english language paper 2 essay

IB English Paper 2 Explained

Free introductory guide to IB English Paper 2 by IB45 and IB7 graduates.

This guide will explain IB English Paper 2 and what you need to ace the exam come May or November, when the IB Gods throw you this (seemingly) insurmountable task.

If you don't know all about Paper 1 already, do check out LitLearn's amazing guide  for IB English Paper 1. Paper 1 is all about on-the-spot thinking and  adrenaline-pumping analysis . What about Paper 2?

Well, IB English Paper 2 is  all of those things , plus extensive preparation . But don't fret! I survived Paper 2, and so have many others before you. All you need is a couple sprinkles of guidance from a seasoned Paper 2 veteran (ahem).

Meet your instructor Jackson Huang, Founder of LitLearn. His mission is to make IB English as pain-free as possible with fun, practical lessons. Jackson scored an IB45 and was accepted to Harvard, Amherst, Williams Colleges, and full scholarships to University of Melbourne & Queensland.

What is IB English Paper 2?

You're in the exam room. You stare at the page and wipe the sweat from your forehead and try to focus on the words on the page:

"We are all prisoners of ourselves.” Discuss how the sense of imprisonment shapes the meaning and the effect on the audience of at least two texts you have studied."

A Paper 2 exam consists of four of these prompts. From these options, you choose one prompt and write a 1000 to 1300-word essay on it.

How long do you get? 1 hour 45 minutes for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students.

In these 1000 to 1300 words, your task is to write a comparative essay , which — you guessed it — means comparing similarities and contrasting differences between the texts you've studied in class for Paper 2 (i.e., poems, novels, plays or short stories) .

Now that you understand what a Paper 2 essay involves, let's jump into how to properly answer one of these IB English Paper 2 prompts.

How to answer a Paper 2 Question

Let's stick with the above example about the theme of “imprisonment”.

First, see that philosophical quote at the start of the prompt? It's there to spark ideas, to get the juices flowing in your brain. You don't have to refer to it directly unless the questions explicitly asks you to do so. So the take-away message here is to not be ‘imprisoned' by the philosophical quotes at the start of the prompts.

Second, notice the command term “discuss”. This is usually replaced by words like “evaluate”, “analyse”, “examine”. Don't worry about it too much : it doesn't mean anything too important, because at the end of the day you still have to analyse, you still have to compare, and you still have to contrast.

The key of the prompt

The part after the command term is the most important part of the prompt:

"[…] how the sense of imprisonment shapes the meaning and the effect on the audience […]"

Here the “sense of imprisonment” — the key of the prompt — tells us exactly what we need to write about in the essay.

Can you find the key in this next prompt?

"Compare and contrast the effectiveness of the use of irony in two or more texts you have studied."

Notice the command term “compare and contrast” and the important part after it. The key of this prompt is “ the use of irony “.

Get comfy with morphing stuff

More often than not, our texts do not contain anything explicitly related to the prompt's key, say, the theme of “imprisonment”.

Pay attention to this next paragraph…

The secret to scoring a 7 in IB English Paper 2 is to get very comfortable with bending, morphing and twisting your texts and/or the prompt so that they are as compatible with each other as possible.

There are two ways that this can be achieved:

1. Morphing existing ideas in your own texts to fit the prompt

While Jane Sherwood's (some random character) nostalgia in your Incredible Text 1 may not directly relate to “imprisonment”, you could twist the character's nostalgia into the idea that emotions can trap or “imprison” an individual in a treasured memory or a past experience.

Nostalgia and imprisonment seem like unlikely brothers at first, but with a bit of justification they look almost like identical twins.

2. Redefining the prompt (reasonably)

The key of the prompt can often be vague . For example, there was a real IB exam prompt that asked whether “male characters were more interesting than female characters.” What does “interesting” even mean?

The IB Gods are inviting you to constrain the topic in a way that works for your texts specifically. You could write in the first sentence of your introduction:

"Interest, an important part of dramatic works, is often generated by emotional conflict and the subsequent creation of tension." "

Here I have restricted the broad topic of “interesting” to the more clearly-defined topic of “emotional conflict” because this redefinition works well for the texts I've studied for IB English Paper 2. You should do the same.

In reality, you have to morph both your texts and the prompt in order to reach a snug fit between the two. Getting to this point, which all happens during the planning stage, is the most difficult part of the Paper 2 process because it requires you to know your texts so well that you can apply the ideas in your texts to different situations.

How many texts to compare and contrast?

Before we continue with this introductory guide, we need to address the age-old question of how many texts should we compare and contrast in an IB English Paper 2 comparative essay?

In the old syllabus, you had the choice to compare and contrast up to three texts.

Luckily, in the new syllabus (First assessment 2021), you don't have to make a choice: the IB requires you to compare and contrast just two texts . One less decision for you to make!

However, you are still recommended to prepare three texts, so that you have 3 possible combinations of texts to answer your prompts (Texts 1 & 2, Texts 1 & 3 and Texts 2 & 3).

Now that we agree on how many texts to compare and contrast, let's see how we can make the texts work together.

Choosing the best points across your two texts

There's an easy way, and there's a hard way.

If you want a score of 5 or below , you can simply think of two points to answer the prompt for Text 1 and two other points to answer the prompt for Text 2. Then, slap them together into different paragraphs, regurgitate some shallow comparison and contrast, and call it a comparative essay. That doesn't sound very sophisticated, does it?

On the other hand, if you want a score of 6 or 7 , you'll need to use a lot more brainpower and insight. The points that you choose for your two texts are very important, in terms of how the points relate to each other and to the prompt. The points need to have enough overlaps that similarities can be analysed, but not too much similarity because you also want to contrast differences.

What ends up happening is you enter an algorithm — a set of steps, sort of like a recipe — where you repeatedly attempt to find good points for the prompt, gradually morphing them while re-defining the prompt itself, until you reach a good plan for your Paper 2 essay.

What does a good plan generally look like?

• Your re-defined prompt has not strayed far, or at all, from the original prompt.
• The points for Text 1 fit well with the prompt.
• The points for Text 2 fit well with the prompt as well as the points your chose for Text 1.

The million dollar question is: How do we get to this optimum stage where the prompts and the texts and married so harmoniously ? The answer is brainstorming.

In these Pro lessons from our study guide, we go into detail about the exact strategies for brainstorming for Paper 2 under exam conditions, choosing the right Paper 2 essay structure, and writing a strong Paper 2 thesis.

Pro members only

How to best prepare for Paper 2

We've talked a lot about the skills and questions necessary to tackle an IB English Paper 2 prompt, but all of that happens during the exam itself. What can we do before Paper 2 to put ourselves in the best position?

• (Really) understanding your text
• Choosing great quotes for your Paper 2 (covered in a later lesson )
• Practice past Paper 2 exams

Let's go through Steps 1 and 3.

Understanding your text

IB English Paper 2 tests skills that require a deep understanding . First, to compare and contrast effectively, you need to know your texts well enough that you can find similarities and differences in the micro-details and in the macro themes, in the characters and in the techniques. Second, in order to adapt the ideas in your text to the prompt , you need to know how far you can stretch those ideas while maintaining their validity.

Without a deep understanding, you're dead in the water.

In our Paper 2 Preparation guide, we tell you exactly how to prepare your Paper 2 knowledge and notes, down to the specific questions you should be able to answer. The preparation is organized into Level 1 to Level 4 to give you a structured study roadmap for Paper 2. That way you don't get overwhelmed.

No sign up or credit card required.

Practising Past Paper 2s

The most challenging part of Paper 2 is bringing together three aspects:

• The quotes you've memorised
• Your analysis skills
• Your ability to adapt the quotes and ideas to a new prompt that you've never, ever encountered before

Grabbing that 7 in IB English Paper 2 requires that you are solid on all three fronts . You cannot just practice each of these aspects individually. Practising to plan and write Paper 2 responses ensures that you practise this core trifecta of skills together, all at once.

Practising past Paper 2s was the core of my IB English Paper 2 preparation schedule. It helped me to memorise quotes, learn which quotes are better than others, and learn certain pairs of themes, characters and techniques that work well in my texts for comparison and contrast.

By practising Paper 2s extensively, you increase your awareness of what works (and what doesn't) for your texts. Hence, the main thing you have to worry about on the day of your exam is the prompt itself--the only variable that you cannot control.

In the Paper 2 study guide, we have an exemplar IB English Paper 2 essay from a past exam: See the exemplar essay .

Question​bank

Paper 1 Practice Exams

Past Paper 1 Solutions

Paper 2 Guide

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AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 – Revision Guide

Welcome to the complete revision guide for AQA GCSE English Language paper 2. Keep reading for our top tips and advice on each question, as we break down the English Language paper 2. Find out what to expect from each question, how to revise effectively and how to get top marks. 

To revise effectively for GCSE English Language you do need to set aside plenty of revision time. Our tutors always hear students say that they don’t need to – or even can’t – revise for English Language. That’s all wrong. You must   revise for the subject, you just need to know how. 

You should focus on:

• understanding how each of the papers is structured; 
• knowing what the examiner is looking for on each question; and
• doing lots of practice questions and marking your own work to improve quickly. 

You can also find our guide to AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 here .

Alongside our revision guides, our team of top English tutors provide one-to-one lessons designed specifically to help you succeed in the exams. Contact us directly to book your first lesson. 

Overview of the paper

AQA GCSE English Language paper 2 explores non-fiction writers’ viewpoints and perspectives. Section A consists of 4 questions, in which you’ll analyse two linked sources across different time periods and genres. Section B consists of a single big question where you will write your own text for a specified audience, purpose and form. Here you’ll provide your own perspective on a task related to the theme that was introduced in section A. 

There is 1 hour 45 minutes to complete the paper. There are 80 marks at stake, making up 50% of your GCSE English Language qualification. 

AQA English Language Paper 2 Section A

Read the sources carefully – spend 15 mins here.

Make sure you spend the first 10-15 minutes of the exam carefully reading the sources. You should: 

• read the texts carefully and thoroughly;
• read the questions; and
• highlight important parts of the sources for use later. 

Question 1 – select 4 true statements – spend 5 mins here

The first question should be fairly straightforward but do ensure you take a few minutes to think it through carefully. You’ll be asked to focus on a small part of source A and select four true statements from a selection of eight. Be a little careful here because there will be some statements that you think could possibly be true, but you should be able to point to where you’re told this in the text for it to be true. That will confirm your choice. 

Things to remember on this question: 

• focus only on the specific section of source A; 
• pinpoint where in the text the writer tells you each of your choices; and
• don’t spend more than 5 minutes here. 

Question 2 – summary of differences or similarities – spend 10 mins here

For question 2 you need to refer to both source A and B. The question is out of 8 marks. You’ll be asked to write a summary of the differences or similarities between something/ someone in source A and something/ someone in source B. You don’t need to worry about analysing language or structure here, simply identify 3-4 differences or similarities (focused on what is in your specific question). Summarise each of the differences in turn, with quotations, and explore perceptive inferences from both texts. Inferences are not explicitly said, they are the extra layers of understanding that are suggested by the writer and which you pick up  from “reading between the lines”. To get top marks you need to examine what the writers imply about the issue.  

Things to remember for this question: 

• you do  not  need to analyse any language or structure here;
• focus on explaining perceptive inferences from both texts to explain the key differences or similarities; and
• cover three or four points with quotations. 

Question 3 – the writer’s use of language to describe something – spend 12 mins here

There are 12 marks up for grabs here. You will always be asked, ‘how does the writer use language to describe…’ followed by something specific from part of one source. You need to analyse the effects of the writer’s choice of language. Make around four points and explore them using good quotations and sophisticated use of subject terminology. The language features you pick out could include things like: metaphors, similes, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, sentence forms and the use of specific types of words or phrases. 

• focus on analysing the effects of the writer’s choice of language; 
• use accurate subject terminology by identifying specific language techniques; and
• cover four points with excellent quotations. 

Question 4 – comparing different perspectives – spend 18 mins here

Question 4 is a bigger, extended question with 16 marks at stake. As such, the examiner is expecting more from you. The question will always ask you to “compare how the writers convey their different perspectives/attitudes about…” something specific to the sources. You need to perceptively compare their different perspectives or attitudes, and most importantly,  compare the methods the writers use  to convey their different perspectives or attitudes. Everything is in scope here, so you can analyse any methods, including both language and structure. Aim to write about four good comparison points. These four paragraphs will cover both sources (in order to compare them properly) and they’ll be more developed than in the earlier questions. 

• keep focused on the specific task in the question;
• analyse the methods used by the writers to convey their attitudes to the topic; and
• consider both language and structure. 

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 Section B

Question 5 – writing to present a viewpoint – spend 45 mins here.

Question 5 provides your opportunity to show the examiner how you can write effectively to explain your point of view on a specific issue. There are a whopping 40 marks up for grabs here, so make sure you spend the full 45 mins doing this question. You’ll be given a statement on an issue related to those discussed in section A. Your task will be to write in a specific form, for a specific audience, to present your point of view on the issue. You might be asked to write a newspaper article, letter or speech, amongst other forms. The marks are allocated specifically, with 24 marks available for content and organisation and 16 marks for technical accuracy (spelling, punctuation and grammar). 

To do well in this question we recommend spending the first 5 minutes thinking deeply about the task and planning your answer. This plan will ensure your answer has a good, consistent argument and structure. When writing, make sure your style and use of language reflects the form and audience of the task. Use ambitious vocabulary, language techniques and structural features to really demonstrate what you can do. You should, of course, always ensure your spelling, punctuation and grammar are spot on. Leave a couple of minutes at the end to double check your technical accuracy. 

• match your style of writing to the purpose and audience of the task; 
• plan your answer first;
• leave the full 45 minutes to complete the task fully; and
• use ambitious vocabulary, language and structural features to present your viewpoint and really show the examiner what you can do. 

Now Keep revising for your AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2

The key thing after reading this guide is to practise. Do as many past papers and practice questions as you can. Mark your own work and try answering the questions again focusing on areas to develop. You can find all of the past AQA papers here . For fully personalised advice and support, why not try a lesson with one of our online GCSE English experts? Simply drop us a quick message and we’ll arrange your free tutoring consultation. 

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AQA Paper 2 (8700)

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University of york - ma philosophy.

Philosophy Master's Graduate from York with a passion for language, learning, and everything academic!

You can find all AQA English Language GCSE (8700) Paper 2 past papers, inserts and mark schemes below:

Question Papers

• June 2017 QP
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Mark Schemes

• June 2017 MS
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• June 2022 MS
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• Answers and commentaries (1)
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Showing 96 results

AQA | Non-exam assessment guide: Spoken language endorsement Promoted Published 30 Oct 2015

Question paper: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - Sample set 1

Published 18 Nov 2014 | PDF | 217 KB

Question paper: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - Sample set 1

Published 18 Nov 2014 | PDF | 219 KB

Insert: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - Sample set 1

Published 18 Nov 2014 | PDF | 288 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - Sample set 1

Published 18 Nov 2014 | PDF | 318 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - Sample set 1

Published 18 Nov 2014 | PDF | 332 KB

Notes and guidance: Further insights - writing task - Paper 2

Published 21 Nov 2014 | PDF | 2.3 MB

Notes and guidance: Further insights - how structure is assessed - Paper 1 Question 3

Published 21 Nov 2014 | PDF | 8.3 MB

Non-exam assessment guide: Spoken language endorsement

Published 30 Oct 2015

Notes and guidance: assessment objectives symmetry grid

Published 6 Jul 2016 | PDF | 547 KB

Grade descriptors for GCSE English Language (9-1) [GOV.UK] [gov.uk]

Published 26 Jul 2016

Notes and guidance: KS3 to GCSE

Published 14 Nov 2016 | PDF | 880 KB

Notes and guidance: our assessments

Published 14 Nov 2016 | PDF | 1.3 MB

Notes and guidance: suggested exam timings

Published 17 May 2017 | PDF | 6.2 MB

Marking grid

Published 3 Nov 2017 | XLSX | 229 KB

Insight report: results at a glance - June 2018

Published 19 Oct 2018 | PDF | 835 KB

Insight report: results at a glance - June 2019

Published 17 Sep 2019 | PDF | 351 KB

Spoken Language Endorsement: standardising videos

Published 11 Dec 2019

JCQ instructions for conducting non-examination assessments [jcq.org.uk]

Notes and guidance: Q&A and insights on the 2019 series webinar [event.on24.com]

Using our assessment tools to plan and teach

Published 4 Aug 2020

Examiner report: Component 3 NEA Spoken language - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 136 KB

Insert: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 177 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 115 KB

Question paper: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 434 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 119 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 389 KB

Question paper: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 809 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 380 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 1.3 MB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 2.3 MB

Insert: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 1.7 MB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 360 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 669 KB

Examiner report: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 171 KB

Examiner report: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 191 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 296 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2020

Published 18 Jan 2022 | PDF | 420 KB

Insert: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 203 KB

Question paper: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 483 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 130 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 353 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 138 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 366 KB

Question paper: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 4.3 MB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 1010 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 1017 KB

Insert: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 251 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 120 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 132 KB

Examiner report: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 151 KB

Examiner report: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 159 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 318 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2021

Published 29 Jul 2022 | PDF | 298 KB

Centre declaration form: Component 3 NEA Spoken language - November 2023

Published 7 Mar 2023 | PDF | 125 KB

Published 7 Mar 2023 | DOCX | 228 KB

Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance: 2024

Published 7 Mar 2023 | PDF | 137 KB

Published 7 Mar 2023 | DOCX | 241 KB

Insert: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 154 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 97 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 103 KB

Question paper: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 418 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 276 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 263 KB

Question paper: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 977 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 1.1 MB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Insert: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 200 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 122 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 131 KB

Examiner report: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 158 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 295 KB

Examiner report: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 175 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 397 KB

Notes and guidance: Non-exam assessment

Published 22 Sep 2023 | PDF | 528 KB

Insert: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 189 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 106 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 113 KB

Question paper: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 1.2 MB

Question paper: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 373 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 287 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 273 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 820 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Insert: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 253 KB

Insert (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 166 KB

Insert (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 156 KB

Examiner report: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 176 KB

Examiner report: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 178 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 294 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - November 2022

Published 31 Oct 2023 | PDF | 295 KB

Centre declaration form: Component 3 NEA Spoken language - November 2024

Published 10 Nov 2023 | PDF | 81 KB

Published 10 Nov 2023 | DOCX | 324 KB

Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance: 2025

Published 10 Nov 2023 | PDF | 90 KB

Centre declaration form: non-exam assessment, fieldwork and live performance 2025

Published 10 Nov 2023 | DOCX | 293 KB

Exampro: interactive student examples [exampro.co.uk]

Published 12 Dec 2023

Results snapshot - November 2023

Published 23 Feb 2024 | PDF | 2 MB

Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge igcse english - first language (0500).

• Past papers, examiner reports and specimen papers

You can download one or more papers for a previous session. Please note that these papers may not reflect the content of the current syllabus.

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This is only a selection of our papers. Registered Cambridge International Schools can access the full catalogue of teaching and learning materials including papers from 2018 through our School Support Hub .

Past papers

• -->June 2022 Mark Scheme Paper 11 (PDF, 244KB)
• -->June 2022 Insert Paper 11 (PDF, 1MB)
• -->June 2022 Mark Scheme Paper 21 (PDF, 219KB)
• -->June 2022 Insert Paper 21 (PDF, 903KB)

Examiner reports

• -->June 2022 Examiner Report (PDF, 6MB)

Specimen papers

• -->2020 Specimen Paper 1 Mark Scheme (PDF, 187KB)
• -->2020 Specimen Paper 1 Insert (PDF, 155KB)
• -->2020 Specimen Paper 2 Mark Scheme (PDF, 981KB)
• -->2020 Specimen Paper 2 Insert (PDF, 143KB)
• -->2024 Specimen Paper 1 Markscheme (PDF, 1MB)

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2017 AQA GCSE English Language Past Papers

June 2017 aqa gcse english language past papers, aqa gcse english language paper 1 – june 2017.

GCSE English Language Question Paper 1. Reference 8700/1.

• View Question Paper
• View Mark Scheme
• View Insert

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 – June 2017

GCSE English Language Question Paper 2. Reference 8700/2.

November 2017 AQA GCSE English Language Past Papers

Aqa gcse english language paper 1 – november 2017, aqa gcse english language paper 2 – november 2017.

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Paper 2 Marked Answers

Looking at examples of marked answers is a great way to help you understand the skills you need to show for each question and the level of detail you need to include. on each answer you'll see annotations from the examiner in the margin. these show where the student has included a skill and at what level. at the end you'll see the final mark., these are example answers from the june 2019 paper 2. you can find the whole paper  here ..

Edexcel GCSE English Language Past Papers

This section includes recent GCSE English Language (9-1) past papers from Pearson Edexcel. You can download each of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Language past papers and marking schemes by clicking the links below.

November 2022  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

Paper 1: 1EN0/01  English Language - Fiction and Imaginative Writing  Download Paper    –    Download Mark Scheme

Paper 2: 1EN0/02  English Language - Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing Download Paper    –    Download Mark Scheme

June 2022  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

November 2021  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

November 2020  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

The above papers are labelled June 2020

June 2019  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

November 2018  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

June 2018  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

November 2017  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

June 2017  Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) English Language Past Papers (1EN0)

English: June 2016 Edexcel GCSE Past Papers

Unit 2: 5EH2F/01 The Writer’s Craft – Foundation –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 2: 5EH2H/01 The Writer’s Craft – Higher –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme

English Language: June 2016 Edexcel GCSE Past Papers

Unit 2: 5EN2F/01 The Writer’s Voice – Foundation –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 2: 5EN2H/01 The Writer’s Voice – Higher –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme

English: June 2015

Unit 2: 5EH2H/01 The Writer’s Craft – Higher –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme

English Language: June 2015

English: June 2014

2: 5EH2H/01 The Writer’s Craft – Higher –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme

English Language: June 2014

English: June 2013

2: 5EH2H/01 The Writer’s Craft – Higher –   Download Paper  –  Download Mark Scheme  

English Language: June 2013

For more GCSE English Language past papers from other exam boards  click here .

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AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2, Section A: Q4 - How to Write a Comparative Essay + Examples

Subject: English

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

21 May 2024

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An 18-page resource which provides a full breakdown of AQA GCSE Language Paper 2 Section A, Question 4 ‘How to Write a Comparative Essay’ - including a process for answering the question, sample questions and student answers at a range of levels.

This digital + printable pdf + PowerPoint resource includes the following:

OVERVIEW EXAMPLE QUESTIONS HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION MARK SCHEME BREAKDOWN EXAMPLE PARAGRAPHS + BREAKDOWN

Teaching or studying AQA? Have a resource on us! View our FREE Descriptive Writing answer to see whether the complete bundle is right for you.

View our COMPLETE AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 BUNDLE here.

Or our COMPLETE AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 BUNDLE here.

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AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 - A MEGA BUNDLE (Digital + printable PDF + PowerPoints)

A mega bundle of 19 AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 resources, made by an AQA examiner and teacher. Suitable for teachers and students, available at a discount of 40%! If you're looking for the [AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12542887) bundle, click here. This bundle covers everything you need to teach or learn the AQA Language Paper 2: Contains both **example answers of varying levels** by students, and **full mark example answers** by an examiner. Try a resource for FREE to see whether this bundle is right for you: [AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2: Practise Mock Exam / Specimen Paper](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12823282) This bundle contains **digital + printable pdf + PowerPoint resources** that cover the following: - Paper 2 Overview + Introduction - How to Write and Analyse Great Speeches - How to Write and Analyse Great Opinion Articles - How to Write and Analyse Great Letters - How to Write and Analyse Great Diary / Journal Entries SECTION A RESCOURCES: - Section A: Q1 + Q2 Breakdown + Example Answers - Section A: Q3 Breakdown + Model Answers L5-L9 - Section A Q4: How to Write a Comparative Essay + Examples - Exam Preparation: AQA Language Paper 2 Section A SECTION B RESOURCES: - Section B Q5 - Nonfiction Writing - Section B: Example A /L7 Article + Feedback - Section B: Example A*/L9 Article / Parents are Overprotective - Section B: Letter Writing Task + Full Mark / L9 Example Answer - Section B: Example A* / L9 Letter - Halloween BONUS MATERIAL: - Practice Exam Paper 2: Travelling + Exploration - Paper 2 L6/ B grade Full Student Answer + Feedback - Ernest Shackleton’s Diary Entries - Paper 2: Understanding Perspectives - London Labour and the London Poor Enjoy! If you need further help, please take a look at our English Language and Literature [VIEW OUR SHOP HERE](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Scrbbly)

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