COMPARISON
Which marking path fits you?
Not affiliate fluff — practical tables for Cambridge, IB, and Edexcel International students revising with past papers, mark schemes, and free courses.
Workflow
Marking workflow
| Option | Cost | Speed | Handwriting | Strictness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-mark with official mark scheme | Free | Slow | N/A | Often too generous |
| MarkScheme (second pass) | Free tier | ~30s per question | Yes — photo upload | Scheme- / markband-aligned |
| Private tutor | High | Days to weeks | Sometimes | Depends on tutor |
Best workflow: self-mark strictly once, then MarkScheme on the same script for a second pass before your next paper. On Edexcel IAL Maths, start at /mark?board=edexcel.
Platforms
Revision platforms (marking + courses)
| Platform | Best for | Marking | Courses / notes | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarkScheme | Marking handwriting + Cambridge, IB, and Edexcel IAL Maths | Cambridge schemes + IB markbands + Edexcel IAL Maths | Yes — /courses, /ib/courses, /edexcel | Free tier |
| Save My Exams | Paid all-in-one notes & topic questions | Limited AI on short answers | Notes & questions (subscription) | Freemium / paid |
| Physics & Maths Tutor | Free STEM notes & past-paper PDFs | Self-mark with PDF schemes only | Notes, not full lessons | Free |
| ZNotes | Concise free notes across subjects | None | Summary notes | Free |
| Revision Village (IB) | IB Maths AA/AI question banks | Worked solutions, not your handwriting | Video + questions (paid tiers) | Freemium / paid |
| ChatGPT / generic AI | Explaining concepts | Not tied to session mark schemes | No syllabus structure | Varies |
Deep dives: best online tools for Cambridge & IB, Edexcel IAL vs Cambridge, free Cambridge resources, free IB resources.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Is MarkScheme better than Save My Exams for marking?
- Save My Exams excels at organised notes and topic questions (mostly paid). MarkScheme targets second-pass marking of your handwriting against real schemes plus free Cambridge and IB courses, with Edexcel IAL Maths marking live. Many students use both: SME for notes, MarkScheme for marking.
- Can MarkScheme replace a tutor?
- Tutors give personalised teaching; MarkScheme gives fast scheme-aligned feedback on practice papers. Best workflow: self-mark, then MarkScheme second pass, then ask a tutor only for concepts you still cannot fix.
- What is the best free Cambridge and IB revision stack?
- Official past papers + mark schemes, free notes (PMT/ZNotes), MarkScheme for marking and courses, and Exam Room for peer help. Full breakdown: markscheme.app/blog/best-online-tools-cambridge-ib-marking-courses-2026
- Does MarkScheme support Edexcel International A Level?
- Yes for IAL Mathematics practice marking (method/accuracy conventions) via markscheme.app/mark?board=edexcel, plus unit hubs under markscheme.app/edexcel. Physics and Chemistry marking follow once Maths conversion is proven. OxfordAQA shells are live without marking yet.
Try it
See it on your own handwriting
One free question, marked against the official scheme — the fastest way to compare is to try it. Cambridge, IB, or Edexcel IAL Maths.