How to Get the Most Out of an IStructE Past Paper You've Just Solved
Finishing an IStructE past paper is great, but the real improvement happens after the clock stops. The review stage is where you sharpen judgement, catch habits, and turn “I think I did okay” into “I know exactly how to pass.”
This guide shows you exactly how to review your attempt properly, based on examiner reports, commonly repeated candidate advice, and proven engineering education research.
1. Start With a Cold Read (No Defensiveness Allowed)
Put the paper down for a few hours, then flip through it like it belongs to someone else.
- Is the concept instantly clear?
- Is the load path obvious?
- Are assumptions written clearly?
- Do drawings communicate without explanation?
- Would an examiner trust the buildability?
If you can’t understand it quickly, an examiner won’t either.
2. Compare Against the Examiner’s Report
The examiner report is your baseline. It tells you:
- What they wanted you to spot
- What candidates usually miss
- What top-scoring solutions did well
Your goal: check if your thinking matches what the report emphasises.
3. Get Someone Else to Review It
A second pair of eyes is gold. They don’t need to be an examiner, just someone who knows structural concepts.
Ask them to check:
- Does the concept solve the brief?
- Is the stability strategy convincing?
- Any contradictions between text and drawings?
- Are sizes reasonable?
- Is the sequence realistic?
- Any “this would never work on site” moments?
4. Do a Line-by-Line Audit Against the “Big Six” Fail Points
Every examiner report flags the same issues. Check your solution for:
- Missing or unclear load paths
- Poorly reasoned stability
- No robustness or alternative load path
- Sizes with no rationale
- Mismatch with ground conditions
- No buildability or sequencing
5. Benchmark Yourself Against a Good Solution
Look at a strong solution for the same question. You’re not copying, you’re calibrating to the expected level.
See solved solutions here: IStructE Solved Solutions.
6. Score Yourself With a Simple Rubric
Create a quick scoring sheet. Rate yourself on:
- Interpretation of the brief
- Options generation
- Reasoning behind selected scheme
- Stability
- Load path clarity
- Fit with ground conditions
- Clarity of calculations
- Drawing quality
- Buildability
- Risks + mitigation
Anything under 7/10 repeatedly = your biggest growth area.
7. Capture "Lessons for Future Me"
This part compounds faster than doing more papers.
- 2 things you’ll do differently next time
- 2 mistakes you keep repeating
- 1 thing you did well
- 1 workflow tweak to adopt
8. Use a Free or External Review Service
If you want objective feedback without relying on a mentor, use a review tool.
Solved Past Papers offers a free IStructE solution review that checks: clarity, load paths, risks, sequencing, drawings, and reasoning.
Try it here: IStructE Solution Review (Free).
9. Track Your Progress Over Time
The goal isn’t to do 20 papers, it’s to remove recurring mistakes.
Make a simple table for:
- Paper name
- Main mistakes
- Fixes
- Time taken
- How you compared with examiner expectations
10. Only After Reviewing, Move to the Next Paper
Don’t burn through past papers like flashcards. The review is where the actual improvement happens.
Final Note
A good review process does more for your pass chances than any textbook, course, or solution pack. Consistency beats intensity here. Review properly, fix aggressively, and your confidence grows with every attempt.