Taking citizenship action: investigating, planning, acting and evaluating - Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies

What this theme is about

Taking citizenship action is Theme E of Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies (1CS0). It is a required, in-depth investigation leading to a real citizenship action, carried out in a team during the course. It is assessed in Section A of Paper 2 (24 marks, 15 percent of the qualification), where you answer entirely from your own action. It puts the knowledge and skills from the other themes into practice.

Investigating the issue

The action begins by identifying a citizenship issue linked to the course and on which you can realistically have an impact, and forming a team of at least two people. You then research the issue using two kinds of research. Secondary research uses existing information such as official reports, statistics, news and the work of NGOs and groups. Primary research is information you collect yourself, such as a survey, questionnaire, interview or observation. Good research helps you understand the issue, its causes and who is affected, reveals different viewpoints, and lets you set realistic aims so the action is based on evidence.

Representing views, planning and acting

You represent your own and different points of view, including those who might disagree, and decide what your team thinks should happen. You then plan the action: identify who it will target, set goals and success criteria, choose a method, allocate roles, set a timeline and anticipate difficulties. Finally you deliver the action, using collaboration, negotiation and influence, through either an advocacy campaign (a meeting, event or campaign to argue the case and persuade an audience) or a social action project (community action that creates a benefit for others).

Evaluating the action

The final stage is to critically evaluate your learning and the impact of the action. You judge whether and why the action achieved its aims, measured against the goals and success criteria you set and supported by the evidence you gathered, and you assess the impact on the people or community affected. You reflect on how well your method worked, what you would do differently, and what you learned about citizenship, teamwork and bringing about change, including learning from any mistakes. You are not penalised if the action did not go as planned, provided you evaluate it honestly.

How this theme is examined

Section A of Paper 2 asks short and medium questions about your own action, ending in a 12-mark task that targets application and evaluation. Because it is marked on your real action, answers must use specific examples from what you did, and the strongest answers evaluate honestly rather than just describing.

Study tips

1. Know your own action in detail: the issue, your research, your plan, what you did and the results.
2. Be clear on primary versus secondary research, with an example of each from your action.
3. Practise evaluating, not just describing: judge impact against your aims and reflect on learning.
4. Use the dot point pages for each stage of the action, then test yourself with the quiz.