Question 1

What does AQA GCSE English Language cover?

Accepted Answer

AQA GCSE English Language (specification 8700) is a single-tier qualification, which just means everyone sits the same two papers and is graded from 9 down to 1, with no foundation or higher split. Alongside the two written papers, there's also a separately reported Spoken Language endorsement that all students complete in school.

The two written papers are quite different in flavour from each other. Paper 1 (Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing) is built around one unseen literary text, usually an extract from a 20th or 21st century novel or short story. Paper 2 (Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives) is built around two linked non-fiction texts: one from the 19th century and one from the 20th or 21st century, usually on a shared theme.

Unlike English Literature, English Language has no set texts. All the source texts on both papers are unseen, so what you actually prepare is the skills the questions test, alongside the analytical vocabulary you'll use to answer them. Both papers are sat in the summer series in May and June.

Question 2

How is the reading and writing split on AQA GCSE English Language?

Accepted Answer

Each paper splits 50/50 between reading and writing: 40 marks for reading (25% of the GCSE per paper) and 40 marks for writing (the other 25% per paper). The reading questions are different on the two papers, but the writing structure is the same.

| Paper | Reading questions (marks) | Writing question | Reading total | Writing total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 4 / 8 / 8 / 20 (inference, language, structure, evaluation) | One descriptive or narrative piece | 40 marks | 40 marks |
| Paper 2 | 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 (short-form, summary, language analysis, comparison) | One viewpoint piece | 40 marks | 40 marks |

The writing section on each paper is one extended task marked out of 40. That's split 24 for content and organisation, and 16 for technical accuracy. What that means in practice is that the writing sections are where the highest-leverage marks live, and they reward consistent practice more than re-reading the source texts ever will.

Question 3

What is the Spoken Language endorsement?

Accepted Answer

The Spoken Language endorsement is the bit of the course your school assesses rather than AQA. It covers assessment objectives 7 to 9, which are about presenting, responding to questions, and using Standard English.

It's reported as Pass, Merit or Distinction (or Not Classified) on your certificate, sitting alongside your main GCSE grade as a separate line. The endorsement doesn't change your headline grade either way, which is worth knowing if you're stressed about it.

That said, it's a mandatory part of the course, so every student has to complete it before they can be awarded the GCSE.

Question 4

How much do spelling, punctuation and grammar count?

Accepted Answer

More than students often realise. AO6 (technical accuracy) is worth 20% of the total marks for the qualification, written into the spec as a regulatory minimum. Within each writing section, 16 of the 40 marks are reserved for SPaG specifically.

That said, the heaviest single assessment objective is actually AO5 (clear, effective and well-organised writing) at 30%. So the writing sections as a whole, not just the SPaG component within them, are where the highest-leverage marks sit.

What that means in practice is that time spent improving your written accuracy and the structure of your writing pays off more than time spent re-reading source texts. The reading questions are won by knowing the mark scheme; the writing questions are won by writing more.

Question 5

Where should I start with GCSE English Language revision?

Accepted Answer

English Language is a skill subject rather than a content subject, which makes it feel pretty different from the others. There's no set text to learn and no body of facts to memorise, just techniques to practise and a mark scheme to get familiar with.

A practical place to start is whichever skill you're feeling weakest on, because that's where the marginal grade gains tend to live. A useful pattern is to:

- Read the notes for one question type (say, Paper 1 Question 3 on structural analysis)
- Look at the level descriptors in the mark scheme to see what each level actually demands
- Try one timed practice question
- Self-mark against those descriptors

It's much better to work on one question type until it's properly solid than to skim everything at once. Once one feels comfortable, move on to the next.

Question 6

What's on AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2?

Accepted Answer

AQA GCSE English Language splits across two written papers of equal length and weighting. Paper 1 is built around an unseen literary text (an extract from a novel or short story), while Paper 2 is built around two linked non-fiction texts, usually on a shared theme.

| Paper | Title | Source text(s) | Length | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing | One unseen 20th or 21st century literary text | 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% |
| Paper 2 | Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives | Two linked non-fiction texts (one 19th century, one 20th or 21st) | 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% |

Paper 1's writing task is either a descriptive or narrative piece linked to the reading text. Paper 2's writing task is a viewpoint piece (an article, a letter, a speech) for a specified audience, purpose and form. Both writing tasks are worth 40 marks each.

Question 7

Can I use these notes as my AQA GCSE English Language textbook?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our notes are organised against AQA's 8700 specification section by section across Paper 1 and Paper 2, so you can genuinely work through them as a structured textbook rather than dipping in for single skills.

Each section comes with worked examples and the mark scheme criteria for each level, which is what shows you concretely what a level 3 answer looks like next to a level 4. That kind of side-by-side comparison is what lets you push your own writing up a band.