Deep-dive into this download database of AQA English Language past papers with Beyond Revision at your side!

The business end of study requires a specific, practical approach and past papers are a great way to refine your question-answering techniques as well as develop your knowledge of the grading criteria.

You can find all the publicly available papers right here….

…but first, let’s have a look at what to expect.

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

This paper is 50% of your GCSE and will be 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

In section A, you will be given one fiction text to read. You will then need to answer four different questions on the text. One question will be a 4-mark, short-form, question. Two questions will be 8 mark, longer form questions. The final question will be a 20-mark extended question.

In section B, you will be given one extended descriptive or narrative writing question. It will be worth 40 marks in total: 24 marks for content, and 16 marks for technical accuracy.

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

This paper is 50% of your GCSE and will be 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

In section A, you will be given two linked texts to read. You will then need to answer four different questions on the text. One question will be a 4-mark, short-form, question. Two questions will be longer form worth 8 and 12 marks. The final question will be a 16-mark extended question.

In section B, you’ll be asked to write to present a viewpoint. As with paper 1, it will be worth 40 marks in total: 24 marks for content, and 16 marks for technical accuracy.

AQA English Language Digital Revision Booklet

AQA English Language Past Papers: Jun 2017-Nov 2021

Some inserts can’t be reproduced because of copyright issues. These are marked with an asterisk (*).

Jun 2017	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Nov 2017	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1* Insert 2*	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Jun 2018	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Nov 2018	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Jun 2019	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Nov 2019	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2*	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Nov 2020	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2
Nov 2021	Paper 1 Paper 2	Insert 1 Insert 2	Mark Scheme 1 Mark Scheme 2

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