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.
Write a story which includes the sentence: 'When she asked why I was so nervous about going there, I didn't know what to say.'
Write a story about twins with very different personalities.
Describe the scene at a busy roadside bus stop when the bus is very late. (Remember you are describing the place, the people and the atmosphere.)
'Schools should spend more time teaching practical skills which students may need in adult life, for example, how to cook, how to repair a car and ...
In your community, there is a sum of money to build either a new school or a new medical centre. Which would you choose? Give reasons and examples ...
Write a story which includes the sentence: 'On that particular day, the whole building was unexpectedly quiet.'
Write a story about an occasion when you had to say sorry to someone, even though it was a very difficult thing to do.
Read Passage 1, Circuses, in the insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 5 and 6 and give two opinions from paragraph 5 and one opinion from paragraph 6.
Read Passage 2, The Otter, in the insert and answer all the questions below. From paragraph 1
From paragraph 2 'Besides being so valiant...Will had initiative.' What does this tell us about Hetta's impression of Will? Answer in your own words.
From paragraph 3 Give two reasons why Will carried Hetta on his back.
From paragraph 4 The otter was 'Confused by the barking dogs chasing it and by its own sense of peril'. Explain in your own words the effect of the...
From paragraph 5 What did Hetta think would happen if she kept crying?
From paragraph 6 Both the aunt and Hetta were 'bored' playing the card game.
From paragraphs 2–7 For each of the words or phrases below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase has...
Re-read paragraph 5, which contains expressions telling us about (a) how Hetta's brother spoke to her, and (b) the otter. Give: • the meaning of ea...
Section 1: Reading for Ideas Read Passage 1, Plastic, in the insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 2, 3, and 5, and give one opinion from each of these paragraphs.
Section 2: Reading for Meaning Read Passage 2, Sylvia, in the insert and answer all the questions below. From paragraph 1
From paragraph 2 The rent was 'justifiably low'. Why do you think the low rent was justifiable?
From paragraph 3 Give two pieces of evidence which show that Sylvia loved reading. (i) (ii)
From paragraph 4 Sylvia 'had a dreaminess that vexed her teachers'. Explain in your own words how Sylvia's teachers felt about her.
From paragraph 5 Sylvia 'had no real talent' for chess. Give the word used earlier in the paragraph which conveys the idea of 'talent'.
Re-read paragraph 2, which contains expressions telling us about (a) Sylvia's first real job and (b) Sylvia's landlord. Give: • the meaning of each...
During the last twelve months, the number of tourists visiting your local area has increased a lot. This has brought both advantages and disadvanta...
Describe two different possessions which are very important to your family – one which is useful and one which is for decoration. (Remember you can...
'People try too hard to be like other people. It is much better to concentrate on being yourself.' How far do you think this is true? Give reasons ...
'I believe everyone should now be forced by law to recycle.' What is your opinion? Give reasons and examples to support your view.
Write a story which includes the sentence: 'It wasn't what the woman said to me but the way she said it which made me hesitate.'
Write a story about someone who moves back to their home town after a long time away and finds their new life there more difficult than expected.
Read Passage 1, Paper, in the insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 2, 4 and 5 and write down one piece of advice given by the writer from each of these paragraphs.
From paragraph 1 3 What decision had the writer's son 'expected' his parents to make?
From paragraph 2 4 (i)
From paragraph 3 5 The writer was 'glad there was a hospital on the mainland'. What did he think might happen?
From paragraph 4 6 The writer says, 'it always looked as though someone had rearranged the route'. What had happened to give this impression?
From paragraph 5 7 The café owner acted as a kind of 'impromptu counsellor'. Explain in your own words how the café owner acted.
From paragraphs 1-5 8 For each of the words and phrases below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase ...
Re-read paragraphs 2 and 4, which contain phrases describing scenes in (i) the restaurant (ii) the street. Explain: • the meaning of each phrase a...
Read Passage 1, Cinemas and Streaming, in the insert and answer all the questions below.
Re-read paragraphs 3, 5, and 7 and write down one piece of advice given by the writer from each of these paragraphs.
Read Passage 2, A New Beginning, in the insert and answer all the questions below. From paragraph 1
From paragraph 2 'Would it be a disaster?' What is the 'disaster' the writer is referring to?
From paragraph 3 'Sunlight streamed into the hold'. What do you think had just happened?
From paragraph 4 The bus driver was 'saying repeatedly that he was innocent'. What exactly is he being accused of?
From paragraph 5 What 'strenuous work' do you think the young man was doing?
From paragraph 6 Nano knew that the incident would 'eternally be part of village folklore'. Explain in your own words what Nano knew would happen f...
From paragraphs 1–5 For each of the words or phrases below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase has...
Re-read paragraphs 1 and 4, which contain phrases about (i) the writer and (ii) the grandmothers. Explain: • the meaning of each phrase as it is us...