Paper-2-Overview-aqa

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GCSE English Language Paper 2 Overview

The best way to revise Paper 2 of the AQA GCSE English Language exam is:

To know what the examiner is expecting to see in your answers
Mastering the underpinning skills required to achieve the best possible outcome in each question

Paper 2 overview
The non-fiction paper: you will explore viewpoints and perspectives in non-fiction texts, and produce a piece of non-fiction writing You will be given a question paper and an insert booklet, containing two source texts The paper is worth 80 marks in total It counts as 50% of the GCSE The exam is in two sections: Section A: Reading: you are assessed on your reading skills (40 marks) Section B: Writing: you are assessed on the quality of your own non-fiction writing (40 marks)
Timings
1 hour 45 minutes in total Spend 1 hour on Section A Spend 45 minutes on Section B

How long should I spend on each question in Paper 2?

Below are suggested timings for the questions in Paper 2. The reading question timings include reading time:

Question	Marks	Suggested timing	What skill is this testing?	Links to question-specific revision notes
1	4	10 minutes	AO1: comprehension	Paper 2 Question 1
2	8	15 minutes	AO1: synthesis and interpretation	Paper 2 Question 2
3	12	15 minutes	AO2: language analysis	Paper 2 Question 3
4	16	20 minutes	AO3: comparison of writers’ ideas and perspectives	Paper 2 Question 4
5	40	45 minutes (including 10 minutes to plan and 5 minutes to proofread)	AO5: your ability to write an effective piece of non-fiction and AO6: your use and control of spelling, punctuation and grammar	Paper 2 Question 5

Examiner Tips and Tricks

As for Paper 1, AQA advises that you should spend 15 minutes reading through the source documents and the Section A questions before you start to write. However, with two long texts included in your insert document, it pays to have a more strategic approach:

Start by quickly skim-reading the source material to grasp the main ideas
Carefully read each question to understand what it is asking
Focus on reading only the specific sections of the text relevant to each question

By approaching the text in this targeted manner, you can avoid spending unnecessary time on parts that aren’t needed for answering the questions.

Should I complete the reading section before the writing section?

It doesn’t matter whether you complete Section A or Section B first, although the topic of the source documents in Section A will, in some way, link to your writing prompt in Section B.

The paper has also been designed purposefully to guide students through the two set texts. This means it can help to answer all of the reading questions in order because each one should build on the last.

What am I tested on in Paper 2?

There are five assessment objectives for this paper. These are the skills which you will be assessed on:

Section A
AO1	Understanding and interpreting information (12 marks)	Understand, synthesise and interpret obvious and implied information and ideas in a text
AO2	Analysing language (12 marks)	Explain how writers use words and language devices to create effects and make readers think or feel a certain way Use subject terminology (like metaphor, simile, etc.) to back up your ideas
AO3	Comparing texts (16 marks)	Compare the ideas and perspectives of writers from two texts Explain how they express these ideas
Section B
AO5	Content and organisation (24 marks)	Write clearly and creatively, using a suitable tone and style for your purpose and audience Organise your ideas so your writing flows well and makes sense
AO6	Technical accuracy (16 marks)	Use a wide range of vocabulary and sentence types to make your writing interesting and effective Check spelling and punctuation to keep your writing accurate

Expert tips from examiners

Section A:

Carefully read each question and identify the relevant source or text section
For Question 1, read all eight statements before selecting any as true:
- Make sure you know how to identify your answers in the answer booklet
To score well on Question 2, make sure you have understood the texts before writing down your answer:
- Then add relevant details that directly answer the question
- Ensure your details come from both texts
In Question 3, focus on the effects of language use, rather than guessing at a reader’s possible feelings
Keep your Question 4 answer concise, comparing directly and consistently between both texts
Avoid simply listing language features — always explain their effect and the writer’s intention

Section B:

Plan your response to keep it clear and cohesive
Establish your viewpoint from the start and develop it consistently throughout
Avoid unnecessary layout features (e.g. columns in an article) that don’t enhance your argument
Use varied sentence structures and accurate punctuation to achieve higher marks
Clearly identify the purpose, audience and format before writing

Learn more

For more great tips and tricks, check out the following articles created by our subject experts:

How to revise for GCSE English Language
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English Language GCSE AQA