Past papers and mock exams are among the most powerful revision tools your teen can use for GCSE Maths. They test real understanding, exam technique, and time management — all vital for success.

Here’s how to use them effectively, and what to know about different types and marking schemes.

🎯 Why Past Papers Matter

Practising full exam papers helps your teen:

• Build confidence and timing under real conditions

• Get used to exam-style wording and structure

• Identify gaps in knowledge and common errors

• Develop problem-solving strategies and show working clearly

💡 Past papers aren’t just for the end of Year 11 — starting them early helps students learn how exams “think”.

📄 Types of Practice Papers

There are three main kinds of papers worth using:

1. Official Past Papers (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

• Real exam papers from previous years.

• Most authentic in wording and difficulty.

• Mark schemes can be brief or technical — often written for teachers.

• Best for final-stage practice under timed conditions.

2. CGP Practice Papers

• Closely follow the style of real exams.

• Include full worked solutions and easy-to-read marking guidance.

• Excellent for students working independently.

• Available from CGP Books in Foundation and Higher tiers.

3. Churchill Maths Simulated Papers

• These are NOT now sold to parents. Tutors can buy a licence to use them (as I have).

• Produced by experienced teachers to mirror real exam questions.

• Their marking schemes are detailed, showing where method and accuracy marks are gained or lost.

• Often clearer than the official exam board versions, making them ideal for self-marking.

• Available - for schools and tutors only - directly from Churchill Maths.

🧠 Mixing real and simulated papers helps your teen experience a variety of question styles and avoid over-familiarity with past exams.

🧮 Understanding Marking Schemes

Mark schemes show how marks are awarded — often 1 mark for method, 1 for working, 1 for accuracy.

• Official board schemes are accurate but can be hard to interpret.

• Churchill schemes clearly label method (M), process (P), and accuracy (A) marks — easier for students to follow.

• CGP solutions go further, explaining why each step works, making them the most student-friendly.

📘 When marking, encourage your teen to read through model answers — understanding where marks are earned is just as important as getting the right answer.

🧩 How to Get the Most Out of Past Papers

1. Simulate real exam conditions – quiet room, time limit, no phone.

2. Mark carefully using the scheme — award part marks where justified.

3. Analyse mistakes – note whether it was a calculation slip, a misunderstanding, or a skipped step.

4. Redo tricky questions after marking.

5. Keep an error log – record repeated topics or types of mistake.

6. Track improvement – aim for progress, not perfection.

🧭 A short debrief after each paper is key — what went well, what to fix next time.

💬 The Takeaway for Parents

• Use a mix of official, CGP, and Churchill papers for variety.

• Encourage your teen to mark their own work with understanding, not just score it.

• Use model solutions to see how good answers are structured.

• Focus on method marks and clarity of working, not just final answers.

🎯 Past papers are where real progress happens — they turn revision into performance.