Why Should I Pay for Save My Exams? Free vs Premium

If you’ve been using Save My Exams to help with your GCSE, IGCSE, or A Level revision, you might have become frustrated that not everything on the website is free. One of the most common questions we’re asked is: why should I pay for Save My Exams?

It’s a fair question. You don’t want to waste time or money on materials that lead you down the wrong path. This guide breaks down exactly what’s included in the Free and Premium plans so you can decide what’s right for you. Whether you’re revising a few times a week, studying from home, or aiming for top grades, you’ll see clearly what each plan offers, and how Premium can make revision faster, easier, and more effective.

Key Takeaways

• Free access gives you a strong starting point, including topic questions, sample notes, and limited access to past papers.

• Premium access unlocks the full range of Save My Exams resources, including every topic question, model answer, and revision note across all subjects and levels.

• Premium also gives you access to SmartMark, Target Tests, Mock Exams, and teacher-created model answers that match exam-board mark schemes.

• Whether you upgrade depends on how you revise: Free is useful for light review or testing yourself occasionally, while Premium supports daily practice, full-topic coverage, and exam-style preparation.

What’s Included in Free vs Premium

Save My Exams offers two types of access: a Free plan for casual users and a Premium plan for students who want complete exam preparation.

Here’s a clear comparison of what each plan includes:

Free Access Features

Everyone can get free access to Save My Exams. This gives you a taste of what Save My Exams offers. 

You can:

• Read a sample of revision notes across key subjects.

• Try out a few topic questions to test your understanding.

• Download a small number of past papers to practise independently.

This is a great starting point for many students, especially early in the school year or if you’re exploring new subjects.

Premium Access Features

Premium unlocks everything Save My Exams creates, from advanced tools to all the core revision content. You’ll get:

• Full access to every revision note, topic question, and past paper across all subjects.

• Model answers written by teachers and examiners to help you see exactly what top answers look like.

• SmartMark, Target Tests, and Mock Exams, designed to make exam practice easier and more realistic.

• A personal dashboard that tracks your progress, highlights weak areas, and helps you plan your next steps.

What Makes Premium Worth It?

Premium is designed to give students everything they need for confident, independent revision. Each feature supports a specific part of the learning process, from understanding new topics to perfecting exam technique. 

Premium is built for students who want a structured, exam-focused revision routine that saves time and reduces stress. It makes exam preparation faster, more focused, and closer to real exam conditions. 

Here’s how the main Premium tools work together to support better results for GCSE students, A Level students, and IB students.

Exam-Style Questions with Model Answers

The best way to prepare for exams is through regular practice with questions that match real exam standards. Premium gives you full access to hundreds of teacher-written questions and model answers. Each one follows the official mark scheme, so you can see exactly how examiners award marks and how to structure high-level responses.

Over time, this builds both accuracy and speed, helping you perform under pressure and apply your knowledge effectively.

Unlimited Revision Notes and Access to Past Papers

Premium gives you access to all revision notes, past papers, and mark schemes across every subject. The notes are syllabus-matched and created by experienced teachers, making it clear what you need to know for each topic.

Having every past paper in one place allows you to test yourself properly and track progress across time. You won’t need to search multiple websites or worry about missing key materials. Here’s how to use past papers in your revision.

SmartMark, Target Test and Mock Exams

These tools turn passive revision into active learning. They’re designed to help students measure and improve performance.

• AI marking tool SmartMark provides instant, mark-scheme-based feedback on longer written answers, showing what went well and what to develop.

• Target Tests identify your weaker areas and automatically build a focused quiz around them.

• Mock Exams let you practise entire exam papers under timed conditions, allowing you to get used to the feeling of being in a real exam. You can practise timing and improve your exam stamina. Learn how to use our mock exams in your revision.

Full Access to All Subjects and Levels

Premium members can access every subject at GCSE, IGCSE and A Level. This is ideal for students taking multiple qualifications or families with more than one child revising.

All subjects are organised clearly, so you can easily switch between topics or levels. Everything you need — notes, questions and answers — is stored in one place, making it simple to stay organised and consistent.

Why Do People Upgrade?

Students and parents upgrade to Save My Exams Premium when they want a complete, reliable way to prepare for exams. 

Here are some reasons people upgrade, with real experiences reported by Save My Exams members in TrustPilot (opens in a new tab) reviews. 

Serious About Top Grades

If you aim to get all 9s in your GCSEs or A*s in your IGCSEs, reaching those top grades often comes down to nailing exam technique. Many students choose Save My Exams Premium to push their grades from good to excellent by using the range of tools designed to help them prepare to deliver exactly what the examiners are looking for. 

Detailed revision notes and model answers show exactly how top marks are achieved.

Students say:

“Save My Exams completely transformed my revision! Even though I found it shortly before my exams, it made a huge difference — not just to my grades, but also how deeply I understood each subject. I achieved A*s in all my IGCSEs.”
— Vrinda, IGCSE student

“I went from grades 6–8 to full 7–9s. The detailed explanations helped me improve both my writing and understanding.”
— Aliyah, GCSE student

Struggling with Certain Topics

Some students upgrade to Save My Exams Premium because they find specific subjects difficult or want extra support catching up on any topics they may have missed during the course.

Tools like Target Tests and topic-based questions can help you identify weak spots and build confidence through repeated practice.

Here’s what our students have said:

“Save My Exams…had all the topics I needed, so if I missed a lesson, I could easily catch up and understand what I’d missed.”
— Emelia, GCSE student

“I always found school resources to go off topic. Save My Exams helped me learn topics I didn’t understand before and revise the ones I’d forgotten.”
— Ted, GCSE student

“The exam-style questions and worked solutions give my students the confidence they need, while the notes make complex topics easier to grasp.”
— Morgan, A Level teacher

Need Structure and Time-Saving Tools

Premium’s organisation and clear layout make it easier for students to stay on track. Everything is grouped by topic and level, with a progress dashboard to show exactly what you’ve covered. 

You can focus on studying rather than searching for what you need.

Students commented:

“The resources are well-structured, clear, and easy to follow, which makes studying much more efficient and less stressful.”
— Dalia, GCSE student

“When I was drowning in a sea of notes and confused by conflicting resources, Save My Exams became my lifeline. It broke down complex topics into clear, easy-to-follow revision notes that made sense.”
— Bliss, GCSE student

Preparing for Mocks or Final Exams

Premium users can rely on targeted practice and real exam-style mock papers in the run-up to exams. 

These build your exam stamina, improve your timing, and highlight the last few areas of knowledge or understanding to strengthen.

Students have said:

“I went from getting 33% in GCSE Physics to 97%. The definitions are so specific it’s like you’re answering with the mark scheme.”
— H, GCSE student

“Our eldest son, who was aiming for the top grades, completed all the online tests and even reset his progress before exams so he could repeat everything. He achieved 9s in GCSE and an A* at A Level, now studying Medicine at Oxford.”
— Mrs P, parent

Who Is Premium Best For?

Premium is designed for students who want structure, reliable materials, and full coverage of their course. It supports a wide range of learners, from those aiming for top grades to those looking to rebuild confidence in tricky subjects.

• High achievers who want to push from 7s and 8s to 9s or As to A*s benefit from detailed model answers and advanced exam-style questions.

• Students who find certain topics difficult can use Target Tests and SmartMark to focus their time where it matters most.

• Busy students balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, or part-time jobs gain from clear organisation and time-saving tools.

• Home-educated learners and private candidates appreciate having everything in one place: full notes, past papers, and practice materials matched to their exam board.

• Parents and teachers use Premium to monitor progress and support revision with trusted, syllabus-aligned content.

Whether you are preparing early in Year 10 or revising intensively in Year 11 or 13, Premium gives you the flexibility to plan and track your progress in a way that fits your schedule.

Can I Still Do Well With the Free Version?

Yes. Many students start with the Free plan and still make strong progress, especially if they are organised and use other revision methods alongside it. 

Free access gives you a good introduction to Save My Exams, with a limited number of topic questions, revision notes, and past papers. If you are revising early in the year or want to review key ideas, this can be enough to check understanding and build confidence.

However, as exams get closer, most students find they need:

• More question variety for realistic, exam-style practice

• Model answers to guide self-marking and show how top-band responses are written

• Full topic coverage to make sure no areas are missed

• Feedback tools to focus revision time on weaker topics

That is where Premium makes a real difference. It builds on the free tools you already use, providing complete, syllabus-matched resources that help you revise efficiently and perform confidently in every exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Save My Exams Premium worth the cost?

For most students preparing for GCSE, IGCSE, or A Level exams, Premium is worth it. 

It offers everything needed for structured, focused revision, including full revision notes, model answers, and SmartMark feedback tools. Students using Premium often say they feel more confident because they can check their progress and practise in the same format examiners expect.

Can I cancel Premium at any time?

Yes. You can cancel your subscription through your account dashboard whenever you like. 

Once cancelled, you keep Premium access until your current billing period ends. Afterwards, your account automatically switches to the Free version, so you can still use the sample resources.

What subjects are included in Premium?

Premium gives you access to every subject available on Save My Exams. That includes full coverage of GCSE, IGCSE and A Level exam boards, with all topic questions, mark schemes, model answers, and revision notes unlocked.

Are there any free trials available?

Save My Exams sometimes offers limited-time free trials or sample content for new users. It’s always worth checking the website to see if a promotion is running before subscribing.

Even if no promotions are available, you can always explore the Free version first to see how the platform works. Then upgrade when you are ready for full access.

Your Revision, Your Choice

Why should you pay for Save My Exams Premium? Whether you stay on Free or choose Premium, Save My Exams helps you feel more confident about your exams. Free access is a great way to start revising, but Premium unlocks the full experience with every note, question, and model answer in one place.

If you are ready to take revision seriously and want complete support for every subject, Premium is worth the upgrade. It gives you everything you need to revise efficiently, track progress, and aim for the best results.

Start building your plan today with our Revision Notes and Topic Questions and see how far you can go.

References:

• Save My Exams Reviews | TrustPilot (opens in a new tab)