Frequently Asked Questions

Past Papers Academy is a comprehensive online platform providing Cambridge IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level past papers, topical questions, marking schemes, and study resources. We help students prepare effectively for their Cambridge examinations with organized, easy-to-access materials and expert tutoring support.

We currently specialize in Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Edexcel (Pearson) examinations, including:

• Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education)
• Cambridge O-Level (Ordinary Level)
• Cambridge A-Level (Advanced Level)
• Cambridge AS-Level (Advanced Subsidiary Level)
• Cambridge Checkpoint (Lower Secondary)
• Edexcel International GCSE
• Edexcel A-Level

We offer resources for core subjects including:

• Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology
• Mathematics: Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Statistics
• Computer Science
• And more subjects being added regularly

Yes! Past Papers Academy is completely free to use. You can browse, view, and download all past papers, mark schemes, and study materials without any cost or account required.

No account is required. All past papers, mark schemes, and study resources are freely accessible without registration. Simply browse the site and download what you need.

Creating an account is simple:

1. Click the "Sign Up" or "Register" button in the top navigation
2. Enter your email address and create a password
3. Verify your email address through the confirmation link sent to your inbox
4. Complete your profile with basic information
5. Start using Past Papers Academy!

To reset your password:

1. Click "Login" and then select "Forgot Password?"
2. Enter the email address associated with your account
3. Check your email for a password reset link
4. Click the link and create a new password
5. Log in with your new password

Note: Password reset links expire after 24 hours for security reasons.

Yes, you can update your email address from your account settings. After logging in, go to Settings → Account Information → Update Email. You'll need to verify the new email address before the change takes effect.

If you wish to delete your account, please contact our support team at [email protected]. We'll process your request within 48 hours. Please note that account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

Our collection includes past papers from the last 10-15 years for most subjects. We regularly update our database with the latest papers as soon as they become available after each examination session.

Yes! We provide comprehensive marking schemes (mark schemes) and examiner reports for all past papers. These are invaluable tools for understanding how examiners grade answers and what they look for in student responses.

Absolutely! All our past papers are available for free download in PDF format. Simply click on any paper to download it for offline study.

Yes, all past papers are systematically organized by:

• Year (from 2010 onwards)
• Examination session (May/June, October/November, February/March)
• Paper number (Paper 1, Paper 2, etc.)
• Variant (Variant 1, 2, 3, etc.)

This makes it easy to find exactly what you need for your preparation.

We typically add new past papers within 2-4 weeks after they become publicly available from Cambridge Assessment. We monitor official releases closely to ensure our database stays current and comprehensive.

Topical questions are past paper questions organized by specific topics or chapters from your syllabus. Instead of practicing entire papers, you can focus on specific areas where you need improvement. For example, if you're struggling with "Kinematics" in Physics, you can practice all past questions related to that topic.

The key differences are:

• Past Papers: Complete examination papers as they were given, covering all topics
• Topical Questions: Questions extracted and grouped by specific topics, allowing targeted practice

Both are valuable - use topical questions for topic-specific revision and full past papers for timed practice.

Yes! Each topical question comes with its corresponding marking scheme, so you can check your answers and understand the marking criteria. This helps you learn the exact requirements for earning full marks.

Absolutely! That's the main advantage of our topical questions feature. You can select any specific topic from the syllabus and practice only questions related to that topic. This is perfect for targeted revision before tests or when strengthening weak areas.

Premium membership unlocks powerful learning advantages:

• Unlimited practice questions - Master every topic with endless practice
• AI weak topic detection - Know exactly what to focus on
• Performance analytics - Track improvement over time
• Video walkthroughs - QR codes in PDFs link to step-by-step solutions
• Custom test builder - Create unlimited tests mixing any topics
• Personalized study plans - Based on your exam date and target grade
• Priority support - Get unstuck faster with expert help
• 1-on-1 tutoring - Monthly sessions with Cambridge tutors (Scholar tier)
• Discounted tutoring - 15% off 1-on-1 tutoring sessions

We offer flexible Premium plans:

• Monthly: $9.99/month
• Quarterly: $24.99 (save 17%)
• Annual: $79.99 (save 33%)

Student Discount: Students can get 20% off with a valid student ID!

Yes! New users can try Premium features free for 7 days. No credit card required for the trial. If you decide to continue after the trial, you can choose any of our subscription plans.

Yes, you can cancel your Premium subscription at any time with no cancellation fees. Your Premium features will remain active until the end of your current billing period. After cancellation, your account will automatically revert to the free tier.

We accept the following payment methods:

• Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
• Debit cards
• PayPal
• Mobile money (for Zambian users)
• Bank transfer (for annual subscriptions)

All payments are processed securely through Stripe, ensuring your financial information is protected.

Absolutely. We use Stripe, one of the world's most trusted payment processors, which is PCI-DSS compliant. We never store your full credit card information on our servers. All transactions are encrypted and secure.

Billing timing depends on your subscription plan:

• Free trial: No charge during the 7-day trial period
• Monthly: Charged on the same date each month
• Quarterly: Charged every 3 months from signup date
• Annual: Charged once per year on your signup anniversary

You'll receive an email receipt for every payment.

We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for all new Premium subscriptions. If you're not satisfied within the first 14 days, contact our support team for a full refund. After 14 days, refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Yes! Invoices are automatically sent to your registered email address after each payment. You can also download invoices from your account dashboard under Billing History.

If the website is loading slowly, try these solutions:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
2. Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
3. Check your internet connection speed
4. Disable browser extensions temporarily
5. Try accessing the site during off-peak hours

If the problem persists, please contact our support team.

If you're having trouble downloading PDFs:

1. Make sure your browser allows pop-ups from our site
2. Check that you have enough storage space on your device
3. Try right-clicking the download link and selecting "Save Link As"
4. Ensure you're logged in (required for some downloads)
5. Update your PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat, browser PDF viewer)

If downloads still fail, try a different browser or contact support.

Past Papers Academy works best on modern browsers:

• Google Chrome (version 90+)
• Mozilla Firefox (version 88+)
• Safari (version 14+)
• Microsoft Edge (version 90+)

For the best experience, please keep your browser updated to the latest version.

Yes! Our website is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). You can browse, search, and download past papers on any device. We also have mobile apps in development for iOS and Android.

We appreciate your help in maintaining quality! Please report any broken links, errors, or issues by:

• Emailing us at [email protected]
• Using the "Report Issue" button on the affected page
• Contacting us via WhatsApp at +260 769 440 841

Please include details about the issue and which page/paper is affected.

Here's an effective strategy for using past papers:

1. Start with topical questions after learning each topic
2. Practice under exam conditions - set a timer and work without notes
3. Mark your work using the marking scheme
4. Analyze mistakes and understand where you lost marks
5. Repeat difficult questions until you master them
6. Complete 5-7 full papers before your exam

Check out our Exam Tips page for more detailed strategies.

We recommend:

• Minimum: 5 full past papers per subject
• Recommended: 7-10 full past papers per subject
• Topical practice: As many topical questions as needed to master each topic

Quality is more important than quantity - focus on understanding your mistakes and learning from the marking schemes.

Timing depends on your preparation stage:

• Topical questions: Start immediately after learning each topic
• Full papers (untimed): 2-3 months before exams
• Timed practice papers: 1-2 months before exams
• Final revision papers: 2-3 weeks before exams

Generally, focus on papers from the last 5-7 years, as they reflect the current syllabus. However, older papers can still be useful for extra practice if the syllabus hasn't changed significantly. Always check the syllabus code matches your current examination syllabus.

Yes! We offer personalized 1-on-1 online tutoring with experienced Cambridge tutors. Our tutors specialize in IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level subjects and have proven track records of helping students achieve excellent results.

We currently offer tutoring for:

• Physics (IGCSE, A-Level)
• Chemistry (IGCSE, A-Level)
• Biology (IGCSE, A-Level)
• Mathematics (IGCSE, A-Level, Additional Mathematics)
• Computer Science (IGCSE, A-Level)

Our tutoring rates are:

• IGCSE/O-Level: $25/hour
• A-Level: $30/hour
• Package deals: 10 sessions for the price of 8

First consultation session is FREE for all new students!

Our online tutoring sessions are conducted via:

• Video conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams)
• Interactive whiteboard for problem-solving
• Screen sharing for reviewing materials
• Recorded sessions (available for review)

Sessions are flexible and can be scheduled according to your availability.

Booking is easy:

1. Visit our Contact page
2. Fill out the tutoring inquiry form
3. We'll match you with a suitable tutor
4. Schedule your FREE consultation session
5. If you're happy, book regular sessions

You can also WhatsApp us at +260 769 440 841 for immediate assistance.

We're here to help! Contact us through:

• Email: [email protected]
• WhatsApp: +260 769 440 841
• Contact Form: Visit our Contact page

We typically respond within 24 hours.

Our support team is available:

• Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM (CAT - Central Africa Time)
• Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (CAT)
• Sunday: Closed (emergency inquiries only)

Email support is monitored 24/7, and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Absolutely! We love hearing from our users. Send your suggestions, feedback, or feature requests to [email protected]. We carefully review all suggestions and regularly implement user-requested features.

If you find any errors in past papers, marking schemes, or other content, please report them immediately via email or WhatsApp. Include:

• The specific paper/resource affected
• Description of the error
• Screenshots if applicable

We'll investigate and fix verified issues within 48 hours.