OCR GCSE 9-1 History Past Papers

When it comes to revising for your exams, past papers are an excellent tool for conditioning yourself to the exam environment, establishing where you should focus your study time, and learning the right ways to answer questions in order to achieve the best marks. We at School History have compiled a list of how to use past papers properly so that you can walk into your exams confident and prepared.

Where do I find past papers?

Right here of course! School History has hundreds of examination-style questions to help you practice for your history exams. By signing up, you’ll not only have access to past papers but thousands of resources related to what you’re studying, including notes, activities, quiz questions and more. Let’s dive in! Take a look below at the major examination boards we cover. Give yourself every advantage to excel in your exams and sign up today!

How do I use past papers?

The first thing you can do is read all the questions and, before answering a single one, get to know what exactly the question is asking. Become familiar with terminology such as “analyse”, “compare”, “contrast”, etc.

Then, look at the mark allocation for each question. You’ll quickly learn which questions expect short answers versus those that require long answers. When answering questions with larger mark allocations consult the mark scheme of your past paper to determine how marks are allocated. For example, marks will be awarded in levels according to basic, simple, developed and complex responses.

While the mark schemes are useful, try not cheat and refer to them when you’re stuck or lacking mental energy. You’re ultimately doing yourself a disservice and can get yourself in a jam when you’re in the actual exam and questions are different to what you expected.

Let past papers shine a light on your knowledge gaps

We know it’s not fun taking tests, but it’s good to revisit exam papers regularly. Sit down with a past paper before you start your revision so that you can identify areas that need more attention versus those you feel confident with. Make notes as you go so that when you’re done you know what to revisist. Remember, your revision time is limited, so you don’t want to waste time on areas you know well simply because they’re easy or familiar.

Get to know your time limits for better management

One of the major benefits of past papers is teaching you proper time management. Sit down with a past paper in an environment that’s similar to an exam hall, not the noisy dining room table or your comfortable bedroom with music playing. Time can do funny things when you’re stressed or focused, so a quiet spot will help you practice getting through the whole paper without needing to rush or skip questions.

Don’t be hard on yourself

Remember, past papers aren’t the real deal. You can do them as many times as you like until you feel comfortable and prepared. If you don’t do well on them in the beginning, that’s ok, get back to the books, revise some more, and try again. In fact, past papers can even be motivating when you see your progress! When you’ve completed a past paper and gone through the mark scheme, compile a list of your mistakes. These will be your targets for the next revision session.