Many students fall into the trap of believing that mastering textbook questions is enough to succeed in exams. Textbooks are essential for building foundational understanding. They introduce definitions, explain core concepts, and provide structured practice. However, textbook questions are often predictable, neatly organised by topic, and designed to reinforce a specific method you’ve just learned. Real exams are not.

Examiners combine ideas across topics, test subtle conceptual understanding, and frame questions in unfamiliar ways. If you rely solely on textbook exercises, you may feel confident during study but shocked during the exam. That gap between familiarity and application is where marks are lost.

Past papers bridge that gap. They reveal patterns in how questions are phrased, how marks are allocated, and which topics are frequently assessed together. More importantly, they train you to manage time under real conditions. You begin to recognise common traps, recurring themes, and the depth of explanation required for full marks.

Ideally, students should begin serious past paper practice at least two weeks before the exam. This allows enough time to review mistakes, identify weak areas, and refine exam strategy. Textbooks build knowledge. Past papers build performance. If your goal is not just understanding, but top results, past papers must become your priority.

Nabil Harrar