This guide collects every Edexcel GCSE and International GCSE specification in one place. Each link goes directly to the official Pearson Edexcel PDF. As a result, your child can download their subject specification, use it to track what they have and have not covered, and focus their revision on exactly what the exam tests.

Why Edexcel specifications matter for revision

Edexcel specifications are the official blueprint for every GCSE exam. Specifically, they set out the required knowledge and skills, the assessment objectives that determine how marks are awarded, the exam structure and question types, and the command words students need to understand. In other words, revising from a specification means your child focuses only on content that will actually be assessed — nothing more, nothing less.

Direct links to Edexcel GCSE specifications

Below are direct links to the specification PDFs for the most commonly studied Edexcel GCSE subjects.

Core subjects

Below are the most commonly needed core subject specifications. These are the subjects most students study regardless of option choices.

Sciences

For science subjects, the specification is particularly important because it details the required practicals. These are assessed in every exam series, so your child should be familiar with them.

Humanities and social sciences

For example, Geography and History students often find the specification useful for tracking case studies and key events. In addition, Religious Studies students benefit from checking which two religions their syllabus requires.

Modern foreign languages

Language specifications are especially useful because they list the required vocabulary themes and grammar structures. As a result, your child can use them to prioritise which areas to practise most before the exam.

International GCSE (iGCSE) specifications

Pearson Edexcel also offers International GCSEs, which are globally recognised qualifications taken by many UK students as well as learners abroad. In practice, the iGCSE is particularly common in international schools. Below are links to the most popular International GCSE specifications.

Core subjects (International GCSE)

English Literature is also available as a standalone International GCSE qualification. Download the specification here: English Literature (4ET1).

Sciences (International GCSE)

For international students, iGCSE science specifications are particularly important because the practical assessment structure differs from the standard GCSE. Therefore, checking the correct specification before revision begins saves time.

Humanities (International GCSE)

Key differences between GCSE and International GCSE

If your child is deciding between Edexcel GCSE and International GCSE, the key differences are worth understanding. For example, International GCSEs often have fewer coursework components and rely more heavily on final examinations. In addition, they are designed for a global audience and are recognised worldwide by universities and employers. Both qualifications now use the 9-1 grading system. However, International GCSEs often have multiple exam sessions throughout the year, which can provide more flexibility for students studying outside the UK.

How to use the Edexcel specification effectively for revision

Downloading the specification is only the first step. The most effective way to use it is to convert the specification points into a personal checklist and tick off topics as your child covers them. This makes it easy to spot gaps quickly. In addition, identifying which topics carry the most marks helps prioritise revision time. For science subjects specifically, the required practicals section deserves particular attention, as these are assessed in every exam series.

Command words also matter significantly. Terms like “state”, “describe”, “explain”, and “evaluate” each require a different type of response. Therefore, understanding the difference before the exam, rather than during it, is one of the simplest ways to pick up marks that other students leave behind.

Specifications for other exam boards

If your child studies subjects with other exam boards, you can find their specifications here. Similarly, these boards publish full specification PDFs that your child can use in exactly the same way.

Does your child need support alongside the specification?

Knowing the specification is one thing. However, converting that knowledge into exam marks is another. Many students find it straightforward to identify what they need to learn but still lose marks because they are not expressing their answers in the form the mark scheme rewards. As a result, a specialist tutor can bridge that gap quickly.

At Greenhill Academics, our tutors know the Edexcel GCSE and International GCSE specifications inside out. Specifically, they focus revision on the topics that carry the most marks and build the exam technique that turns specification knowledge into top grades.

Expert GCSE tutoring with Greenhill Academics

Our Oxford and Cambridge graduate tutors support students across every Edexcel GCSE and iGCSE subject. Matched within 48 hours.

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Russell Greenhill
Founder & CEO @ Greenhill Academics