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.
Section 2: Composition Begin your answer on a new page of your answer booklet. Write on one of the following topics. At the beginning of your co...
Read Passage 1, Shops and shopping in modern times, in the Insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 2, 4 and 5, and give one opinion from each of these paragraphs.
Read Passage 2, Aunt Joan, in the Insert and answer all the questions below. From paragraph 1
From paragraph 2 What two things did Aunt Joan do which showed that she knew she was doing something wrong?
From paragraph 3 Why does the writer think that the objects in the cupboard 'were clearly unused' (line 18)?
From paragraph 4 What mistake did the writer make when Aunt Joan asked her to fetch her spare pair of glasses?
From paragraph 5 Why did Aunt Joan go into the bedroom?
From paragraph 6 The writer looked in Aunt Joan's 'bedside cabinet once more, but now it was empty' (lines 39-40).
From paragraphs 1-7 For each of the words below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word has in the passage.
Re-read paragraphs 5 and 6, which contain sentences telling us (a) what Joan said and (b) what the writer said. Give: • the meaning of each sentenc...
Read Passage 1, Online and in-store shopping, in the Insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 3, 4 and 5. Give one opinion from each of these paragraphs.
From paragraph 1 Why was Jennifer upset that she was 'late getting away from the office' (lines 1–2)?
From paragraph 2 Jennifer 'headed anxiously in the direction of the motorway' (lines 8–9). What is one physical sign of Jennifer's anxiety?
From paragraph 3 'Jennifer had no alternative but to do the same.' (line 17) What did she have to do?
From paragraph 4 Her 'mission was accomplished' (line 29). What was Jennifer's ‘mission'?
From paragraph 5 "How could I be so stupid?" she berated herself.' (lines 37–38) Why does Jennifer think she has been stupid?
From paragraphs 3–6 For each of the words below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word has in the passage.
Re-read paragraphs 4 and 6, which contain sentences telling us about (a) the hotels near the airport and (b) the meeting at the airport. Give: • th...
Your uncle and aunt own a shop which is busy and successful. You sometimes help in the shop during your holidays. Your English teacher asks you to ...
Describe a very lively, noisy place you know and a very quiet one. (Remember that you are describing the atmosphere and any people as well as the p...
'First impressions are nearly always wrong.' Do you think this is true? Give reasons and examples to support your view.
'There is too much pressure on people to follow fashion.' Do you agree? Give reasons and examples to support your view.
Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘When they opened the jewellery box, they could not believe what was in it.'
Write a story in which a train ticket plays an important part.
Your school has many extra-curricular activities. These include a debating team, music groups, sports teams and others. You are the leader of one o...
Describe two places which you have been to with your friends, one which you all liked and one which you all disliked. (Remember that you are descri...
If you could give your school new sports equipment or new IT equipment, which would you choose? Give reasons and examples to support your view.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having longer school days but more days off school? Give reasons and examples to support your view.
Write a story which includes the sentence: 'It was my fault so I decided to do something about it.'
Write a story in which a pair of sunglasses plays an important part.
Read Passage 1, Coconuts, in the Insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 4, 5, and 6, and give one opinion from each of these paragraphs.
From paragraph 1 What did the writer often do when she was a little girl?
From paragraph 2 The writer says: 'I would have to look after myself'. Give the expression used later in the paragraph which conveys the same idea.
From paragraph 3 Why did the writer run away from home later in childhood?
From paragraph 4 What was the 'small, misty, white bundle'?
From paragraph 5 Explain why it was ironic that the writer 'stopped at the crossroads'.
From paragraph 6 The writer says: 'her grip on my shoulder transmitted her awareness that I was always going to leave'. Explain in your own words w...
From paragraphs 1–5 For each of the words below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word has in the passage.
Re-read paragraphs 3 and 4, which contain phrases about (a) the writer's coat and (b) the writer's shoes. Explain: • the meaning of each phrase as ...
Section 1: Reading for ideas Read Passage 1, Olives, in the insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 3, 5 and 6 and give one opinion from each of these paragraphs.
From paragraph 1 Why do you think the writer did not remember the event described by her mother?
From paragraph 2 The writer thought that the garage was 'a fascinating but slightly frightening place'. Explain in your own words how she felt abou...
From paragraph 3 The family visited the cat and her kittens 'to worship at the side of the cardboard box'. Write down the single word used later in...
From paragraph 4 'The cat looked at me with eyes that were alert but which also seemed to me to be full of forgiveness.' Explain in your own words ...
From paragraph 5 'That cat lived an astonishing twenty-one years.' What evidence is there in the paragraph to show that the cat was part of the wri...
From paragraphs 2 to 5 For each of the words below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word has in the passage.