When exam season approaches, students often ask the same question: should I focus on past papers or predicted papers?Both are powerful revision tools, but they serve different purposes – and the best results come from knowing how to use each one effectively.
In this guide, we’ll break down the strengths and weaknesses of predicted papers and past papers, explain when to use each, and show you how to combine them for the ultimate revision strategy.
What Are Past Papers?
Past papers are the real exam papers from previous years, published by exam boards like AQA, Edexcel, and OCR. They come with official mark schemes and examiner reports.
Benefits of past papers:
- 100% accurate format, style, and difficulty.
- Show you exactly what examiners expect.
- Provide reliable practice data – you can track improvement year by year.
Limitations:
- You might have already seen them in class or earlier mock exams.
- Some questions repeat over time, so you may start memorising answers rather than practising exam technique.
- They don’t prepare you for future exam trends (what hasn’t come up yet).
What Are Predicted Papers?
Predicted papers are practice exams written by teachers or exam experts who study exam trends, specifications, and previous question patterns to create realistic papers for the upcoming exam year.
Benefits of predicted papers:
- Provide fresh, unseen questions you’ve never practised before.
- Mirror the style, structure, and challenge of the real exam.
- Highlight likely topics that may appear in the next exam cycle.
- Build confidence for mocks and final exams by simulating realistic conditions.
Limitations:
- They are predictions – no one can guarantee exact questions.
- Quality varies: not all predicted papers are exam-board accurate.
When to Use Past Papers
Past papers are best for:
- Early revision – building familiarity with exam style.
- Checking your knowledge coverage – spotting which topics have been tested.
- Mark scheme training – learning how examiners award AO1, AO2, AO3 (A-Level) or AO1–AO3 (GCSE).
- Benchmarking progress – comparing your scores over time.
When to Use Predicted Papers
Predicted papers are best for:
- Mocks and final practice – because they feel like a “new exam.”
- Late revision (March–June) – when you need to practise under pressure with unseen material.
- Building exam stamina – sitting them in timed conditions helps simulate the real thing.
- Targeted revision – focusing on topics that haven’t come up for a while.
Predicted Papers vs Past Papers: Which Is Better?
The truth is: neither is better on its own – they work best together.
- Past papers give you reliability and exam technique practice.
- Predicted papers give you novelty and realistic mock exam prep.
👉 Students who use both are more confident, more flexible in applying knowledge, and less likely to be thrown by unusual questions on the day.
How to Combine Them for Maximum Impact
- Start with past papers in autumn/winter – build exam skills and timing.
- Use predicted papers before mocks – simulate a brand-new exam.
- Mix both in the run-up to final exams – alternate between past and predicted for balance.
- Mark carefully – use guided mark schemes for both to learn how marks are awarded.
Where to Find Quality Predicted Papers
Not all predicted papers are reliable. To be effective, they need to:
- Match the exam board style and structure.
- Include a full guided mark scheme.
- Be written by experienced teachers/examiners.
👉 At ResourcesToday.com, we produce GCSE and A-Level predicted papers for 2026 across a wide range of subjects. Each paper mirrors the real exam, comes with a guided mark scheme, and is ideal for mocks or final preparation.
🔗 Explore our predicted papers here
Final Thoughts
- Use past papers to build technique and understand exam style.
- Use predicted papers to prepare for unseen questions and future trends.
- Combine the two for the best results.
By striking the right balance, you’ll go into your exams fully prepared, confident, and ready for any question the exam board throws your way.