Let’s start with what past papers really are. They’re not just random practice questions, they’re the papers from actual IGCSE exams that were conducted by exam boards in previous years. For example, you can view and download Pearson Edexcel IGCSE past papers here.
If your exams are coming up soon, and you still haven’t touched a past paper yet, you’re pretty late in getting to know them!
Here’s why I think past papers are so important:
1. Help you complete your exam in time
You may have studied for your IGCSE subject inside out, but if you can’t finish the paper on time, valuable marks are lost. Practising full past papers under timed conditions teaches you how to pace yourself properly, and you’ll understand exactly how long to spend on each question (without panicking at the end).
2. Revise in a more focused manner
Sometimes you may think you’ve mastered a topic, until a question in the paper asks it in a slightly different way and…your mind goes blank. Repeatedly practising past papers helps reveal the gaps in your learning, and the next time you’ll sit to revise a subject, you will know where to focus your energy the most.
3. Detect why you’re making mistakes
We’ve all heard of the phrase, ‘learn from your mistakes’, and that’s exactly what past papers help you to do.
Maybe you keep making small numerical slips in Maths, maybe you misunderstand what’s being asked in Literature, or maybe your explanations in certain subjects are too vague or too short. Past papers help you identify the patterns in your mistakes, so that you realise where you’re going wrong and can fix your answers before the exam day.
4. Understand the types of questions
Examiners have a certain way of asking things and framing certain questions in the papers. The more past papers you attempt, the more familiar you’ll be with all the different question types, and how to answer them. By the time you have to sit your IGCSE exams, you’ll be an expert!
5. Practice makes perfect
At first, you might feel slow or make silly mistakes, and that’s alright, it happens with everyone. But after practising a few IGCSE past papers, you’ll notice your answers become sharper and faster.
In conclusion, past papers teach you to manage time, identify weak spots, understand exam styles, and build the confidence you need to perform your best. It’s like sitting your IGCSE exam tens of times before the actual day!