Effective Use of Past Papers for Exam Preparation

Importance of Past Papers

• Past papers are the most beneficial tool for exam preparation.
• Limited number of relevant past papers due to specification changes (e.g., pre-2018).

Setting a Baseline

• Begin with a recent past paper to assess current knowledge (e.g., the 2018 paper).
• Use the initial score to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Strategy for Using Past Papers

During the Paper

• Always complete past papers under timed conditions to simulate exam environment.
• Circle questions/topics that are challenging or where you're unsure.
  • Helps track thought processes and identify areas of difficulty.

After the Paper

• Mark the paper thoroughly, not passively.
  • Investigate losses: For each mark lost, refer to the mark scheme.
  • Use another color to note why a mark was lost.
• Create a list of topics to revise based on the paper's results.

Building a Summary Sheet

• Compile points from the mark scheme that were missed or misunderstood.
• The summary sheet should highlight gaps in knowledge, not cover the entire topic.
• Identify specific points that are crucial for correct answers, even if not explicitly part of the specification.

Creating Flashcards

• Transform questions you answered incorrectly into flashcards.
  • Question on one side (from the past paper) and the answer (from the mark scheme) on the other.
• Use flashcards for active recall closer to exam dates.

Benefits

• This systematic approach leads to improved scores with each past paper.