Show Working"I've done every paper. Twice."
Fresh questions
Questions made new every time, on the same GCSE content, so you can't rely on remembering answers.
Revision guidePast papers
GCSE maths past papers: where to find them, and what to do when you run out
Past papers are the closest practice there is to the real exam, and every exam board puts them online for free. The catch? There are only so many. Once you've done one, you know the answers.
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01 / Where to find themFree, from the exam boards
Go straight to your exam board
Each board publishes its own GCSE maths past papers and mark schemes. Look for "past papers" or "assessment materials" on the GCSE Mathematics page of its website. Not sure which board you're with? It's on your exam timetable, or ask your teacher.
- AQA, at aqa.org.uk
- Pearson Edexcel, at qualifications.pearson.com
- OCR, at ocr.org.uk
- WJEC Eduqas, at eduqas.co.uk
The newest papers are sometimes kept for teachers only for a while, so your school may have more recent ones than you can download. Boards also publish examiners' reports, which explain where pupils lost marks. They're well worth a read.
Show Working is independent and not affiliated with any exam board. We link to their websites so you can find the official papers.
02 / Use them wellOne paper, done properly
How to get the most out of every paper
Do it under exam rules
Ninety minutes, somewhere quiet, no notes, and no calculator on the non-calculator paper. Otherwise the score doesn't tell you much.
Mark it honestly
Use the mark scheme, including the method marks. Be as strict as an examiner would be.
List what went wrong
For every lost mark, write down why: didn't know the topic, a careless slip, or ran out of time.
Fix those topics
Practise each weak topic before the next paper. Doing more papers without fixing the gaps just repeats the same mistakes.
Save the newest papers
Keep the most recent papers for the last few weeks, when you want the truest picture of where you are.
Use other boards too
The maths is the same for every board, so other boards' papers are good practice when you run low.
03 / When you run outThe real problem
Done every past paper? Here's what next.
"The mark scheme says 1/9. But how?"
The working, in plain words
Mark schemes are written for examiners. You need every step explained, in words that make sense.
"I can't do a full paper every night."
Short timed mocks
A 20 minute mock under exam rules fits into a weeknight, and still shows you how you're doing.
That's what Show Working is for. Try 16 free practice questions with the working first.
04 / QuestionsAll questions
Past papers, answered
Should I revise by topic or with past papers?
Both, in that order. Revise by topic first to fix your gaps, then move on to mixed questions and past papers, so you get used to spotting which method a question needs.
Where can I find GCSE maths past papers for free?
On your exam board’s own website: AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas. They’re free to download with their mark schemes. Your teacher may also have more recent papers.
How many past papers should I do?
One paper done properly, timed, marked and followed up, is worth more than three rushed ones. In the last two months, one or two a week is plenty for most pupils.
What do I do when I’ve done all the past papers?
Go back to topic practice on whatever you got wrong, then use fresh questions so you can’t rely on remembering answers. Show Working makes new questions every time, with the working for each one.
Can I use past papers from other exam boards?
Yes. The maths content is the same for every board, so other boards’ papers are good practice. The layout and the number of marks are a little different.
Never run out.
New questions, every time you practise.
With the working shown for every answer, and mock papers under exam rules. The first topic is free.
Coming soon to the App Store