2026 Edexcel Politics Predictions – Unit 1

Every year, my students ask for my predictions for the final exams. Every year I tell them that predictions are a mugs game, and yet I go and do it anyway…

So, this is what I have shared with my students for the unit 1 exam this year:

Remember there are 4 core units:

• Democracy and Participation
• Political Parties
• Electoral Systems
• Voting Behaviour and the Media

Typically, Edexcel will select 1 question from each of the units, with 2 being source questions and 2 being straight forward essays. However, in 2025, Edexcel surprised us by including 2 questions from the democracy and participation unit. There was no questions on electoral systems.

With this in mind I would strongly recommend focusing on electoral systems this year. It is almost inconceivable that this would be omitted two years in a row.

Now take a look at the questions on electoral systems that have been asked in the past:

There have been two questions quite recently on referendums and so I think that this is less likely to appear again. Instead I would imagine a question from either spec points 3.1 or 3.3 will appear in 2026.

Our focus should therefore be on:

1. The impact of different voting systems used in mayoral, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish elections.
2. Whether we should change the electoral system to something more representative.

What else might appear?

Take a look at the past paper Qs for political parties:

In the past two years there have been questions about the ‘established’ political parties. My feeling therefore is that the time is ripe for a question on minor parties. Given the recent surge in popularity for the Green and Reform Parties as well as the success of the Liberal Democrats at the 2024 election this would be a question with a lot of scope for strong students to demonstrate their understanding of events.

However… and this is where predictions are just that, I predicted minor parties in 2025 because 2024 had seen a question about the ‘established’ parties and yet we got another question on the established parties. So, it is always advisable to cover your bases.

Voting Behaviour and the Media

Here I think a question on the imapct of the media would be a good bet for revision. Voting behaviour has come up in recent years and I think a question looking at the impact of polling or more likely social media v traditional media is likely.

Democracy and Participation

Given the prevelance of questions from this unit I think a prediction is hard to make. However, if a student was so inclined (and I would not advise this) to pay less attention to a unit, it would be this one. Democracy and participation questions are usually around rights or the impact of pressure groups so just ensure you have a think about these topics, particuarly something like the British Bill of Rights which has been in the news recently and would make an interesting source Q.

Final Summary – What should I definetly revise?

1. The impact of different voting systems used in mayoral, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish elections.
2. Whether we should change the electoral system to something more representative.
3. Third/Minor Parties
4. The Media. How important is social media/traditional media in determining elections.
5. British Bill of Rights – the Arguments for and Against.
6. Conservatism

Remember, these are just predictions. Sorry if they are totally wrong.