Are Save My Exams Questions From Past Papers?

If you’ve ever revised with Save My Exams, you might have wondered where our questions come from. Are Save My Exams questions from past papers, or are they written by teachers? It’s a good question, and an important one to ask if you want to be confident that your revision practice matches real exam standards.

I’m one of the Save My Exams content writers. In this article, I’ll explain exactly where our questions come from, when we use official past paper material, and how every Save My Exams question is written and reviewed to reflect authentic exam-board style and accuracy.

Key Takeaways

• Save My Exams questions are not taken directly from past papers. They’re written by experienced teachers and examiners to mirror the tone, format, and challenge of real exam questions.

• All questions are based on official exam board specifications, so you only revise what’s actually on your syllabus.

• Past paper questions appear only in our dedicated Past Papers section, clearly labelled and used with permission.

• Every question goes through a multi-step review process to ensure accuracy, realism, and consistent exam-board alignment.

Are Save My Exams Questions From Past Papers?

Save My Exams does not copy or reproduce questions from official exam papers in its topic questions or exam-style resources. All of those questions are written by experienced teachers and examiners. They match the tone, structure, and difficulty level of real exams.

When genuine past paper questions are used, they appear only in the Past Papers section of the website, where they are clearly labelled with the exam board and year. These papers are published under the exam boards’ public copyright licences and include the original mark schemes.

This clear separation means you always know what you’re practising with:

• Exam-style questions help you apply your learning to new examples and test your understanding.

• Official past papers let you experience the exact format and timing of your real exams.

Both are valuable. Together, they make revision more varied, realistic, and effective.

How Save My Exams Questions Are Created 

Save My Exams questions undergo a detailed creation process to ensure they are accurate, syllabus-matched, and true to real exam standards.

Written by subject experts

Qualified teachers and former examiners write every question from scratch, using their classroom and marking experience to match the tone and challenge of official exams.

Checked against the specification

Each question is mapped to the exact exam board syllabus, ensuring complete topic coverage and the correct use of command words.

Reviewed against mark schemes

Writers refer to official mark schemes and examiner feedback to make sure each question tests the same skills that real exams assess.

Edited and reviewed for quality

An internal review team checks every question for clarity, fairness, and accuracy before it’s published.

Regularly updated

Questions are refreshed whenever exam boards change specifications or introduce new formats, keeping all materials current and reliable.

This process means that although Save My Exams questions are not taken from past papers, they mirror the same level of detail, structure, and skill focus. Students can practise confidently, knowing every question reflects how they will be assessed in the real exam.

Benefits of Exam-Style Questions (vs Recycled Questions)

Exam-style questions are written to test real understanding, not memorisation. By practising with new, original questions that still follow exam-board standards, you develop stronger skills and greater confidence for unseen exams.

Here’s why this approach works so well:

1. You learn to apply knowledge, not recall answers.
   Because Save My Exams questions are new, you can’t rely on remembering mark schemes from old papers. This builds a genuine understanding of how to analyse and solve different types of problems.

2. You prepare for changing question styles.
   Exam boards regularly update formats and wording. Practising with fresh, exam-style questions keeps you ready for the latest specifications.

3. You strengthen exam technique.
   Each question mirrors real mark-scheme logic, helping you plan and structure answers that meet examiner expectations without over-relying on familiar examples.

4. You make every paper count.
   Using both exam-style and official past papers provides variety, offering topic questions for targeted revision and past papers for comprehensive practice.

Together, this blend of realistic practice and original content helps you move from memorising information to mastering exam technique. Use our step-by-step guide to preparing for GCSEs for more ideas on getting exam-ready.

Where to Find Past Papers on Save My Exams

You can find official exam board past papers by visiting the Past Papers section on the Save My Exams website.

Here you’ll find:

• Papers sorted by exam board, subject, and year

• Downloadable question papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports (where available)

• Options to filter papers by topic or difficulty in some subjects

This section is ideal for practising under timed conditions or reviewing how exam boards phrase different question types.

Most students use a mix of both types of questions: starting with Save My Exams topic questions to build confidence, then moving on to use official past papers to check exam readiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Save My Exams questions official?

No. Save My Exams topic questions are written by qualified teachers and examiners, not taken directly from official papers. They’re designed to match real exam styles and difficulty levels, but are original questions created to test the same skills.

Do Save My Exams questions follow the mark schemes?

Yes. Every Save My Exams question is written and reviewed alongside official mark schemes to ensure that the structure, key points, and phrasing reflect real exam expectations. Model answers are provided to help students understand what top-level responses look like.

Who writes Save My Exams questions?

All questions are written by experienced teachers, subject specialists, and former examiners. Each resource goes through a detailed review process to check for syllabus accuracy, clarity, and fairness before publication.

Final Thoughts

Save My Exams questions aren’t copied from past papers. They’re written by teachers and examiners who understand how real exams work, so every question reflects current specifications and mark schemes.

For real past paper practice, visit the Past Papers section. For exam-style practice across every topic, try our Topic Questions.

Using both helps you revise effectively and feel fully prepared for exam day.