AQA English Language Paper 2: questions, marks and how to answer each one
Explore the five questions, the marks and timing for each, and how to plan the summary, the comparison and the viewpoint writing task.
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AQA English Language Paper 2, Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives, is a 1 hour 45 minute exam worth 80 marks, which is half of your GCSE. Section A has four reading questions on two linked non-fiction sources, worth 4, 8, 12 and 16 marks. Section B is one viewpoint writing task worth 40 marks. In the June 2027 series, AQA has Paper 2 on Tuesday 8 June in the morning. Below you'll find each question, how long to spend on it and what a strong answer does.
What is on AQA English Language Paper 2?
Paper 2 is about how different writers see the same topic. You get two sources on a shared theme, such as travel, childhood or work, written at different times. One is usually from the 19th century and the other from the 20th or 21st century. They tend to be letters, diaries, articles, speeches or extracts from autobiographies.
Section A tests your reading. Section B asks you to write your own point of view on a statement linked to that theme. The AQA specification gives the two papers equal weight, so Paper 2 counts as much as Paper 1.
If you're aiming for a grade 4 first, our guide to passing English Language shows where those marks come from across both papers.
What changes on Paper 2 for 2027?
The marks, questions and timings stay the same. The changes are to how the paper looks.
In an update on 22 September 2026, AQA said these changes apply to all its question papers from summer 2027, apart from modern foreign languages:
- All multiple-choice questions will use one tick-box format. On Paper 2 that affects how you mark your four answers to Q1.
- Source texts will sit in a single left-aligned column, with any line numbers on the left.
- There will be less bold, italics, capitals and underlining, with bold kept for occasional emphasis.
The 2027 papers also keep the updates that first appeared in summer 2026. AQA adjusted some question wording to make tasks clearer, and added a "typical features" column to the Q5 mark scheme, as explained in AQA's blog. On Paper 2, Q4 now asks you to comment on the writers' methods, so your comparison focuses on their ideas and perspectives (AQA's commentary on the updated questions).
How long should you spend on each Paper 2 question?
Roughly a minute per mark works well, plus reading time at the start. The question paper itself suggests about 15 minutes for reading the sources and questions, then about 45 minutes for each section.
| Question | What it asks | Source | Marks | Skill (AO) | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Read both sources and all five questions | A and B | 0 | 15 minutes | |
| Q1 | Choose four true statements from eight | Source A, set lines | 4 | AO1 | 5 minutes |
| Q2 | Summarise differences or similarities | Both | 8 | AO1 | 8 minutes |
| Q3 | How the writer uses language | Source B, set lines | 12 | AO2 | 12 minutes |
| Q4 | Compare the writers' perspectives | Both | 16 | AO3 | 20 minutes |
| Q5 | Write your viewpoint on a statement | Your own writing | 40 | AO5 (24), AO6 (16) | 45 minutes |
Source: AQA GCSE English Language (8700) specification and AQA Paper 2 question papers. Last checked: 12 November 2026.
Q4 and Q5 carry 56 of the 80 marks between them. If you're running short, take time from Q1 and Q2, never from those two.
How to answer Q1 and Q3
Q1 is the quickest 4 marks on the paper. Only use the lines it names. The false statements often change one small detail, such as a time, a number or who did something, so check each one against the text before you tick it.
Q3 is on one source, usually Source B, and asks how the writer uses language. It's worth 12 marks and only covers language, so structure earns nothing here. Pick three or four short quotations. For each, name what the writer does, zoom in on a single word and explain the effect on the reader. Spend your 12 minutes on depth, rather than on covering every line.
How to write the Q2 summary
Q2 rewards inference: what the details suggest about each source and how they compare. It doesn't ask about language, so you won't get extra marks for naming techniques.
Imagine Source A is a 2020s blog by a parent on a rainy beach holiday, and Source B is an 1870s magazine account of a day trip to Brighton. The question asks for a summary of the differences between the people who go to the seaside. A strong paragraph might read:
Both writers describe a day at the coast, but the visitors have different reasons for going. In Source B, the writer describes "the poor clerk" escaping "the smoke of the city", which suggests the trip was a rare break from hard, cramped working lives. In Source A, the family goes because "the kids needed a break from screens", which implies the modern escape is from technology rather than poverty.
Notice the pattern: one point covering both sources, a short quotation from each, then what each quotation suggests. Two or three paragraphs like this are enough for 8 marks.
How to answer the Q4 comparison
Q4 is where you show you understand each writer's attitude and how they get it across. Since 2026 the bullets ask you to compare their perspectives and comment on their methods. Keep both sources in every paragraph, and use linking phrases such as "by contrast", "similarly" and "whereas".
Using the same two sources, a top-band paragraph might look like this:
Both writers see the seaside as an escape, but they feel very differently about the crowds. The Victorian writer is delighted, describing "a merry, jostling multitude", and his list of "shrimps, donkeys and brass bands" builds a sense of plenty and noise. By contrast, the modern writer is worn out. The short sentence "Every inch of sand was taken." sounds flat, and the word "taken" makes the beach feel like something she has lost.
Start with the big difference in attitude. Then move through the texts in order, showing how that attitude develops. Comparing how each writer ends is often a strong final paragraph.
How to plan Q5 viewpoint writing
Q5 gives you a statement and asks you to give your view in a set form for a set audience. For example: "Social media has made young people lonelier than ever." Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you explain your point of view on this statement.
Content and organisation earn 24 marks, and technical accuracy (vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence variety) earns 16. A five-minute plan helps with both.
- Underline the form, the audience and the purpose. With less bold on the 2027 papers, marking these yourself matters more.
- Decide your view in one sentence. You can agree, disagree or take a balanced line, as long as it's clear.
- Plan four or five paragraphs, each with one point. Include one opposing view and answer it.
- Plan your opening and ending together. A short story or striking detail at the start, returned to at the end, makes the piece feel complete.
- Keep five minutes at the end to check your spelling and punctuation, and to swap a few long sentences for shorter ones.
Match the conventions of the form. An article needs a headline and can use a subheading. A letter starts "Dear..." and signs off to suit the reader. A speech speaks directly to its audience, using "you" and "we". A broadsheet article for adults needs a more formal tone than a speech to your year group, so adjust your vocabulary to fit.
How to practise Paper 2 answers with Medly AI
The fastest way to improve on Q2, Q4 and Q5 is to write answers and get them marked. AQA publishes past papers and mark schemes, and the November and June series give you plenty to work from. Mocks are a good time to test your timing: Year 11 mocks show which questions need the most work.
To get a practice answer marked, upload it to Medly for free. You get a mark and feedback on what would take your answer into the next band. The free plan includes 5 marked questions, 20 AI tutor messages and 1 uploaded paper a day, with no card needed. Medly's content is checked by qualified teachers, including senior examiners. You can read how our AI marking compares with qualified examiners in our marking study.
To fit Paper 2 practice into the weeks before 8 June 2027, a revision timetable helps you space it out alongside your other subjects.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks is AQA English Language Paper 2?
80 marks: 40 for reading in Section A and 40 for writing in Section B. It is worth 50% of the GCSE.
Is Paper 2 harder than Paper 1?
No. Neither paper is designed to be harder. Paper 2 has more comparison and asks you to argue a view, while Paper 1 uses fiction and asks for descriptive or narrative writing.
Do you analyse language in Q2?
No. Q2 rewards what you infer from both sources and how you link them. Save language analysis for Q3 and Q4.
What forms can come up in Q5?
Usually an article, a letter, a speech, an essay or the text for a leaflet. The question always tells you the form and the audience.
Do the 2027 changes affect the marks?
No. AQA's summer 2027 changes are to layout, such as tick boxes and source formatting. The five questions and the 80 marks stay as described above.
When is AQA English Language Paper 2 in 2027?
According to AQA, it's on Tuesday 8 June 2027 in the morning. Paper 1 is on Monday 24 May 2027.