CCEA Past Papers 2026
Free CCEA past papers and mark schemes for GCSE (A*-G with C*) and modular GCE AS/A2 — 4,462 papers across 85 subjects from 2006–2025. The exam board used by 97% of Northern Ireland's schools, serving 58,000+ students annually.
“CCEA papers are hard to find anywhere else. Having every AS and A2 unit here, free, was a lifesaver for my resits.”
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GCSE
53 subjects · 2006–2025
General Certificate of Secondary Education — the main qualification taken by 14-16 year olds in Northern Ireland. CCEA GCSEs use the A*-G grading scale, unlike the 9-1 system used in England.
GCE A Level
32 subjects · 2008–2025
General Certificate of Education — Advanced Level and AS Level qualifications for university entrance. CCEA GCE papers are labelled A2/AS and use the A*-E grading scale.
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Fully worked, with every mark mapped to the official scheme.
Topical Solved
CCEA past-paper questions grouped by specification topic — with worked solutions or as questions-only bundles.
ExploreYearly Solved Past Papers
Full CCEA papers organised by exam series — with worked solutions or as compiled original PDFs.
ExplorePractice Papers
Fresh exam-style practice papers written to the current CCEA specifications.
ExplorePredicted Papers
Exam-style papers focused on the topics most likely to come up in the next series.
ExploreRevision Notes
Concise, specification-aligned notes for GCSE and GCE revision.
ExploreFree Topical Past Papers
Explore CCEA past-paper questions topic by topic — free, no signup.
ExploreExam Guides
Evidence-based insights from examiner reports — how to score higher.
ExplorePopular subjects
Everything you need, free.
Question Papers
Every sessionOfficial CCEA exam papers as sat in Northern Ireland schools.
Mark Schemes
CompleteMarking guides with accepted answers and mark allocation.
AS & A2 Units
ModularModular unit papers — CCEA retains the AS/A2 structure.
Multiple Sessions
Summer + resitsSummer, January, November, and March exam sessions.
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Choose from Cambridge, AQA, OCR, Edexcel, IB, SQA or CCEA — down to your exact syllabus code.
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Topical or yearly solved papers, revision notes and practice papers — every mark mapped to the scheme.
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Every mark explained
Not just the answer — which working earns each M1, A1 and B1, the way the examiner awards it.
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Written by subject specialists and checked against the official mark scheme, end to end.
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Every question you need sorted by topic — no more twelve tabs open to cross-reference one paper.
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Unlike random free solutions, the marks line up with the real scheme so you can rely on every step.
Students who stopped guessing, and started scoring.
“CCEA papers are hard to find anywhere else. Having every AS and A2 unit here, free, was a lifesaver for my resits.”
“My whole school sits CCEA, so getting the actual CCEA papers — not AQA or Edexcel — is exactly what I needed.”
“The modular structure means I only needed specific units. Being able to grab just the A2 papers saved me so much time.”
“Mark schemes for every paper, going back years. I worked through the lot before my Summer exams.”
“Found CCEA papers for subjects I couldn't get anywhere else. No signup, no paywall, just the PDFs.”
“Simple and free. I download the paper and the mark scheme and get straight into practising.”
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About CCEA Past Papers
CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) is Northern Ireland's sole exam board, curriculum advisory body, and qualifications regulator. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Belfast, CCEA develops and administers GCSE and GCE A Level qualifications for approximately 58,000 students across 190 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland each year. Over 850,000 examination papers are marked annually.
PapersDaddy provides the largest free collection of CCEA past papers outside the official CCEA website — 4,462 papers across 85 subjects and 664 exam sessions from 2006–2025. The archive is organised the way you revise: pick your level (GCSE or GCE), then your subject, then the exam series — each session page lists its question papers and mark schemes side by side. Everything is free to view and download with no signup required.
CCEA mark schemes are included alongside the question papers for both GCSE (A*-G grading) and GCE A Level (A*-E grading). Marking with the official scheme is where past-paper practice pays off: it shows the accepted answers, how marks are allocated across each question, and the wording examiners credit — so you learn to write answers the way CCEA marks them.
CCEA GCSEs retain the traditional A*-G grading scale, unlike England's 9-1 system. Northern Ireland introduced a unique C* grade (equivalent to a grade 5 “strong pass” in England), providing differentiation at the important C grade boundary. Grade C remains the standard pass for NI employers and further education entry.
A key advantage for NI students is that CCEA retains the modular AS/A2 structure for A Levels. AS units (worth 40% of the A Level) are taken in Year 13, with A2 units (60%) in Year 14. Individual units can be resat once, with the better mark counting — unlike England where A Levels are fully linear with no resit opportunities until the full exam.
CCEA offers several subjects unique to Northern Ireland, including Irish (Gaeilge), Learning for Life and Work (covering citizenship, employability, and personal development), Moving Image Arts, and Software Systems Development. These reflect Northern Ireland's distinctive educational priorities and cultural context.
CCEA exams are held across multiple sessions: the main Summer session (May-June), plus January, March, and November sessions for modular unit resits and GCSE English/Maths retakes. Results are released in August — A Level results on the second Thursday, GCSE results one week later.
Practising with CCEA past papers is the most effective revision strategy. Students who regularly attempt past papers under timed conditions develop familiarity with question styles, mark allocation, and the specific expectations of CCEA examiners. Start with the most recent papers and work backwards, using mark schemes to identify exactly where marks are gained and lost.
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BrowseQuestions, answered.
CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) is Northern Ireland's sole exam board, curriculum body, and qualifications regulator. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Belfast, it develops and administers GCSE and GCE A Level qualifications for approximately 58,000 students across 190 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland. CCEA holds a 97% market share for GCSEs in Northern Ireland.
PapersDaddy provides the complete CCEA archive — 4,462 papers across 85 subjects, covering GCSE and GCE A Level from 2006–2025. This includes question papers and mark schemes for both AS and A2 units — all free to download as PDF, no signup required.
Every CCEA session page on PapersDaddy lists the mark schemes next to their question papers — open your subject, pick the exam series, and the mark scheme sits alongside each paper. They are the official CCEA marking guides, free to view and download with no signup.
CCEA GCSEs use the traditional A*-G grading scale, while England uses 9-1. Northern Ireland also has a unique C* grade (equivalent to grade 5 'strong pass' in England), sitting between B and C. Grade C remains the standard pass in Northern Ireland. This grading difference is because NI chose to retain the letter grade system when England switched in 2017.
C* is a grade unique to Northern Ireland CCEA GCSEs, introduced to provide differentiation at the C grade boundary. It sits between B and C and is equivalent to a grade 5 ('strong pass') in England's 9-1 system. A standard C grade is equivalent to grade 4. The C* grade helps distinguish students who perform at the higher end of the C range.
CCEA A Levels are modular, unlike England where A Levels are now fully linear. Students take AS units (worth 40% of the full A Level) in Year 13 and A2 units (worth 60%) in Year 14. Individual units can be resat once before certification, with the better mark counting. This gives NI students more flexibility than English students.
CCEA offers several subjects unique to Northern Ireland, including Irish (Gaeilge), Learning for Life and Work (LLW — covering citizenship, employability, and personal development), Moving Image Arts, Journalism (GCSE), Software Systems Development (GCE), and Environmental Technology (GCE). These reflect Northern Ireland's cultural heritage and educational priorities.
CCEA exams are held across multiple sessions: the main Summer session (May-June) for all subjects, January for GCE modular unit resits, November for GCSE English and Maths resits, and March for selected GCSE resit modules. Results are released in August — A Level results on the second Thursday, GCSE results one week later.
Yes, absolutely. CCEA GCSEs and A Levels are fully equivalent to qualifications from AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC. UCAS treats them identically for university admissions. All UK Russell Group universities and universities worldwide accept CCEA qualifications.
Yes. While CCEA previously offered qualifications in England and Wales, it now operates exclusively in Northern Ireland. CCEA is the only exam board specifically designed for NI students, and approximately 97% of GCSE entries in Northern Ireland are with CCEA.
Start with the most recent paper and work backwards. Attempt each paper under timed exam conditions without notes. After completing it, use the mark scheme to self-assess — note exactly where marks were lost and why. For modular A Levels, focus on papers matching your specific AS or A2 unit. Most students find 3-5 years of past papers sufficient for thorough preparation.
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