Cambridge & Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions

A talented classmate has been chosen to represent your country at an international competition (this might be in sport, music or any other competit...

Describe two events you went to, one of which was much better than you expected and one of which was disappointing. (Remember you are describing th...

'In order to have a positive effect on society, it is far more important to be kind than to be clever.' Do you think this is true? Give reasons and...

'Most young people think that solving environmental problems is the responsibility of older people.' Do you agree? Give reasons and details to supp...

Write a story which includes the sentence: 'As they arrived at the station, their cousin appeared from nowhere.'

Write a story in which misunderstanding a message plays an important part.

You spent part of your recent long vacation at an adventure camp, doing a wide range of activities with lots of other young people. You really like...

Describe a typical lunch break at your school. Remember you are describing what people are doing (such as chatting to friends, playing sport or eat...

'The benefits of healthy eating are now so well understood that no one has any excuse to eat an unhealthy diet.' Do you agree? Give reasons and exa...

'It is better to have one or two really close friends than lots of different friends.' What is your opinion? Give reasons and details to support yo...

Write a story which includes the sentence: 'Even though the weather was bad and their clothes were unsuitable, they knew they had to go.'

Write a story in which a lost phone plays an important part.

Read Passage 1, Farming, in the insert and answer all the questions below.

Re-read paragraphs 5 and 6, and write down two pieces of advice given by the writer in paragraph 5, and one piece of advice given by the writer in ...

From paragraph 1 What decision did the writer have to make?

From paragraph 2 Why do you think the writer changed 'names, places and situations'?

From paragraph 3 What do the words 'usual student rituals' tell us about her graduation day?

From paragraph 4 Why was the writer so surprised that the publisher wanted to print her story?

From paragraph 5 The writer 'moved absent-mindedly' along the shelves. Which one word used later in the paragraph conveys the opposite idea?

From paragraph 6 'my mother was incredulous and my father began to brag about me'. Explain in your own words how the writer's parents reacted to he...

Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5, which contain phrases about (a) the publisher's attitude to the novel and (b) the writer's feelings. Give: • the meanin...

Read Passage 1, Salt, in the insert and answer all the questions below.

Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5, and write down one piece of advice given by the writer in paragraph 4, and two pieces of advice given by the writer in ...

From paragraph 1 Why was it natural for the writer to go to the doctor's wife to ask for a summer job?

From paragraph 2 Why do you think that the writer says she had a 'thousand things' in the canvas bag?

From paragraph 3 '...uneasily, she ventured' to say a few words to the girls. Explain in your own words how Marisa is behaving here.

From paragraph 4 '...unwillingly,' Marisa led Linda away. Which one word used later in the paragraph repeats this idea of 'unwillingly'?

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