The 2026 Paper 3 Edexcel A-Level Politics exam is just 3 months away. As I do every year, I thought it would be useful to make some predictions for topics that are more likely than others to come up this year, as well as to put together a couple of mock papers that include these topics.

Very Important Disclaimer!!!

You should NOT only revise these topics, you should revise everything on the specification. Anything on the specification can come up in the exam, including topics that were asked about last year.

The below predictions are only educated guesses about what is more/less likely to come up based on the topics that students have been examined on in recent years. You will definitely not be well prepared for the exam if you only revise these topics.

2026 Politics Explained Easter Revision Webinars (and recordings!)

After receiving over forty 5 ⭐ reviews last year, this year i'm going to be running another series of A-Level Politics revision webinars this Easter, for both Edexcel and AQA students! These are very long webinars, which you can attend live and ask questions, but also revise with the recording all the way up until the exams.

Each revision webinar covers a major part of the course and includes hundreds of slides packed with key knowledge, examples, essay plans, A* tips, and exam-ready conclusions. Every topic will be covered, but extra focus will be given to the most likely topics to come up in 2026!

"I don't normally sign up for paid revision, but I had previously watched the Politics Explained videos on Youtube and felt it was a safe bet. It was so much more! The Politics Explained webinars have been incredible from start to end. Not only did Oli tutor for around 8 hours in each webinar, but the slides are full of extensive research, detail and relevant information, perfect for a final ingestion of revision before our exams. Thank you again Oli for the best revision experience, and keep going with this series! It's the best." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edexcel A-Level Politics Webinars

• UK Politics Webinar - 30/3/2026 (Use Discount Code 'WEBINARDISCOUNT for 20% off!)

• Core Political Ideas Webinar - 1/4/2026

• UK Government Webinar - 3/4/2026

• Feminism Webinar - 4/4/2026

• Nationalism Webinar - 4/4/2026

• Anarchism Webinar - 4/4/2026

• US Politics & Government Webinar - 11/4/2026

• Global Politics Webinar - 12/4/2026

Other Ways Politics Explained Can Support Your Revision

Go to the Politics Explained website to access over 20 free A-Level Politics Essay Plans!

Government and Politics of the USA Predictions

These predictions are based on which topics weren't asked about in recent years. This certainly doesn't mean that these topics will be asked about or that other topics won't be asked about. You need to revise everything!

You can find detailed 12 marker and 30 marker essay plans covering all of these topics on the Politics Explained website.

30 Markers

Big US topics most likely to come up in the 30 markers:

1. Democracy and Participation (didn't come up last year).

2. Presidency (Hasn't been asked about much in the past few years).

Smaller US Topics likely to come up at some point over the next few years in the 30 markers:

1. Party Policy (never been asked).

2. Amendment process (never been asked).

3. Race and Rights (not been asked about since 2021).

4. Presidential Elections and Their Significance.

5. Foreign Policy.

6. Formal and Informal Sources of Presidential Power.

12 Markers

Big US topics most likely to come up in the 12 markers:

1. Presidency (wasn't asked about last year).

2. Democracy and Participation (wasn't asked about last year).

Smaller US Topics likely to come up at some point over the next few years in the 12 markers:

1. House of Commons vs House of Representatives (has never been asked).

2. Extent of Accountability of the PM vs the President to Their Respective Legislatures (has never been asked).

3. Party Systems (has never been asked).

4. The Methods, Power and Influence of Interest and Pressure Groups.

Free Mock Papers To Help You Practice

For each paper, I've also put together a couple of free mock papers that include some of the most likely questions that could come up in the final exam.

Global Politics Predictions

Once again, these predictions are based on which topics weren't asked about in recent years. This certainly doesn't mean that these topics will be asked about or that other topics won't be asked about. You need to revise everything!

You can find detailed 12 marker and 30 marker essay plans covering all of these topics on the Politics Explained website.

30 Markers

Big Global topics most likely to come up in the 30 markers:

1. Political and Economic Global Governance.

2. The State and Globalisation.

Smaller Global Topics likely to come up at some point over the next few years in the 30 markers:

1. NATO (never been specifically mentioned in a question).

2. The United Nations (never been a question focused just on UN).

3. Non-State Actors’ Effectiveness In Tackling contemporary global issues (never been asked).

4. The Spread and Development Of Liberal Ideas (never been asked).

5. State Power Classifications (never been asked in a 30 marker).

6. Sovereignty and Globalisation or Human Rights.

7. The European Union.

Examine 12 Markers

Big Global topics most likely to come up in the examine 12 markers:

1. Regionalism and EU.

2. The State and Globalisation.

3. Human Rights and Environmental Global Governance.

Smaller Global Topics likely to come up at some point over the next few years in the examine 12 markers:

1. Polarity and the World Order (never been asked in a 12 marker).

2. The Spread of Liberal Ideas (never been asked).

3. Hard and Soft Power (never been asked in a 12 marker).

4. Humanitarian Interventions - possibly comparison with HR courts (never been asked in a 12 marker).

5. Theories On Development, i.e. dependency vs classical economic development theory (never been asked).

6. The Role And Significance Of The Global Civil Society and Non-State Actors In Tackling Contemporary Global Issues (never been asked).

Analyse 12 Markers

Anything could come up on this question. However, the below two topics are arguably slightly more likely than other topics to be asked about at some point over the next few years:

• Globalisation.

• The Likelihood Of Conflict.