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AQA GCSE English Language mock papers
Both AQA-style English Language papers, with unseen sources printed in full and numbered line by line, reading questions in the board's own wording, and a writing task with a choice. Short questions come with mark points; longer answers are marked by you against board-style level descriptors, indicative content and a model, then you get a predicted grade. English Language is not tiered.
Independent mock papers in the AQA style — not official AQA papers.
What’s in every set
There are 13 complete sets, A to M. Every set contains these 2 papers, timed like the real exam.
| Paper | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Explorations in Creative Reading and WritingUnseen fiction · Language · Structure · Evaluation · Descriptive or narrative writing | 80 marks | 1 hr 45 min |
| Paper 2 — Writers' Viewpoints and PerspectivesTwo non-fiction sources · Summary · Language · Comparing viewpoints · Viewpoint writing | 80 marks | 1 hr 45 min |
| Whole set | 160 marks | 3 hr 30 min |
What you get
Two complete papers
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (80 marks, 1 hour 45 minutes) and Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives (80 marks, 1 hour 45 minutes), the AQA 8700 shape.
Real-style sources
19th- and early 20th-century texts printed word for word from the original, paired with modern pieces written for each paper.
Board-style questions
Every question uses AQA's own wording patterns, with line references that match the printed source.
Mark it like an examiner
Retrieval questions come with mark points; analysis, evaluation and writing come with level descriptors, indicative content and a model.
Predicted grade
Your marks are set against the summer 2026 AQA boundaries to give a grade 1–9.
Printable exam papers
Every paper downloads as a PDF with a source booklet, answer lines and the full mark scheme.
How the AQA GCSE English Language (8700) exam works
Two papers, each 1 hour 45 minutes and 80 marks. Paper 1, Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing, gives a fiction extract with four reading questions, then a descriptive or narrative writing task. Paper 2, Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives, pairs two non-fiction sources from different centuries, then asks for a piece of writing that gives a viewpoint.
How to revise for it
- Learn the four Paper 1 reading questions: each tests a different skill.
- For Paper 2, practise comparing two writers’ attitudes across the two sources.
- Save about 45 minutes for the writing section in both papers: it is half the marks.
Tiers in GCSE English
Questions parents ask
Are these real AQA past papers?
No. They are brand-new mock papers written in the AQA style, with the same number of papers, marks, timings and question style as the real AQA GCSE English Language exam. Because they are new, your child cannot have seen the questions before, which makes them a fair test. We are not connected to AQA.
How many mock papers do I get?
There are 13 complete sets, A to M. Each set has 2 papers, so that is 26 full papers in total. You can buy one paper (£6), one complete set (£9.99), or several sets.
How is it marked?
Questions with one right answer are marked instantly. Longer written answers come with the mark scheme, level descriptors and a model answer, so your child (or you) can mark them the way an examiner would.
Will my child get a predicted grade?
Yes. The final mark is set against recent AQA grade boundaries to give a predicted grade from 1 to 9. It is a guide to where your child is now, not a promise of the final result.
Printing, free samples, devices and payment are covered in our main FAQ.
Try a free sample first
Every paper has a free sample, so your child can try the format before you buy.