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Past papers: how to use them and time a paper

Five weeks before the first GCSE on 10 May 2027, past papers are the best practice there is. Here is why testing works, and how to time and mark a paper.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 31 Oct 2026 5 min read

Key takeaways

1. Why past papers, and why now

The first GCSE exam is on Monday 10 May 2027, five weeks from the start of this week. By now most of the course has been taught, so it is time to practise answering real questions under real conditions.[1]

Past papers and mark schemes are free on each exam board’s website. Check which board your child sits for each subject, as the papers differ.

2. What the research says

In a well-known study, psychologists Henry Roediger and Jeffrey Karpicke asked students to learn a short passage. Some reread it; others tested themselves by writing down what they remembered.[1]

Five minutes later, rereading looked better: 81% recalled against 75%. But a week later, the students who had tested themselves remembered 61%, while those who reread remembered just 40%.[2]

Share of the passage recalled
5 minutes later
1 week later
Reread
81%
40%
Tested themselves
75%
61%

3. How to time a paper

Timing is a skill, and it improves with practice. These four steps make each paper count.

Practise like it’s real. Then mark it.

Marks to minutes

Divide the time allowed by the total marks to set a pace for each mark.

Do it for real

Quiet room, timer on, phone in another room, no notes.

Skip and come back

Stuck for a minute or two? Move on and return at the end.

Mark and fix

Use the mark scheme. Redo every question where marks were dropped.

4. How you can help

Offer to be the invigilator: set the timer and keep the house quiet. Afterwards, ask what they would do differently, not just what they scored.

Start with single questions or half papers if a full paper feels too much. The mistakes are where the learning is, so treat them as useful, not as failures.

Want help marking past papers?: Our qualified teachers mark papers against the real mark schemes and show exactly where the marks were lost, online or in person. Book a free call.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. A week later, how much did students who tested themselves remember?

  2. 2. Where can you find past papers and mark schemes?

  3. 3. How do you set a pace for a paper?

Your next steps

  • Check which exam board your child sits for each subject.
  • Download one past paper and its mark scheme.
  • Book a quiet hour this week to sit it for real.

Subject guides to go with this

Want one-to-one help? See how our online lessons work.

Sources

  1. Roediger, H. L. and Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning: taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01693.x
  2. Washington University in St. Louis. Repeated test-taking better for retention than repeated studying, research shows (March 2006, on Roediger and Karpicke). source.washu.edu/2006/03/repeated-testtaking-better-for-retention-than-repeated-studying-research-shows
  3. Joint Council for Qualifications. Key dates, June 2027 examination series (first common-timetable exam 10 May 2027; GCSEs end 18 June). jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Key_Dates_June2027_FINAL.pdf

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.