You’ve downloaded dozens of practice papers. You open a marked answer, work through the steps and move on to the next one. By the end, you feel as though you’ve revised a lot. But if you hid the answer, would you be able to start on your own?
Past Baccalaureate exam papers, once marked, are useful when used for practice. The aim isn’t to collect PDFs: it’s to find out what you’re capable of, to work on your mistakes and to manage your time more effectively.
Choose a topic that really suits your A-levels
Check the year, course, subject and language of the exam. A past paper similar to yours may contain questions that do not correspond to your syllabus. Also compare past papers with the syllabus applicable to your exam session.
The Ministry’s website features a section dedicated to exam topics [1] answersheets. If you are using a copy found elsewhere, check the header and look for the question along with its answer options. A mark scheme drawn up by a teacher can be very useful, but it must be distinguished from the official mark scheme.
Before looking at the answer, have a go at it yourself
For a full-scale simulation, prepare the permitted materials and stick to the time limit for the exam. Put your mobile phone away. If you’re only working on one exercise, choose a reasonable time frame and treat the result as part of your practice.
Write down whatever you can, even if it’s incomplete: a piece of information, a property, a diagram or the start of a line of reasoning. Make a note of the questions where you’re stuck. A blank page doesn’t always help you understand the cause of the difficulty; making an attempt provides clues.
Correct to help them understand, not to judge them
Compare your answer with what is expected. Consider four possible scenarios: you were unfamiliar with the concept; you were familiar with the lesson but not the method; you made a calculation or reading error; you ran out of time.
These difficulties call for different solutions. An unfamiliar concept calls for a return to the lesson. A reading error calls for particular attention to the instructions. A time management issue may require a better allocation of time between the questions.
Research on learning supports the value of testing oneself and receiving feedback on the [2] answers. Here, marking is used to decide what you need to work on, not just to work out a mark.
Here’s a very short error log
For each significant error, note down the issue, the cause, the action to be changed and a date for a further attempt. A few lines will suffice.
Example: «Chemistry, exercise 2. I used mass in milligrams in a calculation where I’d chosen to use grams. Next time: write down the units before doing the calculations. To be redone on Thursday.»
When you come back to the question, hide the answer. If you get it right, try a different approach. If you’re still stuck, ask your teacher for a detailed explanation. You don’t need to fill an entire exercise book for this method to be useful.
A three-week exam schedule
Week 1: Assess your current level. Choose a priority subject, complete a representative set of questions or a section of a paper, then mark it carefully. Spend the following sessions focusing on the two or three most significant areas of difficulty. Finish the week by retesting these areas.
Week 2: Vary the topics and apply the method to other subjects. Work on another subject, then return to the first one with different questions. Plan a full mock exam if your timetable allows. Set aside time for marking right from the start – perhaps the following day.
Week 3: Simulate exam conditions, then ease off a bit. Complete one or two full-length practice exams, depending on the time allowed, how tired you are and any other commitments. In between these, work on any recurring mistakes. In the final few days, focus on targeted revision and practical preparation.
This pace can be adjusted. If you’re short on time, reduce the number of topics; stick to the steps of attempting the task, correcting your work and trying again.
The question you should ask yourself after each past paper
Instead of asking, «How well did I do?», also ask: «What will I do differently next time?» If you can answer that precisely, your work has produced something useful.
Are you stuck on a piece of marked work? Send Elite Academy details of your course, the subject and the question in question to find out what support is available. Include your attempt: it will help us understand which step you’re struggling with.
Ask for help with a past paper →
→ See also: National Baccalaureate exams: weightings, papers – everything you need to know · A-level revision timetable: your 30-day study plan
