How to pass GCSE English Language: what a grade 4 takes
Understand the grade boundaries, plan your AQA answers and build a revision routine for GCSE English Language.
To pass GCSE English Language you need a grade 4, which took 75 out of 160 marks with AQA in June 2026 (47%) and 87 out of 160 with Edexcel's main course (54%). This means that, on AQA, you could lose more than half the marks and still pass. On AQA, half of all the marks are in the two writing questions, which makes them the best place to start.
What mark do you need to pass GCSE English Language?
Grade 4 is the standard pass, and grade 5 is the strong pass. These were the June 2026 boundaries, out of 160:
| Grade | AQA (8700) | Edexcel (1EN0) | Edexcel 2.0 (1EN2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 103 | 115 | 117 |
| 6 | 93 | 105 | 106 |
| 5 | 84 | 96 | 95 |
| 4 | 75 | 87 | 85 |
| 3 | 55 | 67 | 64 |
Source: Department for Education guide to GCSE pass grades.
The figures come from AQA and Pearson. Boundaries move a little each year, so use them as a guide. AQA's grade 4 was 73 in June 2024.
Your marks are added across both papers, so a strong paper can make up for a weaker one. The Spoken Language endorsement is reported separately and doesn't change your grade.
AQA English Language papers: marks and timings
The rest of this guide uses AQA's papers. Edexcel's two papers are split differently, so check your own past papers for the marks and timings.
Each AQA paper lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and has 40 marks for reading and 40 for writing. Paper 2 advises about 15 minutes reading the sources and questions, then about 45 minutes on each section, and the same split works for Paper 1. For 2027, AQA has set Paper 1 for 24 May and Paper 2 for 8 June.
Since summer 2026, Question 1 on Paper 1 has been multiple choice. AQA kept the same number of questions, marks and assessment objectives, so older past papers are still good practice. The sample mark scheme shows the new format. For summer 2027, AQA is also changing the layout of its question papers, with tick boxes for multiple choice and source texts in a single column.
A realistic route to a grade 4
This is a worked example, based on the levels in AQA's mark schemes. It aims for Level 2 on most reading questions, which AQA describes as "some" understanding, and the bottom of Level 3 for writing content.
| Question | Available | Target | What that takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1, Q1 multiple choice | 4 | 3 | Read the lines you're given carefully |
| Paper 1, Q2 language | 8 | 4 | Pick a word or phrase and explain its effect |
| Paper 1, Q3 structure | 8 | 3 | Say what the writer focuses on first, and how that changes |
| Paper 1, Q4 evaluation | 20 | 8 | Give your opinion and back it up with quotations |
| Paper 1, Q5 writing | 40 | 22 | 14 for content and 8 for technical accuracy |
| Paper 2, Q1 true statements | 4 | 3 | Check each statement against the source |
| Paper 2, Q2 summary | 8 | 4 | Make a point about each source, with a quotation |
| Paper 2, Q3 language | 12 | 5 | The same skill as Paper 1, Question 2 |
| Paper 2, Q4 comparison | 16 | 6 | Say how the writers' views differ, with evidence from both |
| Paper 2, Q5 viewpoint | 40 | 22 | 14 for content and 8 for technical accuracy |
That adds up to 80, five marks above AQA's June 2026 boundary. AQA's own notional grade 4 marks were 38 on Paper 1 and 37 on Paper 2. Your marks can come from anywhere, so this is one way to get there and not a rule. Notice that 44 of the 80 marks in this example come from writing.
Start with Question 5
Each Question 5 is worth 40 marks, half of its paper, and you can prepare for it in a way you can't for an unseen text.
Content and organisation are worth 24 marks. Moving from Level 2 into Level 3 means your writing is clear throughout, with paragraphs that follow on and a tone that suits the task. Plan for 5 minutes before you start, even if it's only four or five notes. A short plan is what keeps a piece organised.
Technical accuracy is worth 16 marks on each paper, a fifth of the whole GCSE. AQA's first point at every level is about sentences. At Level 2, they're "mostly secure and sometimes accurate", and at Level 3 they're "mostly secure and mostly accurate". So check your full stops first. If you tend to run sentences together with commas, fixing that can lift your mark without any new knowledge.
Make sure to save 5 minutes at the end to read your work back and correct any spelling, punctuation or sentence errors, giving yourself the best chance of picking up those technical accuracy marks.
Then pick up the reading marks
The language question is the same skill on both papers. Find a word or phrase, name what it is if you can, and explain what it makes the reader think or feel. Three short points like that will usually do more than one long one.
Don't let the longest reading question run over. Question 4 on Paper 1 has 20 marks, but it shouldn't eat into your writing time, which is worth twice as much. If you're running late, write a few clear points and move on to Question 5.
Answer every question. A short attempt can pick up marks, and a blank can't.
How to revise for GCSE English Language
There are no set texts in English Language, so you improve by practising and getting feedback. Try this each week:
- Write one timed Question 5 from a past paper, in 45 minutes.
- Get it marked, or mark it against the mark scheme.
- Rewrite your weakest paragraph using the feedback.
- Do one reading question in 10 to 15 minutes, using an unseen extract.
- Keep a list of the spelling and punctuation mistakes you repeat.
You'll find papers and mark schemes for AQA and Edexcel in our directory. To get a practice answer marked, upload it to Medly for free. The free plan includes 1 uploaded paper a day.
Read a little outside school too. An opinion column a day is good practice for Paper 2, and it gives you ideas and phrases to borrow for your own writing.
How to prepare for a GCSE English Language resit
If you're continuing education in England after Year 11 and haven't yet achieved a grade 4 in GCSE English Language or English Literature, you'll normally continue studying English as part of your course. With a grade 3 on a full-time course you work towards the GCSE. With a grade 2 or below you can take the GCSE or Functional Skills.
If you got a 3, you need up to 20 more marks on AQA's June 2026 boundaries, or around 10 on each paper. Start with your last paper if your school can get it back, because it shows you where those marks are.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage do you need to pass English Language?
In June 2026 a grade 4 took about 47% with AQA, 54% with Edexcel 1EN0 and 53% with Edexcel 1EN2. It changes slightly each year.
What grade is 67% in GCSE English Language?
With AQA in June 2026, 67% (107 marks) was a grade 7, and 70% (112 marks) was a grade 8. With Edexcel 1EN0, 107 marks was a grade 6.
Can you fail one paper and still pass?
Yes. Your grade comes from your total across both papers, so there's no separate pass for each one.
Does English Literature count instead of English Language?
For the post-16 funding rule, it does. A grade 4 in either subject meets it. Colleges, employers and university courses can set their own requirements, so check what yours asks for.
How can I pass English Language if I'm bad at English?
Yes. You can work towards a pass by focusing on the marks you can control: a planned Question 5, accurate sentences and short, clear points on the reading questions. The boundary leaves plenty of room for mistakes, and you can improve each of those with practice.
How long does it take to improve?
It depends on where you're starting. A timed piece of writing with feedback each week gives you something to measure, and your mock results will show how far you've come. If mocks are close, try our two-week mock revision plan.