Why Past Papers Are the Best Way to Prepare for Exams

If you’re not using past papers to study, you’re making life way harder for yourself. Going over your notes is great, but nothing prepares you for an exam better than actually practising the real thing. Whether you’re in Year 7 or Year 12, past papers help you get familiar with the types of questions you’ll face, the way they’re worded, and how much time you’ll need to answer them.

One of the biggest benefits of doing past papers is that they show you exactly what examiners are looking for. Instead of guessing what might be on the test, you can spot patterns in the kinds of questions that come up year after year. This is especially useful for subjects like maths, science, and business, where certain concepts are tested repeatedly.

Past papers also help with time management. A lot of students know the content but struggle to finish their exam on time. When you practise under timed conditions, you train yourself to work quickly and efficiently, so you don’t get stuck on one question and run out of time for the rest.

Another major perk is that you get to test yourself properly. It’s easy to feel like you understand something when you’re just reading notes, but actually answering a question under exam conditions is a whole different story. By marking your answers against the official solutions or examiner reports, you can see where you’re going wrong and fix your mistakes before the real exam.

At the end of the day, past papers are one of the easiest ways to boost your confidence and improve your results. If you’re not already using them, grab some past exams, set a timer, and start practising. It’ll make a huge difference!

Eireyna Papinyan