A Cambridge examiner report is a write-up by the examiners of how candidates answered one exam series, question by question. Reading one for your syllabus tells you which mistakes actually cost marks, which is more useful than another hour of rereading notes. Twenty focused minutes is enough to turn it into a short checklist you can use on every paper you practise.
What an examiner report is
After each exam series, the Principal Examiner for a syllabus writes a report on a paper. On its Results resources page, Cambridge describes these as reviews that describe "candidates' overall performance on each part of the question" and point out common mistakes. In plain terms: someone who saw hundreds of scripts tells you where candidates did well and where they lost marks.
Reports are usually organised by paper and then by question. Some describe the general picture first, then go through questions one at a time, often with notes on what a good answer included.
Where to find them, and who can see them
This is what we could verify at the time of writing. Cambridge's Results resources page says Principal Examiner reports are available on its School Support Hub. Cambridge's own descriptions of the hub present it as a secure site for teachers at registered Cambridge schools, so you will probably need your teacher or exams officer to get you the reports. The same page says teachers can share them with students before the exam.
We did not find a public, open download of these reports for every syllabus, and what is published, and for how many years, can change. So the practical route is simple: ask your teacher for the examiner reports for your syllabus code and the most recent series. If you are a private candidate, check with your exam centre.
How to read one in 20 minutes
Do not read it front to back like a story. Work through it like this.
- Minutes 0 to 3. Open the report for the paper you find hardest. Read only the general comments at the start.
- Minutes 3 to 8. Skim each question's comments and highlight every sentence that describes something candidates did not do, or did wrongly. Ignore praise for now.
- Minutes 8 to 15. Pick the five or six comments that sound like you. If you are not sure, find the question in the past paper, attempt it, then compare with the report.
- Minutes 15 to 20. Write each one into your mistake log (template below), in your own words, with a fix you can apply.
Always read the report next to the question paper and the mark scheme for the same series. The report explains what happened, the mark scheme shows what earned credit.
The kinds of mistakes reports tend to describe
These are general patterns across subjects, not quotes from any particular report. Your syllabus will have its own specifics, so treat this as a map of where to look.
- Not answering the question asked. Writing everything you know about the topic instead of what the question wanted. Command words matter here: "describe" and "explain" ask for different things.
- Units and significant figures. Correct working lost to a missing unit, a wrong unit, or an answer rounded too early or given to a sensible number of figures.
- Not using the data given. Quoting a general fact when the question wanted numbers from the table, graph or passage.
- Vague wording. Phrases like "it goes faster" or "it reacts more" where the mark scheme looks for a specific, precise statement.
- Running out of time. Strong early answers and blank or rushed final questions.
- Misreading command words and question stems. Answering part of a two-part question, or missing words like "only", "not" or "two".
If you see one of these in a report for your subject, that is a real signal. You are not hunting for exotic errors, only for the ordinary ones that keep repeating.
Turn it into a personal checklist
A report is about all candidates. Your checklist should be about you. Mix two sources: mistakes the report describes, and mistakes you actually made on your own practice papers. Keep the log short and honest.
| Mistake | Why it cost marks | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Gave a list when the question said "explain" | Mark scheme wanted a reason, not just a fact | Add "because" and link cause to effect |
| Left out the unit on a final answer | Final answer mark needed the unit | Circle the answer and write the unit before moving on |
| Ignored a value from the table | Answer was general, not specific | Underline numbers in the question and use at least one |
| Rounded in the middle of a calculation | Final answer slightly off | Keep full calculator value, round only at the end |
Each fortnight, delete the rows you no longer make and add new ones. The aim is a one-page list you can read in two minutes before a practice paper, and again on the night before the real one.
Use it with real past papers
A checklist only helps if you test it. Pick a past paper, sit it, and then, while marking, tag every lost mark with a row from your log. If a mistake shows up three times, it deserves its own five-minute drill. If it never shows up again, drop it. For marking technique, see how Cambridge mark schemes work and how to check your answer against a mark scheme.
One caution: do not treat a report as a script of what to write. Examiners praise answers that respond to the specific question. Memorising phrases from a report will not help if the new question is worded differently.
Try it on a real paper
Pick a paper from the past papers hub, write your answers by hand and have them marked against the official Cambridge mark scheme, so each lost mark shows exactly where it went. Reading papers, downloading the PDFs and seeing mark schemes is free, and a free account adds AI marking. Tag the lost marks in your mistake log and you have the start of a personal examiner report.
Frequently asked questions
- Can students download Cambridge examiner reports?
- Cambridge says Principal Examiner reports are available on its School Support Hub, which is aimed at teachers at registered schools. Cambridge also says teachers can share them with students, so ask your teacher for the reports for your syllabus.
- How old a report is still useful?
- Reports on recent series are the closest match to your syllabus, but check that your syllabus has not changed since. Where the syllabus is unchanged, the advice on technique usually still applies; where it changed, ignore comments about content that is no longer examined.
- Do examiner reports tell me what will come up next year?
- No. They describe how candidates answered a past paper, not what a future paper will ask. Use them to fix habits and weak spots, not to predict questions.
- What if I cannot get the reports at all?
- Build the same log yourself from the official mark scheme. Mark your own answers, and write down every lost mark with the reason and the fix.