Episode

S2 E25 Stop Using Past Papers for Mocks (Here’s a Better Way) | The Spreadsheet That Changed My A-Level Biology Teaching

Podcast
Miss Estruch Teach & Tell
Published
Feb 23, 2026
Duration seconds
685
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not_requested
Canonical source
https://www.missestruch.co.uk/podcasts/miss-estruch-teach-tell/episodes/2149166270
Audio
https://app.kajabi.com/podcasts/medias/2149166270.mp3
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Summary

Struggling to set a mock exam that your students have not already seen? In this video, I explain why I created brand new 2026 A-level Biology practice papers for AQA and OCR, and how they are built using detailed past paper analysis to mirror real exam structure. For years, I have analysed every single AQA and OCR paper, linking every mark back to the exact specification point. I track: • Topic frequency • When topics last appeared • AO1, AO2 and AO3 distribution • Maths weighting • Required practical assessment • Paper 1, 2 and 3 structural patterns I used this analysis to write completely unseen practice papers that behave like real exams, without students recognising questions or memorising mark schemes. If you want access to: The full past paper analysis spreadsheet → Email [email protected]   The 2026 A-level Biology practice papers (AQA and OCR) → https://www.missestruch.co.uk/2026-A-Level-Biology-Practice-Papers   If you are using these as mocks, make sure you use them before Easter to ensure students have not encountered them. Drop any questions in the comments and let me know how you are using them in your department.