Overview
Mocks feel high-stakes. Past papers feel “practice”. [Marking quality](/blog/how-to-mark-cambridge-past-papers-yourself) matters more than the label on the front.
What mocks give you
This section covers What mocks give you — ranked by what Cambridge examiners return to most often in past papers.
- Exam hall conditions
- School timetable pressure
- Sometimes unfamiliar question styling
What official past papers give you
For Cambridge Cambridge past paper revision, ---
- Real mark schemes and examiner reports
- Known component structure
- Comparable difficulty trends
How to use mocks properly
For Cambridge Cambridge past paper revision, ---
- Sit mock under full conditions
- Mark with teacher feedback where possible
- Re-mark yourself with official scheme if parallel paper exists
- Log errors in the same notebook as past papers
When mocks mislead
For Cambridge Cambridge past paper revision, then treat mock as timing practice only — follow with an official paper marked strict.
- Marked only with a grade, no breakdown
- Papers not from your syllabus code
- No rewrite assigned
Combine both (8-week plan)
For Cambridge Cambridge past paper revision, ---
| Week | Mock / paper |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Past papers (official) |
| 5 | School mock |
| 6–7 | Official papers on weak components |
| 8 | Light recall |