UpGrades vs Save My Exams
Past paper questions and model answers for UK exams
Updated 2026 · 12 features compared
Quick verdict: UpGrades leads in 6 of 12 feature categories
How does Save My Exams compare to UpGrades?
Save My Exams provides a large bank of past paper questions, topic-by-topic revision notes, and model answers organised by exam board. It is primarily a content resource rather than an interactive learning platform.
Save My Exams has built one of the largest collections of past paper questions and revision notes for UK qualifications. The platform organises content by exam board and topic, making it straightforward for students to find practice questions for specific areas of their syllabus. Model answers are provided with step-by-step working, and the platform covers GCSE, A-Level, iGCSE, and International A-Level.
The core value proposition of Save My Exams is its content library. For students who want to work through past paper questions independently, it provides an extensive resource that would otherwise require purchasing multiple past paper booklets. The topic-by-topic organisation means students can focus their practice on specific areas rather than working through entire papers.
However, Save My Exams is fundamentally a content resource, not an adaptive learning platform. Students browse and select their own questions -- the platform does not track which topics a student finds difficult or automatically direct them to areas that need more practice. There is no AI adaptation, no spaced repetition, and no personalised learning pathway.
Save My Exams does not offer progress tracking for parents or schools. There are no teacher dashboards, no class-level analytics, and no way for parents to see what their child is revising. The platform is designed for individual self-directed study, which means there is no accountability or visibility layer.
UpGrades combines comprehensive exam-board-aligned content with adaptive AI that automatically identifies each student's weak areas and prioritises practice accordingly. Where Save My Exams requires students to self-diagnose their weaknesses and choose appropriate questions, UpGrades does this automatically -- ensuring students practise what matters most rather than repeatedly revising topics they already understand.
Feature-by-feature comparison
A detailed look at what each platform offers for UK exam revision.
| Feature | UpGrades | Save My Exams |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive AI Learning | ||
| Exam Board Alignment (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) | ||
| GCSE Support | ||
| A-Level Support | ||
| iGCSE / International A-Level | ||
| Parent Dashboard | ||
| Teacher / School Dashboard | ||
| Spaced Repetition | ||
| Mock Exams | ||
| Progress Tracking | Detailed per-topic | |
| Pupil Premium Support | ||
| Free Tier | Limited | Limited |
Where Save My Exams excels
- Extensive library of past paper questions with detailed model answers
- Strong coverage across GCSE, A-Level, iGCSE, and International A-Level
- Topic-by-topic organisation makes it easy to find specific content
- Detailed revision notes alongside practice questions
Where UpGrades is better
- Adaptive AI automatically identifies weak areas and directs practice accordingly
- Detailed progress tracking with spaced repetition and personalised learning pathways
- Parent and teacher dashboards provide full visibility into revision activity
- Mock exams with timed conditions and auto-grading replicate real exam experience
- Interactive, adaptive platform where every question responds to student performance
- School licensing with Pupil Premium tracking and institutional analytics built in
The verdict
Save My Exams is an excellent content resource for self-motivated students who know exactly which topics they need to practise. Its past paper library is genuinely valuable. However, it is a reference tool, not a revision system. Students who need guidance on what to revise, parents who want visibility, and schools that need analytics will find UpGrades provides the adaptive, tracked revision experience that a static content library cannot offer.
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