2025 OCR GCSE Citizenship Studies
J270/02 Citizenship in action
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined
Thursday 15 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Citizenship Studies
J270/02 Citizenship in action
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
No extra materials are needed.
*J2 7002*
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
INSTRUCTIONS
• Last
Usename
black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. You can use extra paper if
you need to, but you must clearly show your candidate number, the centre number
and the question numbers.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 28 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8418/8]
OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW/JG) 353917/3
Turn over
, 2
SECTION A
You should spend about 20 minutes on this section.
1 Study Source 1 and answer questions 1(a)–(d).
Source 1
Strengthening democracy
‘Government is stronger when it values outside expertise and listens to the public.
Most governments respond to public opinion only when there is considerable
opposition and anger. But by engaging with people sooner, governments can make
better decisions.
A healthy democracy actively encourages participation from national and local
organisations, and members of the public. Too many decisions in recent years have
shut down the ability
of people to take part and speak out. The next government should reverse this
trend. They should be more open to challenge and criticism.’
(a) State two risks to democracy mentioned in Source 1.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(b) State two ways in which parliament can help governments make better decisions.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
© OCR
2025
, 3
(c) State two ways in which citizens can take part in democracy.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(d) Describe how to strengthen democracy in the United Kingdom (UK).
• Include two recommendations in your answer.
• These should be from Source 1 and your study of citizenship.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [4]
© OCR Turn over
2025
, 4
2 Study Source 2 and answer questions 2(a)–(e).
Source 2
Who is the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and what do they do?
Mrs Katy Bourne OBE was elected as Sussex PCC by the public to make the police
answerable to the communities they serve.
The PCC writes a Police and Crime Plan. This sets out the priorities for Sussex Police. It also
decides how much residents pay for policing in their council tax.
Mrs Bourne also has a legal duty to commission support services for victims of crime and to
deliver community safety initiatives, including restorative justice and crime reduction grants.
(In London the Metropolitan Police is governed jointly by the Mayor and the government’s
Home Office.)
Election Results for the Office of PCC (Sussex) 2021
First Second
Total
Candidate preference preference
votes
votes votes
Jamie Bennett (Liberal Democrats) 63 271 – 63 271
Kahina Bouhassane (Green Party) 60 781 – 60 781
Katy Bourne (Conservative) 214 523 30 287 244 810
Paul Richards (Labour and Co-operative
84 736 43 523 128 259
Party)
Roy Williams (Independent) 30 408 – 30 408
Rejected ballots – – 11 331
The voter turnout was 35.77%.
Adapted from the Sussex PCC
website
© OCR
2025
J270/02 Citizenship in action
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme
Combined
Thursday 15 May 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) Citizenship Studies
J270/02 Citizenship in action
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
No extra materials are needed.
*J2 7002*
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
INSTRUCTIONS
• Last
Usename
black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. You can use extra paper if
you need to, but you must clearly show your candidate number, the centre number
and the question numbers.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 28 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8418/8]
OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW/JG) 353917/3
Turn over
, 2
SECTION A
You should spend about 20 minutes on this section.
1 Study Source 1 and answer questions 1(a)–(d).
Source 1
Strengthening democracy
‘Government is stronger when it values outside expertise and listens to the public.
Most governments respond to public opinion only when there is considerable
opposition and anger. But by engaging with people sooner, governments can make
better decisions.
A healthy democracy actively encourages participation from national and local
organisations, and members of the public. Too many decisions in recent years have
shut down the ability
of people to take part and speak out. The next government should reverse this
trend. They should be more open to challenge and criticism.’
(a) State two risks to democracy mentioned in Source 1.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(b) State two ways in which parliament can help governments make better decisions.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
© OCR
2025
, 3
(c) State two ways in which citizens can take part in democracy.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(d) Describe how to strengthen democracy in the United Kingdom (UK).
• Include two recommendations in your answer.
• These should be from Source 1 and your study of citizenship.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... [4]
© OCR Turn over
2025
, 4
2 Study Source 2 and answer questions 2(a)–(e).
Source 2
Who is the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and what do they do?
Mrs Katy Bourne OBE was elected as Sussex PCC by the public to make the police
answerable to the communities they serve.
The PCC writes a Police and Crime Plan. This sets out the priorities for Sussex Police. It also
decides how much residents pay for policing in their council tax.
Mrs Bourne also has a legal duty to commission support services for victims of crime and to
deliver community safety initiatives, including restorative justice and crime reduction grants.
(In London the Metropolitan Police is governed jointly by the Mayor and the government’s
Home Office.)
Election Results for the Office of PCC (Sussex) 2021
First Second
Total
Candidate preference preference
votes
votes votes
Jamie Bennett (Liberal Democrats) 63 271 – 63 271
Kahina Bouhassane (Green Party) 60 781 – 60 781
Katy Bourne (Conservative) 214 523 30 287 244 810
Paul Richards (Labour and Co-operative
84 736 43 523 128 259
Party)
Roy Williams (Independent) 30 408 – 30 408
Rejected ballots – – 11 331
The voter turnout was 35.77%.
Adapted from the Sussex PCC
website
© OCR
2025
