Overview
Mark schemes tell you what earns a mark. Examiner reports tell you what everyone else lost — which is often where your marks are hiding.
What an examiner report actually is
For Cambridge Cambridge exam technique, after each series, Cambridge publishes feedback on how candidates performed: common errors, misunderstood commands, and topics that separated grades. It is not a story — it is a diagnostic.
You will usually find them:
- Next to past papers on Cambridge International’s site
- Bundled in school revision packs
- Linked from teacher portals
Always match syllabus code + series (e.g. 9709 June 2024, not a random year).
How to read one in 30 minutes
For Cambridge Cambridge exam technique, if you finish reading without a list, you read it like a novel. Start again.
- Skim the introduction — overall difficulty and themes
- Highlight three bullets that sound like your mistakes
- Jump to your weakest paper component (P4, essay, MCQ…)
- Write one line per insight in a notebook — not paragraphs
Turn reports into actions
This section covers Turn reports into actions — ranked by what Cambridge examiners return to most often in past papers.
| Report says… | You do… |
|---|---|
| “Many lost M marks for no working shown” | Next five questions: box working before answer |
| “Evaluation was descriptive” | Essay plan must include because / however |
| “Units omitted” | Checklist on every physics calculation |
| “Misread the command word” | Circle command word before writing |
Pair with mark schemes on the same question
For Cambridge Cambridge exam technique, workflow that works:
- Attempt a past-paper question
- Mark with the mark scheme
- Read the report section for that question type
- Rewrite one paragraph or step
Reports explain patterns; schemes award this attempt.
Subject-specific tips
For Cambridge Cambridge exam technique, look for significant figures, units, and shown method — boring words, expensive marks.
Sciences & maths
Humanities & social sciences
Look for structure, evaluation depth, and misapplied theory — examiners repeat the same band-limiting habits every year.
Business & economics
Look for application to case failures — generic theory dumps are report favourites.
Frequently asked questions
For Cambridge Cambridge exam technique, yes — especially 4024, 5070, 5090 where wording precision dominates.
Are examiner reports worth it for O-Level?
What if my series has no report yet?
Use the previous year’s report for the same component — patterns repeat more than questions do.
Can MarkScheme replace examiner reports?
No — reports are syllabus-wide insight. MarkScheme marks your script against the scheme; use both.
What to read next
This section covers What to read next — ranked by what Cambridge examiners return to most often in past papers.