AQA English Language Paper 1: every question, mark and timing for 2027

AQA English Language Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 80 marks, which is half of your GCSE. Section A has four reading questions on one fiction extract, and Section B has one piece of descriptive or narrative writing. Each section is worth 40 marks. For summer 2027 the questions, marks and timings stay the same, and you sit the paper on Monday 24 May 2027. What has changed is the wording of some questions and the look of the paper, so it helps to know exactly what you'll see on the day.

What is on AQA English Language Paper 1?

Paper 1 is called Explorations in creative reading and writing. In Section A you read one literature fiction extract from the 20th or 21st century and answer four questions about it. In Section B you write your own description or story, often linked to the theme of the extract.

Source: AQA GCSE English Language (8700) and AQA's 2026 updates. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

Paper 2 follows the same pattern with two non-fiction sources and a viewpoint writing task. If you're aiming for a pass, our guide to what a grade 4 takes covers both papers.

What changes for AQA English Language Paper 1 in summer 2027?

Two sets of changes shape the paper you'll sit in May 2027. The first is AQA's set of question changes, first used in the summer 2026 papers and carried forward. AQA says it hasn't changed the structure: the number of questions, the marks and the assessment objectives are the same. Here is what moved, question by question.

• Q1 is now multiple choice, in the same style as Paper 2 Question 1. You choose the correct statements instead of writing four things in your own words.
• Q2 is unchanged.
• Q3 now focuses on a single effect. AQA's example is "How has the writer structured the text to create suspense?"
• Q4 no longer puts the statement in the mouth of a student. You can agree, disagree, or do both, and the question always tells you which part of the extract to use. The bullet about the writer's methods has also been reworded.
• Q5 reminds you that you can use your imagination and don't have to describe the exact picture. The story option now asks for an opening instead of a whole story.

The second set is newer. On 22 September 2026 AQA announced layout changes for all its question papers from summer 2027, except modern foreign languages. Source texts will be printed in a single left-aligned column, with line numbers on the left where needed. Multiple-choice questions will use one consistent tick-box format across every subject. Bold, italics, capitals and underlining will be used less.

These affect how the paper looks. The skills and marks stay as they are. If a revision guide tells you to "list four things" for Q1, it was written for the paper before 2026.

How long should you spend on each question?

AQA prints its own timing advice on the front of the paper: about 15 minutes to read the source and all five questions, then about 45 minutes on Section A and about 45 minutes on Section B. That adds up to the full 1 hour 45 minutes. Within Section A, a split that follows the marks works well.

Source: timing advice printed on AQA Paper 1 question papers, for example June 2022. The per-question split is our suggestion, based on the marks. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

The most common timing problem is spending too long on Q2 and Q3 and rushing Q4. Q4 is worth more than Q2 and Q3 together, so protect those 20 minutes. If you overrun, move on and come back.

How do you answer Q2, Q3 and Q4?

Q2 and Q3 test AO2: explaining how writers use language and structure to create effects, with subject terminology. Q4 tests AO4: evaluating the text and backing up your view with references. In recent AQA mark schemes, the top level for Q2 and Q3 is 7 to 8 marks and for Q4 it is 16 to 20 marks. Answers at that level are described as perceptive and detailed.

The examples below use a short extract we wrote ourselves. They show the kind of thinking that reaches the top level. They haven't been marked by AQA.

The corridor stretched ahead, longer than it had any right to be. Somewhere beyond the last door, a clock ticked. Then it stopped.

Question 2: language

Pick two or three precise details, name the method, and explain the effect on the reader. Short, focused points beat a long list of techniques.

Example: "The writer personifies the corridor as if it has broken a rule, stretching 'longer than it had any right to be'. This makes the building itself feel hostile before anything has happened. The short final sentence, 'Then it stopped.', mirrors the sudden silence and leaves the reader waiting in the same pause as the character."

Question 3: structure

Q3 is about the whole extract, so look at the beginning, the middle and the end. Since 2026 the question names one effect, such as suspense, so every point should link back to it. Useful things to track are shifts in focus, what the writer holds back, and how the ending changes things.

Example: "The writer opens with a wide view of the corridor, then narrows the focus to a single sound behind the last door. Holding back what is in the room keeps the reader waiting with the narrator, which builds suspense."

Question 4: evaluation

Q4 gives you a statement about a named part of the extract and asks how far you agree. Give your view early, then support it with quotations and comments on the writer's methods. You can now agree with part of the statement and question another part, which often makes for a more thoughtful answer.

Example: "I mostly agree that this section feels threatening. The stopped clock suggests time itself has frozen, so the reader expects something to happen. However, the corridor is empty, so the threat is suggested more than shown, and that uncertainty is what makes it frightening."

How is Q5 marked?

Q5 is worth 40 marks, the biggest single question on the paper. As AQA's specification sets out, 24 marks are for content and organisation (AO5) and 16 marks are for technical accuracy (AO6). You choose one of two tasks: usually a description based on a picture, or a story.

Content and organisation rewards writing that suits its purpose and audience, with chosen vocabulary, a clear shape, and paragraphs that link together. The top level is 19 to 24 marks. Technical accuracy covers sentence punctuation, a range of sentence forms, Standard English, vocabulary and spelling. The top level is 13 to 16 marks.

A few things make the biggest difference:

1. Spend five minutes planning a simple shape, such as a wide view, a close detail and a shift in mood.
2. Write fewer events in more detail. For a story opening, one moment written well is enough.
3. Vary your sentences on purpose: one short sentence after a long one can change the pace.
4. Leave five minutes to check full stops, commas between clauses and spellings you often get wrong.

To get a practice answer marked, upload it to Medly for free. The free plan includes 5 marked questions and 1 uploaded paper a day, and the feedback shows which marks you picked up and how to reach the next level.

Where to find AQA English Language past papers and mark schemes

AQA's past papers finder lists question papers, mark schemes and examiner reports for GCSE English Language (8700). For the new-style questions, start with AQA's sample set 1, which shows the multiple-choice Q1 and the updated Q3, Q4 and Q5.

Older papers are still good practice for Q2 and Q5, which barely changed. For Q3 and Q4, adapt the older wording: choose one effect for Q3, and treat the Q4 statement as something you can partly agree with.

You can also find papers in our past papers directory. Medly covers AQA, and you can practise Paper 1 questions and get each answer marked against the mark scheme. When you've done a full paper, our guide to revision timetables can help you plan the weeks before 24 May 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How long is AQA English Language Paper 1?

1 hour 45 minutes. AQA advises about 15 minutes reading, about 45 minutes on Section A and about 45 minutes on Section B.

How many marks is AQA English Language Paper 1 worth?

80 marks, which is 50% of the GCSE. Section A (reading) and Section B (writing) are worth 40 marks each.

When is AQA English Language Paper 1 in 2027?

Monday 24 May 2027. Paper 2 comes later in the exam season, so check your school's timetable for both.

Is Question 1 multiple choice now?

Yes. Since summer 2026, Q1 has been a multiple-choice question worth 4 marks. From summer 2027 AQA is using one tick-box format for multiple-choice questions in all subjects.

Can you write a story for Question 5?

Yes. One of the two tasks is usually a story, and since 2026 it asks you to write the opening of a story instead of a whole one. The other is usually a description, often based on a picture.

Are older AQA past papers still useful?

Yes. Q2 and Q5 barely changed, so older papers are good practice for them. For Q1, Q3 and Q4, use AQA's sample set 1 alongside them so you're used to the new wording.

Try Medly for free