See how to find exam A Level exam past papers for your 2023 exam revision! See sources for AQA, OCR, Pearson, Edexcel, Eduqas and CCEA below.
Exam season begins in a few weeks and will run until late June, with thousands of students across the UK sitting both A Level and AS Level exams. Hopefully, if you’re sitting your exams this summer, you have already begun revising.
One of the most effective ways to revise for exams such as A Levels is to use past papers. In today’s post, we will show you where to find past papers and how to use them effectively.
What Are Past Papers and Why Should I Use Them?
Past papers are a hugely valuable resource for revising as you prepare for your A Levels because they are actual exam papers that were set in previous years.
Past papers help you to familiarise yourself with the format and style of the questions you’ll be asked and practice your exam technique. They can also help you to identify any areas where you might struggle, giving you a chance to pay extra attention to those areas as you revise.
Exam anxiety is very normal in the run-up to A Levels. But using past papers will boost your confidence, show you what you’re capable of, and enhance your subject knowledge, making sure that you perform at your best on the day.
Where to Find Past A Level Papers
The UK has several different recognised exam boards that set, mark, and oversee A Level exams: AQA, CCEA, OCR, Pearson (under its Edexcel brand), and WJEC (which also operates the Eduqas brand.) Your A Level subjects might be set by different exam boards, depending on availability and your school’s choice, so always check before you start studying past papers.
You can ask your school for past exam papers, as many schools keep them on hand to help students with their revision. You can also download them online via the various exam boards. Read on to learn where to find past A Level papers for each of the main UK exam boards.
AQA Past Papers
The AQA Past Papers and Mark Schemes website offers dropdown menus to help you find your subject and qualification level (remember to select AS or A Level accordingly.) You’ll then be able to download your past papers as PDF files.
OCR Past Papers
Visit the OCR Past Paper Finder and use the dropdown menus to select “A Level” (or AS Level) and then find your subject. You’ll be able to download marking schemes, examiners’ reports, and practice materials as well as past papers.
Pearson Edexcel Past Papers
The search box on Pearson Edexcel Past Papers website allows you to easily find the past papers you need. Enter “A Level” (or AS Level) in the first box, and then start typing in the name of your subject. The “Exam Series” section refers to the year in which the papers were set.
Eduqas Past Papers
Visit the Eduqas Past Papers website and start typing your subject name into the search box. Papers are available to download and listed by year. Be sure to choose the options marked “A Level” (or AS Level), as GCSE papers are also included on this page.
CCEA Past Papers
Visit CCEA’s alphabetical GCE Subjects page, scroll down and click on your subject. This will take you through to a page where you can download past papers and marking schemes.
How to Revise for A Levels with Past Papers
There are a few steps you can take to make sure you get the most out of past papers as a revision tool.
Take the time to review the exam board’s marking scheme before attempting any past papers. This will give you a better understanding of what is expected of you and how your answers will be marked.
Next, get to know the format of the exam papers, including the number of questions, the time limit, and the types of questions that are usually asked. This will help you feel confident and prepared, as well as avoiding preventable mistakes such as answering the wrong number of questions.
It’s also worth taking past papers under exam conditions. Time yourself, work in silence, and use only the materials you’ll have available during the real exam. This will help you to prepare for the pressure and pace of the real thing.
After completing a past paper, use the exam board’s answer sheet or marking guide to assess your own work. Alternatively, if they have time, you can ask a teacher to mark your paper and provide feedback on your answers. This will help you identify areas where you need to improve and build upon your strengths.
If you struggle with any aspect of a paper, make a note to come back to it later. This is useful information to help you create your revision strategy and focus on the areas that need the most attention.
Practice makes perfect, so aim to complete several past papers over the course of your revision.
