revised specification content for Pearson’s GCSE in Citizenship Studies? The revised specification for GCSE Citizenship Studies is to be taught from Autumn 2022. When might references to new content appear in a future exam? The earliest it will appear is the summer 2024 exam series. Will questions relating to these revisions appear in the June 2023 exam series? No. Where can I access Pearson’s revised 2022 specification for GCSE Citizenship Studies? Pearson's revised GCSE Citizenship Studies can be found on the qualification page for GCSE Citizenship Studies or downloaded directly from here: [https://bit.ly/3Vm20ng](https://bit.ly/3Vm20ng) Will students be disadvantaged if they provide answers to questions in the June 2023 series that relate to the UK’s new relationship with the EU (Post Brexit) prior to the assessment of the revised content? No, examiners will award correct answers in relation to the UK’s new and/or legacy relationship where applicable. The UK’s relationship with the EU and Council of Europe could change. What should I do if things change after I’ve taught the content – will I need to re-teach before the exam? No. Students won’t be penalised for any information that was correct within the last two years. Is there any further support or resources available to aid in the delivery of the revised specification content? Yes. A document entitled ‘GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies Specification Issue 2 Support and Resources’ is available in the teaching and learning section of our website, or downloaded directly here: [https://bit.ly/3Cn7NA2](https://bit.ly/3Cn7NA2) Why were no changes made to Theme A, regarding how the ‘sources’ of migration have changed (Post Brexit)? Section A looks at society in a granular fashion. We are asking how people live and work together in the UK when they come from different countries and how they identify, what rights different groups have and above all, how understanding and respect should function; It is society driven in this section. In Section D, when looking at Europe, we see the role of the UK government acting on a national and international stage. This is a bigger picture and represents a different angle. The specification is holistic, so to some extent, issues do cross over from Paper 1 to Paper 2 (which looks at democracy and participation), so connections between topics across two papers is normal. In Section A, it is important to note that migration is not just from the EU (which is not explicitly mentioned in the specification) but Europe (which is mentioned) . If you look at current immigration patterns-refugees and asylum seekers, two of the biggest cohorts are from Albania and secondly from Ukraine-both in Europe but neither in the EU. The focus in Section A is not to examine in depth the country of origin of newcomers but to assess how all newcomers from whatever background integrate into society and how community cohesion is created. In Section A, we are not dealing with details about restrictions or points-based entry schemes, but rather‘who is here’ and ‘how do we get on’. As the subheading states: 'migration and its impact' . When looking at Paper 2 in Section 6, we are seeing and viewing citizenship through a much broader/higher level or focus: at an intergovernmental perspective. Again, ‘ Europe’ is in the heading, but it refers to the EU in the detailed content. This is a 'live' area; the UK has been in a close relationship with the EU, but patterns have and are still changing; one of which relates to migration. In Paper 2, we are not viewing from the ‘granular’ position but from an official governmental line. What do I do if after reading this guidance I’m still unsure about what the changes mean? You can contact us in various ways for clarification: • Email [us: TeachingCitizenship@pearson.com](us:

FAQs

When should teachers begin teaching the revised specification content for Pearson’s GCSE in Citizenship Studies?

Teach the revised specification content from Autumn 2022.

When might references to new content appear in a future exam?

The earliest new references appear in the summer 2024 exam series.

Will questions relating to these revisions appear in the June 2023 exam series?

No. Questions relating to the revisions do not appear in the June 2023 exam series.

Oct 20, 2026

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