Quick answer
MarkScheme hosts free Cambridge A-Level and O-Level courses at [markscheme.app/courses](/courses) — every official syllabus topic with lessons, flashcards, and built-in past-paper marking. A genuine free alternative to paid note sites; pair with [markscheme.app/mark](/mark) for second-pass feedback.
Students search “free A Level course” thousands of times a month — often landing on note sites that charge for downloads or PDF packs. MarkScheme now offers free, syllabus-aligned courses where every topic maps to an official Cambridge code, with past-paper practice built in.
What you get (free)
> Key takeaway: Notes alone do not raise grades — marked past papers do. Our courses connect both.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Full syllabus map | Every topic for subjects like 9709, 9702, 9700, 9701 |
| Premium lesson design | Worked examples, key points, exam tips |
| Explain simpler | Stuck? One tap for a plain-English version |
| Real past-paper questions | Pulled from our mark-scheme library — labelled “from past paper” |
| One-click marking | Upload your answer on MarkScheme |
Subjects available now
Browse the full catalog: [markscheme.app/courses](/courses)
Popular starting points:
- Free 9709 Mathematics course
- Free 9702 Physics course
- Free 9700 Biology course
- Free 9701 Chemistry course
Each course page lists every syllabus topic grouped by exam paper — work through in order or jump to weak topics.
How this compares to ZNotes-style sites
For Cambridge best Cambridge and IB revision tools, we do not copy third-party notes — lessons are original, aligned to Cambridge syllabuses, and enriched with our marking data.
| Note PDF sites | MarkScheme courses | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Often paid / ads | 100% free |
| Syllabus codes | Sometimes vague | Every leaf code |
| Past papers | Rarely integrated | Real questions per topic |
| Marking | None | AI vs official schemes |
| Simpler explanations | Static | Built-in toggle |
Suggested weekly workflow
See [how many past papers before exams](/blog/how-many-cambridge-past-papers-before-exams) for volume guidance.
- Open your subject course (e.g. 9702)
- Complete one topic lesson (~15 min)
- Attempt the past-paper question on that page
- Mark on MarkScheme the same evening
- Mark topic complete — track progress on your device
FAQ
Yes. Courses are free forever — they help students discover MarkScheme. Marking has a generous free tier; paid plans unlock deeper mastery analytics.
Are these courses really free?
Do courses replace a teacher?
No — they supplement school teaching and tutoring. Use them when you revise alone and need structure plus fast feedback.
Which A-Level subjects have the most lessons?
9702 Physics has premium full lessons rolling out first; all subjects have syllabus topic outlines with past-paper links. Check courses for live counts.
Can I use this for O-Level?
Yes — subjects with syllabus trees in our system (e.g. via marking-enabled codes) get course pages as we expand.