Past Papers for GCSE and A-Level
Past papers are the most effective revision tool available. They show you exactly what to expect in your exams, help you practice under time pressure, and reveal the topics you need to focus on.
Past Papers by Exam Board
AQA Past Papers
AQA is the UK's largest exam board, used by more than half of all GCSE and A-Level students. Their past papers follow a consistent format, making them excellent for practice. AQA provides question papers, mark schemes, and detailed examiner reports.
What's available: Past papers dating back 5+ years, mark schemes with detailed marking guidance, examiner reports highlighting common mistakes, specimen papers for new specifications.
Popular subjects: GCSE Maths, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Combined Science, Geography, History, Computer Science. A-Level Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, English Literature.
Tips for AQA papers: Pay attention to command words (state, explain, evaluate). AQA mark schemes reward specific terminology. Read examiner reports - they reveal exactly what examiners want to see in top-scoring answers.
Find AQA Past Papers →Edexcel (Pearson) Past Papers
Edexcel, operated by Pearson, is the second-largest UK exam board. Their past papers are known for clear question structures and detailed mark schemes. Edexcel also offers International GCSE (iGCSE) and International A-Level (IAL) past papers.
What's available: Past papers with mark schemes, specimen materials, grade boundaries showing the marks needed for each grade, topic-level past paper question banks.
Popular subjects: GCSE Maths (9-1), English Language, Sciences (separate and combined), Geography, Business. A-Level Maths (Pure, Statistics, Mechanics), Sciences, Economics, Business Studies.
Tips for Edexcel papers: Edexcel papers often have more structured questions with clear mark allocations. Use grade boundaries to set realistic targets. Their topic-based question banks are excellent for targeted revision.
Find Edexcel Past Papers →OCR Past Papers
OCR offers both traditional GCSEs/A-Levels and the Cambridge National/Technical qualifications. Their past papers are well-regarded for clear question wording and comprehensive mark schemes. OCR provides excellent support materials including practice papers and topic tests.
What's available: Past papers with detailed mark schemes, practice papers (non-exam versions for practice), SAMs (Sample Assessment Materials) for new specs, topic tests for targeted revision.
Popular subjects: GCSE Maths, Sciences, English, Computer Science (very popular OCR spec), Geography. A-Level Maths (MEI and standard), Sciences, Computer Science, Economics.
Tips for OCR papers: OCR Computer Science questions are particularly well-written and challenging. Their practice papers are excellent for building confidence before attempting real past papers. Topic tests help you focus on weak areas.
Find OCR Past Papers →WJEC / Eduqas Past Papers
WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee) provides qualifications for Wales, while their Eduqas brand serves schools in England. Past papers are available for both, with Eduqas papers often featuring more extended writing tasks.
What's available: Past papers, mark schemes, grade boundaries, specimen assessment materials, practice papers, and examiner guidance on common errors.
Popular subjects: GCSE English Language (Eduqas is popular for extended writing), Maths, Sciences, Welsh (first and second language), Geography, History, Religious Studies.
Tips for WJEC papers: Eduqas English Language papers have more creative writing - practice these under timed conditions. Welsh-medium papers are available. Mark schemes are detailed and helpful for understanding what examiners expect.
Find WJEC Past Papers →Past Papers by Subject
How to Use Past Papers Effectively
1. Do them under timed exam conditions
Set a timer, remove all distractions, and only use resources you will have in the real exam (calculator, formula sheet, etc.). This builds exam stamina and time management skills. Don't pause the timer or check answers mid-way - treat it like the real thing.
2. Mark thoroughly using the mark scheme
Be brutally honest with your marking. Don't give yourself half-marks for "nearly right" answers unless the mark scheme explicitly allows it. Study the mark scheme carefully - it shows you exactly what examiners are looking for. Notice the key words and phrases that gain marks.
3. Read examiner reports to learn from common mistakes
Examiner reports reveal the mistakes that hundreds of students made in that paper. These are gold for revision. They highlight misunderstood topics, common calculation errors, and gaps in understanding. If you made the same mistake, you know exactly what to revise.
4. Track your errors and focus revision on weak topics
Keep a list of every topic where you lost marks. After completing 2-3 past papers, patterns will emerge. These are your priority revision topics. Use UpGrades or your textbook to practice these specific areas, then test yourself again with another past paper.
5. Redo papers you struggled with
After revising your weak areas, redo the papers you found hardest. Aim to improve your score by 10-15%. This proves your revision worked and builds confidence. It also helps you internalise the question patterns and mark scheme expectations.
Practice with AI-Generated Questions
Past papers are excellent for exam practice, but there are only so many available. Once you've completed your exam board's past papers, you can run out of fresh material. That's where UpGrades helps.
UpGrades generates unlimited practice questions in the style of your exam board. The questions adapt to your level, targeting your weak topics. Use past papers for full exam practice and UpGrades for unlimited topic-specific practice.
Start practising with UpGradesFrequently Asked Questions
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