AQA Mark Schemes and Past Papers: Where to Find Them and How to Use Them

AQA publishes past question papers, mark schemes and examiners’ reports on the exam for its GCSE, AS and A-level subjects, free on its website. Used together, they are one of the most effective ways to prepare for exams. The papers show what you’ll be asked. The mark schemes show exactly what earns credit. The examiner reports explain where students lost marks. Here is where to find them, when new ones appear, and how to use them well.

Where to find AQA past papers and mark schemes

1. Go to the AQA website and open Find past papers and mark schemes.
2. Filter by qualification (GCSE, AS, A-level), subject and exam series.
3. Download the question paper, the matching mark scheme, any insert or source booklet, and the report on the exam.

Make sure the specification code on the paper matches the one you’re studying. AQA has changed specifications over the years, and older papers may cover different content.

When new papers become available

Recent papers are not public straight away:

• Teachers can access recent question papers through AQA’s secure Centre Services site soon after the exam, with mark schemes from results day.
• The public version on the AQA website comes later. For example, AQA says the materials for the summer 2026 series will be published publicly on 9 July 2027.
• Most papers stay on the public site for about three years before being removed for copyright reasons. If you need older papers, ask your teacher, as schools often keep them.

How AQA mark schemes work

Mark schemes look different depending on the type of question:

• Point-based marking, for short questions: each valid point or step earns a mark. In maths and science, method marks (M) reward correct working even if the final answer is wrong, and accuracy marks (A) reward the correct answer.
• Levels of response, for extended answers in English, history, geography and sciences: answers are placed into a level by their overall quality, then given a mark within that level. The level descriptors tell you what a top answer does, such as analysis, evaluation, use of evidence and structure.
• Indicative content lists points a good answer might include. It isn’t a checklist, and other valid points also get credit.

Look for the words examiners use in mark schemes, such as “explains”, “analyses”, “evaluates”, “developed” and “supported”. Matching your answers to those verbs is often the difference between levels.

How to get the most out of past papers

1. Start untimed, then go timed

Early on, do papers with your notes to find the gaps. In the last few weeks, sit full papers in exam conditions, timed and without notes.

2. Mark honestly with the real mark scheme

Mark your own work, or swap with a friend. Be strict: if the mark scheme needs a unit, a named example or an evaluation, and you didn’t give it, you don’t get the mark.

3. Read the examiner report

The report on the exam is the most under-used resource. It describes common mistakes and what high-scoring answers did differently, question by question.

4. Keep an error log

Write down every mark you lose and why: a knowledge gap, misreading the question, timing, or a missing evaluation. Patterns show you what to revise next.

5. Redo the questions you got wrong

A week later, try those questions again without looking. Getting them right the second time is where most of the improvement happens.

Other useful AQA resources

• Specimen papers for each specification, useful for newer specifications with few past papers.
• Specifications, which list everything you can be examined on. Use them as a revision checklist.
• Grade boundaries for each series, to turn your mark into a likely grade. Boundaries change every year, so treat that as an estimate.

Downloaded papers are for personal study and use within your school or college. Don’t re-upload them elsewhere.