GCSE English Language (9-1) Exam: free practice test
GCSE English Language tests how well you read unseen fiction and non-fiction texts and how well you write for different purposes. With AQA it is assessed by two 1 hour 45 minute papers, each half reading and half writing, plus a separately reported Spoken Language endorsement. Exams run in the May/June series, with a November resit series for students who were at least 16 on the previous 31 August.
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
About the GCSE English Language exam
GCSE English Language tests how well you read unseen fiction and non-fiction texts and how well you write for different purposes. With AQA it is assessed by two 1 hour 45 minute papers, each half reading and half writing, plus a separately reported Spoken Language endorsement. Exams run in the May/June series, with a November resit series for students who were at least 16 on the previous 31 August.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the GCSE English Language exam
- Spend about one minute per mark. On AQA Paper 1 that is roughly 5 minutes on Question 1, 10 each on Questions 2 and 3, 20 to 25 on Question 4 and 45 on Question 5, after about 15 minutes of reading.
- Half of every AQA paper is the writing question (40 of 80 marks). Never leave it to the last 20 minutes: 16 of those 40 marks are for spelling, punctuation and sentence variety.
- Read the line references. Questions that say 'lines 1 to 8' or 'from line 18 to the end' get no credit for material outside those lines.
- Analysis questions reward the effect on the reader, not spotting. Name the technique, quote a short phrase, then explain what specific words make the reader think or feel.
- Paper 1 Question 3 asks about structure across the whole extract (openings, shifts in focus, endings), not about individual words. Keep language analysis for Question 2.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the GCSE Maths Formula Sheet.
What's in the premium GCSE English Language prep
Premium GCSE English Language prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Reading for Information, Inference and Summary8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Language Analysis8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3Structure Analysis8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Evaluating and Comparing Texts8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Descriptive and Narrative Writing7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6Writing to Present a Viewpoint7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8Papers, Assessment Objectives and Spoken Language7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like exam day. Hit your target on them before your first paper.Premium
Read the complete GCSE English Language study notes for “Reading for Information, Inference and Summary”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 14 minutes of reading: What AO1 means · Explicit and implicit information · The short questions: AQA Paper 1 Question 1 and Paper 2 Question 1 · How to make a good inference · The summary question: AQA Paper 2 Question 2 · Synthesis: combining two texts · Other boards · Timing and reading the sources, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organised topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready for exam day. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. Read this extract: 'The shop had stood on the corner of Wharf Street for ninety years. Its windows were grimy, and a faded sign above the door still promised "Fresh Bread Daily", although nobody could remember the last loaf.' Which statement is true according to the extract?
2. AQA Paper 2 Question 2 asks you to write a summary of the differences between two people described in Source A and Source B. Which approach earns the most credit?
3. 'The old house sulked at the end of the lane, its windows staring blankly at the road.' Which technique is the writer mainly using?
4. In the sentence 'She crept silently past the sleeping guard', what word class is 'silently'?
5. 'His words were a knife in her chest.' Which comment best explains the effect of this image?
6. A story opens with a description of a whole city at dawn, then narrows to one apartment window, then to a woman sitting alone at a kitchen table. Which structural technique is this?
7. Which of these is a structural feature rather than a language feature?
8. AQA Paper 1 Question 4 gives a statement about part of the extract and asks how far you agree. Which assessment objective does it test?
9. What must an answer to AQA Paper 2 Question 4 do to reach the top level?
10. In AQA Paper 1 Question 5 (descriptive or narrative writing), how are the 40 marks divided?
11. Which sentence best 'shows' rather than 'tells' that a character is nervous?
12. You begin a formal letter to your local council with 'Dear Sir or Madam'. Which sign-off is correct?
13. 'Some people argue that homework teaches discipline. However, hours of worksheets every night teach exhaustion, not discipline.' What is the writer doing?
14. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
15. How is the Spoken Language endorsement reported on a GCSE English Language certificate?
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- One subject of your choice: any GCSE, A-level or Functional Skills exam
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
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- Video lessons as they release
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- One subject of your choice: any GCSE, A-level or Functional Skills exam
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: GCSE Maths formula sheet, command words cheat sheet, 12-week revision planner and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Exam guide
GCSE English Language exam guide (2027): GCSE English Language is the one GCSE almost everyone takes, and grade 4 is the pass that colleges, apprenticeships and employers ask for. There is no set text to learn: every paper uses unseen extracts, so you revise skills, not content. This guide explains the AQA 8700 papers question by question, including the small changes AQA introduced from summer 2026, how Edexcel and OCR differ, how grading works and how to plan your revision.
GCSE English Language exam FAQ
How many questions are on the GCSE English Language exam?
AQA: 2 written papers, 80 marks each (160 marks in total), each with a reading section and a writing section, with a time limit of 3 hours 30 minutes in total (aqa: 2 × 1 hour 45 minutes). Format: written exam, unseen texts, no tiers (everyone sits the same papers). the spoken language endorsement is assessed by your teacher and reported separately.
What is the passing score for GCSE English Language?
Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass. Boundaries are set after every exam series, so aim for 70% in practice.
How much does the GCSE English Language exam cost?
No fee for school and college students (the school pays). Private candidates pay the exam centre; fees vary by centre. School and college students don't pay exam fees themselves. Private candidates pay the exam centre, and fees vary by centre and board.
Which languages is the GCSE English Language exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the GCSE English Language exam?
At your school or college, or as a private candidate at an exam centre that accepts them.
Is this GCSE English Language practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full GCSE English Language prep is Premium at £29 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium GCSE English Language prep?
3,000 practice questions organised topic by topic (Reading for Information, Inference and Summary: 375; Language Analysis: 375; Structure Analysis: 375; Evaluating and Comparing Texts: 375; Descriptive and Narrative Writing: 375; Writing to Present a Viewpoint: 375; Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar: 375; Papers, Assessment Objectives and Spoken Language: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
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Exam details are summarised from the exam boards' published specifications available in November 2026. the exam boards changes formats and fees, so confirm with AQA (8700), Pearson Edexcel (1EN0) and OCR (J351) before you book. Kennington College is not affiliated with any exam board or with Ofqual.