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AQA GCSE History

AQA GCSE History Paper 1 practice questions

Paper 1 is worth 50% of AQA GCSE History. The questions below are original practice questions with worked answers, so you can test yourself the way the real exam will — and see exactly what an examiner is looking for.

What is on Paper 1?

  • Paper 1 covers understanding the modern world: a period study and a wider world depth study.
  • It is a written paper of 2 hours, worth 84 marks including spelling, punctuation and grammar — 50% of the GCSE.
  • Source, interpretation and extended essay questions.
  • Always check the latest specification on your exam board's website, as details can change between exam years.

Paper 1 practice questions with answers

10 original questions across the 5 Paper 1 topics. Try each one before reading the answer.

  1. AQA option: Germany 1890-1945 — Democracy and Dictatorship

    1. In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

    • • 1918
    • • 1919
    • • 1923
    • • 1933

    Answer: 1919

    The treaty followed the 1918 armistice.

  2. AQA option: Germany 1890-1945 — Democracy and Dictatorship

    2. Article 231 of the treaty forced Germany to accept:

    • • Loss of the Rhineland forever
    • • War guilt
    • • Union with Austria
    • • A communist government

    Answer: War guilt

    Accepting blame justified reparations and caused deep resentment.

  3. AQA option: Conflict and Tension, 1918-1939

    3. Who wanted the harshest treatment of Germany?

    • • Wilson
    • • Lloyd George
    • • Clemenceau
    • • Orlando

    Answer: Clemenceau

    France had suffered invasion and wanted security.

  4. AQA option: Conflict and Tension, 1918-1939

    4. State two terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

    Answer: Reparations of £6.6 billion and army limited to 100,000 men

    Territorial losses and war guilt also count.

  5. Using sources: utility, provenance and inference

    5. What does the 'P' in NOP stand for?

    • • Place
    • • Purpose
    • • Popularity
    • • Politics

    Answer: Purpose

    Nature, Origin, Purpose form provenance.

  6. Using sources: utility, provenance and inference

    6. Explain why a propaganda poster can still be useful to a historian.

    Answer: It shows what the government wanted people to believe and the attitudes it tried to create

    Bias is itself historical evidence.

  7. Interpretations: why historians disagree

    7. Which is an interpretation rather than a source?

    • • A 1940 government poster
    • • A historian's 2015 book about the war
    • • A soldier's 1916 letter
    • • A wartime photograph

    Answer: A historian's 2015 book about the war

    Interpretations are constructed after the events.

  8. Interpretations: why historians disagree

    8. Give two reasons historians may reach different conclusions.

    Answer: They use different evidence and emphasise different aspects or groups

    Access to evidence and focus both shape conclusions.

  9. Second-order concepts and essay technique

    9. Which concept asks 'why did this happen?'

    • • Significance
    • • Causation
    • • Continuity
    • • Similarity

    Answer: Causation

    Causation explains reasons for events.

  10. Second-order concepts and essay technique

    10. What does the 'E' pair in PEEL stand for?

    Answer: Evidence and Explain

    Evidence supports; explanation links it to the question.

Where Paper 1 marks are usually lost

  • Describing events without explaining their causes, consequences or significance.
  • Judging a source's usefulness on content alone, without provenance — who made it, when and why.
  • Writing narrative rather than an argument that answers the question.
  • Missing a supported final judgement in 'how far' and 'how important' essays.
  • Using general knowledge instead of precise dates, names and events.

How to pick up the extended-answer marks

  • Underline the command word and the focus of the question before writing — most dropped marks come from answering a different question.
  • Plan for one or two minutes: three or four points, each backed by evidence and explained.
  • Keep linking back to the question in every paragraph, not just the conclusion.
  • For 'evaluate' or 'how far do you agree' questions, weigh both sides and finish with a clear judgement.

Timing that works under pressure

  • Check the marks per question and give each one time in proportion, keeping spare minutes for checking at the end.
  • Bank the short questions first, then return to the longer answers with your remaining time.
  • If a question stalls for more than two minutes, write down what you know and move on — partial marks still count.
  • Leave five minutes to check spelling of key terms, units and whether any question part was skipped over a page break.

Practise the whole paper in the app

These Paper 1 topics have 366 questions in total, plus flashcards, cram mode and Grade 9 Push challenges.

Open GCSE History Cram mode

Revise each Paper 1 topic

AQA History Paper 1 FAQs

What topics are on AQA GCSE History Paper 1?
Paper 1 assesses a period study such as Germany 1890–1945 and a wider world depth study such as Conflict and Tension 1918–1939.
How long is AQA GCSE History Paper 1?
It is a 2 hours written exam worth 84 marks including spelling, punctuation and grammar, which is 50% of the GCSE. Check your board's latest specification for any changes.
How should I revise for History Paper 1?
Practise answering questions rather than rereading notes. Short daily sets of five questions per topic, marked straight away, expose weak areas faster than a long passive revision session.

ReviseRush is an independent educational revision aid. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Pearson or any exam board. All notes and questions are original. Always check content against your official course and specification. No grade outcome is guaranteed.