Structure past paper practice in three stages: topical questions after each unit in Years 10 and 12, timed single papers in each course’s second year, and full-series mocks marked with published thresholds before entries close. Use official papers from Cambridge’s School Support Hub or Pearson’s secure area, and keep the most recent series unseen for mocks.
Why does a school need a past paper programme?
Because unplanned practice uses up the papers a school needs for mocks. When every teacher sets past papers independently, the same papers get used twice. Students see the mock paper in class, and the only unseen series left is too old to match the syllabus. A programme decides centrally which papers are for topic practice, which are for timed practice, and which are held back.
Retrieval also has evidence behind it. The Education Endowment Foundation calls low-stakes quizzing “a promising approach that teachers should consider”, with evidence that is “moderate and generally positive” (EEF). Topical past paper questions are a natural form of it.
Where do schools get official Cambridge and Pearson past papers?
From the boards’ secure areas, where the latest series appear.
| Cambridge | Pearson | |
|---|---|---|
| Public access | ”Only a selection of our papers” on each syllabus page | Papers from the last 12 months are for registered centres only; older papers are public |
| Secure access | School Support Hub, for teachers at registered schools; access “must not be given to students” | Registered centres; “Papers from the last nine months are locked so Teachers can use them for mock exams” |
| Latest series | Papers, thresholds and mark schemes on the School Support Hub “on the day results are issued”; examiner reports “within four to six weeks” | Most recent papers for teachers only, “to ensure that there is at least one exam paper that can be used for a mock exam” |
| Oldest available | Materials “older than five years are not available”, partly because of five-year copyright permissions | — |
Sources: Cambridge help centre on current-series materials, older papers and School Support Hub access; Pearson past papers.
In practice, a department has roughly five years of papers per syllabus, and several variants per series. Cambridge also notes that “from March 2026, we are making changes to the layout and formatting of our question papers”. The content, demand and question types stay the same, but students should see the new layout before their exam.
What are the copyright rules for past papers?
Schools can print them for students but cannot publish them online. Cambridge says teachers “can freely download and print out past examination papers from the School Support Hub for use with their students”. It adds that “we are unable to give permission to publish past examination papers on any website or school intranet” (Cambridge). Departments should share papers in class or on paper, not by uploading them to a learning platform students can browse.
How should practice be structured from Year 10 to Year 13?
By stage, with papers allocated in advance. This is our recommended programme:
| Year | Main practice | Papers used |
|---|---|---|
| Year 10 (IGCSE year 1) | Topical questions after each unit; short timed sections | Oldest available series, by topic |
| Year 11 (IGCSE year 2) | Timed single papers each half term; full mock in January (June series) | Middle series for timed practice; most recent series held for the mock |
| Year 12 (AS / IAS) | Topical questions per unit; timed unit papers before any IAL unit sitting | Oldest series by topic; recent unit papers held for mocks |
| Year 13 (A Level) | Full papers under timed conditions; full mock before entries | Recent series held back for mocks |
Two rules keep it working. Hold back the most recent complete series for each qualification as the mock, so that mock grades can use its published thresholds. Match the variants. Cambridge advises that when choosing papers for a mock, “always choose components with the same final digit e.g. 12, 32, 62 or 11, 31, 61. These combinations will have published grade thresholds” (Cambridge). See how to set grade boundaries for mock exams.
How do topical past papers work best?
As short, marked retrieval, not homework volume. Ten or fifteen minutes of questions on one topic, marked to the mark scheme and reviewed in class, does more than an unmarked paper. Track which topics each student gets wrong, and return to those topics a few weeks later, because spacing practice across lessons shows “a small positive impact” in the EEF’s review. Tutopiya’s free Topic & Past Paper Planner maps past paper practice to syllabus topics.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
AI Buddy provides the topical stage without using up official papers. Its 200,000+ past-paper-style questions are organised by syllabus and topic, and AI Buddy marks them instantly with feedback. Teachers can set topic practice every week and keep the official Cambridge and Pearson papers for timed practice and mocks. The topic data then shows each department where to spend revision time, and which students need targeted help before the mock.
Frequently asked questions
Where can teachers find IGCSE questions by topic?
Official papers are organised by series, not topic, so teachers usually select questions by topic from past papers. Cambridge’s School Support Hub also has schemes of work and other resources, and tools such as Tutopiya’s Topic & Past Paper Planner map practice to topics.
Can schools share Cambridge past papers online with students?
No. Cambridge does not permit past papers to be published on any website or school intranet, though teachers may print them for students.
How far back do Cambridge past papers go?
Cambridge says materials older than five years are generally not available, partly because copyright permissions last five years.
Which past papers should be used for mocks?
The most recent complete series, kept unseen, with matching component variants so that Cambridge’s published grade thresholds apply.
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Sources
- Cambridge International help centre: Current-series materials on the School Support Hub, Older past papers, Choosing papers for mock exams, Publishing past papers, Using past papers with students
- Cambridge International, School Support Hub
- Pearson, Past papers
- Education Endowment Foundation, Cognitive science approaches in the classroom (2021)