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OCR GCSE English Language mock papers
Both OCR-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 OCR style — not official OCR 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Component 01 — Communicating information and ideasTwo non-fiction texts · Retrieval · Synthesis · Language · Comparison · Non-fiction writing | 80 marks | 2 hr |
| Component 02 — Exploring effects and impactTwo literary texts · Retrieval · Language · Comparison · Imaginative writing | 80 marks | 2 hr |
| Whole set | 160 marks | 4 hr |
What you get
Two complete papers
Component 01: Communicating information and ideas (80 marks, 2 hours) and Component 02: Exploring effects and impact (80 marks, 2 hours), the OCR J351 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 OCR'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 OCR 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 OCR GCSE English Language (J351) exam works
Two components, each 2 hours and 80 marks. Component 01, Communicating information and ideas, uses non-fiction texts and ends with non-fiction writing. Component 02, Exploring effects and impact, uses literary texts and ends with creative writing. Each component mixes a 20th or 21st-century text with a 19th-century one.
How to revise for it
- Practise reading two texts side by side and comparing them.
- Know which component ends in creative writing (02) and which in non-fiction (01).
- With two hours per paper, practise finishing within time, not rushing.
Tiers in GCSE English
Questions parents ask
Are these real OCR past papers?
No. They are brand-new mock papers written in the OCR style, with the same number of papers, marks, timings and question style as the real OCR 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 OCR.
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 OCR 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.