Cambridge & Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions
Browse 35,704 questions from Cambridge O-Level & A-Level and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE & IAL exams. Click any question to practice.
From paragraph 5 What had happened to Linda was in 'no way worthy of the commotion' she was making. Describe in your own words Linda's reaction.
From paragraph 6 Why do you think the doctor's wife decided that 'there was no need' for the writer anymore?
Re-read paragraphs 2 and 5, which contain phrases about (a) the beach and (b) the writer's reaction to what happens to Linda. Give: • the meaning o...
Read Text A, The World's Oldest Swim, in the insert and answer Question 1 and Question 2.
Read Text B, Volunteering to work with animals, in the insert and answer Question 3.
Read Text A, The puma, in the insert and answer Question 1 and Question 2. Question 1
Question 2 Read this extract from the text: 'I'd probably feel more sad about this if there wasn't one huge question pounding my brain. I whisper i...
Read Text B, Going at my own pace, in the insert and answer Question 3. Question 3
Read both texts and answer Question 1. Text A Sam, 42 years [Social Media Post Layout with 'Status', 'Photo', 'Log in' icons and 'Like', 'Comment'...
EITHER Descriptive writing Describe two people you know who have very different lifestyles. They could be members of your family, friends, famous p...
OR Descriptive writing Describe the scene at a popular outdoor location in good weather and the same location in bad weather.
OR Narrative writing Write a story in which a small notebook is important.
OR Narrative writing Write a story which includes the sentence: 'She felt a huge sense of joy as she saw her best friend running towards her.'
Your school principal is considering banning mobile phones in school and has asked students for their views. You have read the views of two student...
Describe the scene in your home when your family is preparing to go away somewhere together, for example on holiday or on a day trip, and when they...
Describe two very different people, apart from your parents, who are important role models for you. They could be relatives, friends or famous peop...
Write a story in which someone receives an unexpected telephone call with some exciting news.
Write a story which includes the sentence: 'What do you mean, you forgot it?'
Read Text A, The circus train, in the insert and answer Question 1 and Question 2.
Question 2 Read this extract from the text: 'It's late but this southern sun is still burning in a flame red sky. The terrain is flatter here too w...
Read Text B, Climbing Mount Everest, in the insert and answer Question 3.
Read Text A, The Raven, in the insert and answer Question 1 and Question 2. Question 1
Read Text A, The Raven, in the insert and answer Question 1 and Question 2. Question 2
Read Text B, Sneakers, in the insert and answer Question 3. Question 3
Your school has recently received some money to spend on improving either the sports hall or the library. You have read some of the opinions posted...
Describe a town or city centre at a busy time of day.
Describe the scene at two competitions, one which takes place outdoors and one which takes place indoors.
Write a story about someone who decides to give up something important to help a friend.
Write a story which includes the words: 'He turned the corner and was pleasantly surprised by what happened next.'
Section A: Directed Writing Read both texts and answer Question 1. Text A Arham, businessman While going to university can be useful, it is not the...
Descriptive writing Describe the scene in a restaurant or café at a busy time.
Descriptive writing Describe a birthday celebration you remember from your early childhood and a more recent one.
Narrative writing Write a story in which someone finds an interesting object in a box in a storeroom.
Narrative writing Write a story which includes the words: 'Stop lying to me. I know you took it!'
The following text is taken from a New Zealand newspaper. An evolving health crisis of childhood obesity is upon us. Is this the generation where c...
The following text is the opening of the novel A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry. The novel is set in India in the 1970s. Dina Dalal seldom indulg...
The following extract presents the American writer Eleanor Clark's first impressions on visiting Rome in the 1940s. Fountains You walk close to you...
The following extract is taken from the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Gogol and Sonia have been brought up in America and are now visiting I...
The following is from a magazine review of a computer game called Harold. Herald Review Devilishly difficult. Harold is a cleverly crafted, perso...
The following text is the opening of an article which catalogues seven types of workplace boss that employees may encounter. Seven types of horrib...
The following extract is taken from a journalist's account of the Chilean mining disaster of 2010. When the mine collapsed, thirty-nine miners were...
The following extract is taken from the autobiography of a famous artist and writer who was born with a serious physical disability. In the extract...
The following text is taken from an investigative memoir about modern eating habits. In this extract, the writer recalls his early memories of his ...
The following text is an extract from a magazine article written by Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations. In the article, Ann...
The following extract is from food writer Sophie Egan's book, Devoured. In the extract, Egan explores the connection between the working and eating...
The following extract is taken from a biography of Pete Maravich, a famous basketball player. In the extract, the writer describes Maravich taking ...
In the following extract from a short story, the narrator describes going to an appointment at a lawyer's office in South Africa. Take it to a law...
The following text is taken from a book, written by Philip Hoare, that blends memoir and travel writing. In the text, the writer contemplates some ...
The following text is taken from a review of a virtual reality gaming headset, the Oculus Rift. The review was published on a technology website in...
Read the following text, which is an extract from an article about child prodigies, published in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. 46 hours a we...