English Language Revision
Both papers, question by question: reading analysis, evaluation and writing skills.
AQA GCSE English Language (8700) is a skills subject with no set texts: every reading source in the exam is unseen, so the way to revise is to master the question types and the writing craft rather than memorise content. These lessons cover the whole course, question by question, and reflect the updated question format for first exams in June 2026.
The course is examined in two equally weighted papers. Paper 1, Explorations in creative reading and writing, pairs close reading of a fiction extract with your own descriptive or narrative writing. Paper 2, Writers' viewpoints and perspectives, sets two linked non-fiction sources from different time periods and asks you to summarise, analyse, compare and then write to present a viewpoint. A separately reported Spoken Language endorsement completes the qualification. Work through the per-question lessons and the reading and writing toolkits, turn any lesson into a quiz or flashcards, and ask the built-in tutor whenever a mark scheme or technique stops making sense.
Lessons
Exam overview
17 min
Reading and exam skills
36 min
7 min
7 min
Paper 1: Creative reading and writing
67 min
LessonPaper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
P1 Paper 1: Creative reading and writing
16 days ago
6 min
LessonPaper 1 Question 1: The Multiple-Choice Question
P1 Paper 1: Creative reading and writing
16 days ago
8 min
9 min
9 min
8 min
LessonPaper 1 Question 5: Descriptive and Narrative Writing
P1 Paper 1: Creative reading and writing
16 days ago
Paper 2: Viewpoints and perspectives
67 min
LessonPaper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives
P2 Paper 2: Viewpoints and perspectives
16 days ago
5 min
7 min
8 min
LessonPaper 2 Question 3: Analysing Language in Non-Fiction
P2 Paper 2: Viewpoints and perspectives
16 days ago
8 min
LessonPaper 2 Question 4: Comparing Viewpoints and Perspectives
P2 Paper 2: Viewpoints and perspectives
16 days ago
8 min
LessonPaper 2 Question 5: Writing to Present a Viewpoint
P2 Paper 2: Viewpoints and perspectives
16 days ago
Writing skills
58 min
7 min
8 min
8 min
8 min
Spoken language
17 min
Frequently asked questions
By two written papers, each 1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks and 50% of the grade. Paper 1 is creative reading and writing; Paper 2 is viewpoints and perspectives across two sources. All reading sources are unseen. A Spoken Language endorsement is reported as a separate grade.
No. Unlike English Literature, English Language has no set texts. Every reading source in the exam is unseen, so you revise the question types, the language and structure analysis skills, and the writing craft rather than memorising specific texts.
AQA updated the questions for first exams in June 2026. Paper 1 Question 1 is now a multiple-choice question, and Paper 2 Question 2 was reworded as a summary and synthesis task. These lessons teach the current 2026 format and mark schemes.
On each paper, Section A reading is 40 marks and Section B writing is 40 marks. Within the writing task, 24 marks are for content and organisation (AO5) and 16 for technical accuracy (AO6), so spelling, punctuation and sentence variety are 20% of every paper's marks.
Yes. Reading every public lesson is free, and a free account lets you generate quizzes and flashcards from them. Pro is optional and simply removes the monthly creation limit.
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