How the GCSE English Language Exam Works: A Guide for Parents

GCSE English Language is examined across two written papers that test reading and writing skills rather than knowledge of set texts. Almost every secondary school pupil in England sits it, and a grade 4 or above is widely treated as a standard pass by employers, colleges and universities. The same core structure applies across AQA, Edexcel and OCR.

Which exam board is your child's school using?

The most widely used exam board for GCSE English Language is AQA, followed by Pearson Edexcel and OCR. The overall structure — two papers, covering reading and writing — is consistent across all three boards, but the exact question types, text choices and mark allocations differ. This guide uses AQA as its primary reference. If you are unsure which board your child's school follows, ask the English department directly; the full specification is also freely available on each board's website.

What does Paper 1 cover?

AQA Paper 1 is titled Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing. It presents students with a single extract from a 20th or 21st-century work of fiction — a novel, short story or similar literary text.

Section A: Reading (40 marks)

There are four reading questions, each requiring a different skill:

Question 1 — identify four true statements from a section of the text (4 marks)

Question 2 — analyse how the writer uses language to create effects (8 marks)

Question 3 — consider how the writer uses structural techniques across the text (8 marks)

Question 4 — evaluate how effectively the writer has achieved a stated effect (20 marks)

Section B: Writing (40 marks)

Students choose one task from two options. Both will be creative or descriptive — for example, writing the opening of a story or a descriptive piece responding to an image. Marks are split between content and organisation (24 marks) and technical accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar (16 marks).

What does Paper 2 cover?

AQA Paper 2 is titled Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives. It uses two non-fiction texts from different time periods, typically one from the 19th century and one contemporary. A shared theme links them.

Section A: Reading (40 marks)

Question 1 — identify four pieces of information from the first text (4 marks)

Question 2 — analyse how the writer of one text uses language to convey a viewpoint (8 marks)

Question 3 — compare how writers present a theme or idea across both texts (16 marks)

Question 4 — compare the writers' methods and perspectives across both texts (16 marks)

Section B: Writing (40 marks)

Students produce one piece of transactional writing — such as a speech, letter, article or opinion essay — responding to a prompt linked to the reading theme. As with Paper 1, marks are split between content and organisation (24 marks) and technical accuracy (16 marks).

How are the papers timed and marked?

Both papers are sat at the end of Year 11, typically in May or June. Together they account for 100% of the GCSE 1–9 grade — there is no coursework component that contributes to the final grade.

Paper | Duration | Marks | % of GCSE
Paper 1 — Creative Reading and Writing | 1 hour 45 minutes | 80 | 50%
Paper 2 — Viewpoints and Perspectives | 1 hour 45 minutes | 80 | 50%

Papers are marked by external examiners appointed by AQA. Writing is assessed on two separate mark schemes: one for communication, content and organisation, and one for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG). Both dimensions count. A student who writes confidently but makes frequent technical errors will lose SPaG marks even if their ideas are strong — and equally, accurate but undeveloped writing will not score well on content.

What is the Spoken Language endorsement?

GCSE English Language includes a spoken element, but it is assessed separately from the two written papers and does not contribute to the 1–9 grade. Your child's teacher assesses a presentation, discussion or role play and awards one of three grades: Pass, Merit or Distinction. This result appears on the GCSE certificate alongside the main grade, but in a separate column.

Schools vary in how they deliver this component. Some ask students to prepare and deliver a formal speech; others use a structured debate or group discussion. The teacher is the sole assessor — there is no external examiner for this component.

What grade does a student need, and what does it mean?

GCSE English Language is graded 1 to 9, with 9 the highest.

Grade 4 is the "standard pass". It is the minimum accepted by most employers, colleges and sixth forms as a baseline entry requirement.

Grade 5 is the "strong pass". Competitive sixth forms and some university programmes set grade 5 as their minimum for English Language.

Students who do not achieve grade 4 in English Language are required by law to continue studying the subject post-16. This applies to all students in England who remain in education or training at age 16 and 17. Resit opportunities are available in November and June.

How to help your child prepare

Encourage wide reading. The reading sections use unseen texts, so students who read a broad range of fiction, non-fiction, journalism and essays are better prepared for whatever extract appears.

Practise timed writing regularly. Both papers demand sustained, fluent writing under time pressure. Short daily writing exercises build the stamina and speed needed on the day.

Address spelling, punctuation and grammar early. SPaG marks appear in both papers. Identifying your child's recurring errors and working on them systematically is more effective than last-minute grammar drills.

Use past papers with mark schemes. AQA publishes past papers freely on its website. Practising under timed conditions and reviewing answers against the mark scheme teaches students exactly what examiners are looking for.

Consider a tutor for writing feedback. English Language writing is assessed against nuanced criteria. A tutor familiar with the mark scheme can give specific, targeted feedback that goes beyond what most parents — or self-study resources alone — can provide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there coursework in GCSE English Language?

No — not in the sense of coursework that contributes to the 1–9 grade. The Spoken Language endorsement is assessed by teachers during the course, but it produces a separate Pass, Merit or Distinction grade on the certificate. The entire 1–9 grade is determined solely by Papers 1 and 2. This has been the case since the 2017 GCSE reforms removed coursework from English Language.

What is the difference between English Language and English Literature at GCSE?

GCSE English Language tests transferable skills: how well your child can read with understanding and write clearly and effectively using unseen texts. No set texts are studied for English Language. GCSE English Literature tests knowledge of specific texts studied in class — typically a Shakespeare play, a 19th-century novel, a modern prose text and a poetry anthology. Most students sit both GCSEs; they are complementary rather than overlapping. It is possible to sit English Language without English Literature, but English Literature requires English Language to have been studied alongside it.

What happens if my child fails GCSE English Language?

A grade of 3 or below is not considered a pass. Students who do not achieve grade 4 must continue studying English Language post-16 — usually via their sixth form or further education college — and resit the qualification. Resits are available each November and June. Many students improve substantially with focused preparation between Year 11 and their first resit, particularly with tutor support targeting the specific question types where marks were lost.

How long is each English Language exam paper?

Each paper is 1 hour and 45 minutes. AQA recommends dividing time carefully across both sections: roughly 15 minutes reading and annotating the source text in Section A, then timing each reading question in proportion to its marks. Many teachers advise reserving at least 45 minutes for the writing section in each paper, since writing tasks carry 40 marks and reward planning as well as execution.

For targeted English Language tutoring ahead of GCSE exams, visit aitutors.me — our AI tutors work at your child's pace and adapt to their level.