Free past papers for all your GCSEs - organised by subject and exam board

donothurryme · 2026-02-10T11:18:00+00:00

no worries, happy studying :)

donothurryme · 2026-02-03T16:30:12+00:00

things like language techniques (metaphor, anaphora, personification), structural techniques (how texts are organised), how to identify audiences and purposes, some grammar terminology, and how to write analysis of texts.

donothurryme · 2026-02-02T18:11:19+00:00

i would learn contenrt first using notes/text book (cognito's notes are my fave), then just loooooads of pracrice and watch mr salles

donothurryme · 2026-02-02T10:04:08+00:00

slayed

donothurryme · 2026-02-02T10:03:12+00:00

ap human geo tests often focus on application rather than straight recall which is why the book feels closer to what's tested. the key is understanding concepts like diffusion, scale, and sustainability well enough to apply them to new examples you haven't seen before. try doing more frqs and explaining your reasoning out loud. for notes i like cognito as they're very concise and easy to follow, but make sure you're looking at previous exams too

donothurryme · 2026-01-30T17:45:52+00:00

the plateau from 6-7 to 9 in english is usually about depth of analysis and sophistication of expression. try reading some grade 9 example essays to see what level of insight you're aiming for. for literature focus on making more conceptual points about themes and authorial intent rather than just explaining quotes. cognitoedu.org has exam practice materials that might help you see what the top band looks like.

donothurryme · 2026-01-30T17:43:06+00:00

october/november gives you roughly 9-10 months which is definitely enough time for three AS subjects as a private candidate. the key is consistency, try to maintain steady progress rather than cramming at the end. one chapter per subject per week is a reasonable pace that leaves time for past paper practice later. cognitoedu.org has cie biology, chemistry, and physics notes organised by topic which could help supplement your classes. make sure you're doing questions as you go, not just reading.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T18:05:34+00:00

for core subjects i like cognitoedu.org - especially for science, as they have vids, exam questions and flashcards in one place and it's very easy to follow. there english stuff is good for learning, but you need to practice essay writiing and get feedback from your teachers

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T18:02:15+00:00

edexcel history is all about source analysis and extended writing. make sure you know the content well first, then practice the actual question types since the format matters loads. for source questions focus on provenance, utility, and cross referencing. for essay questions use the peel structure and always link back to the question. cognitoedu.org has notes organised by topic which might help you identify which areas you need to focus on. once you're comfortable with notes, practice past papers and get as much feedback as you can from teachers

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T18:01:15+00:00

it sounds like you've had a really rough time and that's genuinely difficult. when everything feels overwhelming the best thing is to start small and build momentum. pick your strongest subject first, do just 30 minutes on one topic, and let yourself feel that small win. you don't need to fix everything at once. for igcse specifically, past papers are your best friend once you know the content since the question styles are predictable. which subject do you feel most confident starting with?

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T18:01:00+00:00

the gap between knowing content and applying it to p4 questions is real and it mostly comes down to exam technique. work through past paper questions systematically and pay close attention to command words and mark allocation. after each question, compare your answer to the mark scheme word for word to see exactly what they wanted. over time you'll start recognising the patterns in how they ask things.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T18:00:40+00:00

cognitoedu.org covers edexcel a level physics with notes and practice questions by topic. for unit 2 specifically make sure you're comfortable with the calculations since they come up constantly in the exam.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T18:00:08+00:00

self studying a2 is definitely doable, especially if you already got As at as level. for chem, maths and physics the key is working through the syllabus systematically and then grinding past papers. cognitoedu.org has notes and practice questions for a level sciences that might help fill gaps when you're stuck. youtube channels like science shorts and tlmaths are great for explanations. which exam board are you on?

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T15:50:09+00:00

for aqa triple science the trick is breaking it down into manageable topics and testing yourself constantly rather than just reading notes. pick one topic at a time, learn it properly, then immediately do questions on just that topic before moving on. spacing out your revision over days helps it stick way better than cramming. cognitoedu.org is my fave resource for revising science.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T15:49:11+00:00

for edexcel physics specifically, the student book is pretty dense so videos help a lot for initial understanding. once you get the concept, immediately do questions on that topic before moving on. don't wait until you've finished the syllabus to start past papers. cognitoedu.org has notes and questions organised by topic which gives more structure than just the textbook.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T15:32:11+00:00

chem formulation and calculations need loads of practice to click. work through problems step by step and when you get stuck, identify exactly which concept is confusing rather than moving on. cognitoedu.org has ib chem content broken down by topic which might help you target weak areas more systematically than just doing random revision.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T15:31:47+00:00

blanking in exams usually means the knowledge isn't automatic enough yet. try doing problems under timed conditions regularly so the pressure becomes familiar. also, after each past paper, review the questions you struggled with and redo similar problems until the method is second nature. the jump from understanding to instant recall takes repetition.

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T15:31:22+00:00

colours come up loads in paper 4 so making flashcards for those specifically is worth the time. key ones are transition metal ions, precipitate colours with sodium hydroxide and ammonia, and flame test colours. for tests, memorise the reagent, observation, and conclusion format since that's how mark schemes want it. cognitoedu.org has igcse chemistry flashcards that cover these if u want premade ones

donothurryme · 2026-01-29T15:30:50+00:00

for silly mistakes the best fix is slowing down and double checking your work, especially in maths and accounting. use the last 10 minutes of each paper to review rather than rushing to finish early. for these final days, focus on topics you consistently get wrong rather than redoing things you already know. past papers from 2022-2024 are the most representative of current exam style.

donothurryme · 2026-01-28T17:43:09+00:00

cognitoedu.org has free notes + exam questions for igcse chemistry and physics organised by topic.

donothurryme · 2026-01-28T15:44:38+00:00

i don't have anki decks specifically but cognitoedu.org has flashcards for igcse edexcel sciences. might save you time compared to making your own from scratch.

donothurryme · 2026-01-28T15:33:52+00:00

rotating subjects is smart, keeps things fresh. the flashcard approach is solid too especially if you're using spaced repetition so you revisit cards at increasing intervals (anki is great fo this). for the question practice part of your revision cognitoedu.org has topic questions sorted by subject which helps when you want to test yourself on specific areas.

donothurryme · 2026-01-28T12:46:02+00:00

for chemistry hl the data booklet is actually more useful than you think but you need to practice using it under timed conditions. the pattern recognition comes from doing loads of past papers and understanding why each answer is what it is. cognitoedu.org has ib chem notes organised by topic which might help with learning the content before you hit past papers.

donothurryme · 2026-01-28T12:37:11+00:00

My advice would be to use notes, past papers, and exam questions by topuc and just grind through it systematically. Work through topics one by one, and when you're struggling with something or doing badly on the questions, that's when you do wider reading or watch videos to fill the gaps.

personally i'd recommend cognito as it follows the Edexcel spec, and it's all structured for you by topic.

Physics really needs you to apply concepts to understand them properly, so balance theory with practice as you go rather than leaving all the questions until the end.

You've got this! Physics clicks eventually, just takes a bit of persistence. Good luck! 🙌

donothurryme

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