GCSE Exam Predictions 2025: Health and the People: c1000 to present (AQA)

As we approach the final stretch of the exam season, many of you are knee-deep in revision, juggling dates, diagrams, and diseases. I’ve been teaching Health and the People for a good few years now, and one of the most common questions I hear at this time of year is:“Sir, what do you think will come up this time?”

While I can’t predict the paper with certainty — and no teacher ever truly can — what I can offer is an experienced analysis of patterns, gaps, and possibilities. So, let’s walk through what I think might be coming your way — not as a strict prediction, but as an informed conversation between teacher and students.

Looking Back Briefly

Exam boards usually try to ensure a good spread over the years. Topics that were central to recent years paper – like the source on 19th-century Cholera, the significance of Medieval doctors' treatments, comparing Jenner and Koch, or that big essay on 'Chance' – are perhaps less likely to reappear in the exact same way so soon. Similarly, if we look at 2022, we saw modern treatments, Christianity's significance, Paré and Lister compared, and the role of the individual in public health. These areas have had their recent moment in the spotlight.

Where Are the Gaps?

This is where it gets interesting. When certain topics haven't been the main focus for a few years, it feels plausible they might come back around.

• Thinking about the Source Question (Q1): We've recently had sources on Cholera, Modern Treatment, the NHS, and Early Modern Surgery. So, what else could they give you? Perhaps a striking image from Vesalius's work on anatomy? An account describing the terror of the Black Death? Maybe an extract discussing the conditions that led to the Public Health Acts, or something documenting Fleming's work on Penicillin? These feel like areas ripe for a source focus.

  
  

• Considering Significance (Q2): Last year was Medieval doctors, before that Christianity, Jenner, and the NHS. Who or what else has been hugely significant but hasn't had a dedicated question recently? My thoughts turn to key Renaissance figures like Vesalius or Harvey, the profound impact of the Black Death, the specific development of Germ Theory (Pasteur/Koch) or even Ehrlich's 'magic bullets', the importance of the 1848/1875 Public Health Acts, or the story of Penicillin. The influence of Galen and Hippocrates, though ancient, could also be revisited.

  
  

• Potential Comparisons (Q3): Examiners love asking you to link different eras. We've recently seen Jenner/Koch, Paré/Lister, and comparisons involving Medieval public health/hospitals. What other links could be explored? Maybe comparing how societies responded to major epidemics centuries apart (Black Death vs Cholera)? Or tracing the evolution of surgery (Medieval attempts vs Renaissance breakthroughs vs Antiseptic revolution)? How about comparing the government's role in health across different periods, or the ways medical knowledge was shared (Manuscripts vs Printing Press vs Internet)?

  
  

• The Big One – The Factor Essay (Q4): This always requires a broad view across the whole timeline. Looking at the factors: Chance (2023), Individuals (focused on Public Health, 2022), War (focused on Surgery, 2021), and Science & Technology (focused on Treatment, 2020) have all been the main named factor relatively recently. This leaves Government, Religion & Superstition, and Communication as strong contenders to be the headline factor this year. Of course, they could ask about any factor, but these three seem statistically more likely. The question might ask about Government's role in Public Health, or how Religion hindered/helped progress, or the impact of Communication on spreading ideas. They could even revisit a factor like War but ask about its impact on Public Health instead of surgery.

Key Themes That Feel 'Due'

So, pulling it together, if I were putting my energy into specific areas right now (alongside revising everything, of course!), I'd be paying close attention to:

• The Renaissance: Vesalius, Harvey, and the challenge to old ideas.

• Key Medical Breakthroughs: Germ Theory details (Pasteur, Koch, Ehrlich), and especially the discovery and development of Penicillin (Fleming, Florey, Chain).

• Public Health Milestones: The Black Death (causes, responses), the specific Public Health Acts of 1848/1875, and maybe the early 20th Century reforms (Booth, Rowntree, Liberal Government).

• Impact of War & Technology: Beyond just triggering the NHS, think X-rays, blood transfusions, plastic surgery advancements.

  
  

A Final Word (of Encouragement!)

Please remember, these are just my educated guesses based on past papers. The examiners can, and sometimes do, surprise us! There is absolutely no substitute for revising the entire course thoroughly. Use these thoughts not to limit your revision, but perhaps to add a little extra focus to areas that haven't been in the limelight recently.

You've all worked incredibly hard to get this far. Trust in your knowledge, practice your technique, and walk into that exam hall ready to show them what you know.

If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed or unsure where to focus, our GCSE guides for AQA at Kingsbridge Education are packed with what you actually need such as clear summaries, countless model answers and integrated flashcards and quizzes to test yourself along the way. Find out more here: https://www.kingsbridgeeducation.co.uk

Goodluck.