AQA GCSE

English Language

Reading, writing, spoken language. Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Specification: 8700

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19 topics
Fully covered
2 min
Marking turnaround
5 June 2026
Next exam date

What Examevo does for English Language

Reading and writing responses marked against AQA AO criteria. We evaluate structure, vocabulary, accuracy, and effect — not just spelling. Creative and transactional writing marked with level descriptors.

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Marks awarded using real AQA principles
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Every lost mark explained specifically

Complete specification map

Everything you learn in English Language

Accredited headings from spec 8700 (AQA), mapped topic-by-topic. Track progress topic-by-topic when you join Examevo.

3spec units
19topics mapped
5exam boards
Intro · 7Standard · 6Advanced · 6
01

Reading

6 topics in this unit

  1. 1Identifying explicit informationIntro
    • Identifying explicit information — what the question is asking (AO1–AO4)
    • Finding and summarising information — Identifying explicit information
    • Analysing language and structure in Identifying explicit information
    • Comparing writers’ viewpoints — Identifying explicit information
    • Evaluating texts critically — Identifying explicit information
  2. 2Summarising informationIntro
    • Summarising information — what the question is asking (AO1–AO4)
    • Finding and summarising information — Summarising information
    • Analysing language and structure in Summarising information
    • Comparing writers’ viewpoints — Summarising information
    • Evaluating texts critically — Summarising information
  3. 3Analysing languageIntro
    • Analysing language — what the question is asking (AO1–AO4)
    • Finding and summarising information — Analysing language
    • Analysing language and structure in Analysing language
    • Comparing writers’ viewpoints — Analysing language
    • Evaluating texts critically — Analysing language
  4. 4Analysing structureIntro
    • Analysing structure — what the question is asking (AO1–AO4)
    • Finding and summarising information — Analysing structure
    • Analysing language and structure in Analysing structure
    • Comparing writers’ viewpoints — Analysing structure
    • Evaluating texts critically — Analysing structure
  5. 5Evaluating textsIntro
    • Evaluating texts — what the question is asking (AO1–AO4)
    • Finding and summarising information — Evaluating texts
    • Analysing language and structure in Evaluating texts
    • Comparing writers’ viewpoints — Evaluating texts
    • Evaluating texts critically — Evaluating texts
  6. 6Comparing writers viewpointsIntro
    • Comparing writers viewpoints — what the question is asking (AO1–AO4)
    • Finding and summarising information — Comparing writers viewpoints
    • Analysing language and structure in Comparing writers viewpoints
    • Comparing writers’ viewpoints — Comparing writers viewpoints
    • Evaluating texts critically — Comparing writers viewpoints
02

Writing

10 topics in this unit

  1. 1Writing for different purposesIntro
    • Writing for different purposes — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Writing for different purposes responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Writing for different purposes
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Writing for different purposes
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Writing for different purposes
  2. 2Writing for different audiencesStandard
    • Writing for different audiences — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Writing for different audiences responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Writing for different audiences
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Writing for different audiences
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Writing for different audiences
  3. 3Descriptive writingStandard
    • Descriptive writing — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Descriptive writing responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Descriptive writing
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Descriptive writing
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Descriptive writing
  4. 4Narrative writingStandard
    • Narrative writing — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Narrative writing responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Narrative writing
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Narrative writing
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Narrative writing
  5. 5Viewpoint writingStandard
    • Viewpoint writing — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Viewpoint writing responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Viewpoint writing
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Viewpoint writing
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Viewpoint writing
  6. 6Technical accuracyStandard
    • Technical accuracy — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Technical accuracy responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Technical accuracy
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Technical accuracy
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Technical accuracy
  7. 7VocabularyStandard
    • Vocabulary — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Vocabulary responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Vocabulary
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Vocabulary
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Vocabulary
  8. 8Sentence structureAdvanced
    • Sentence structure — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Sentence structure responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Sentence structure
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Sentence structure
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Sentence structure
  9. 9PunctuationAdvanced
    • Punctuation — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Punctuation responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Punctuation
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Punctuation
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Punctuation
  10. 10SpellingAdvanced
    • Spelling — purpose, audience and form
    • Planning and organising Spelling responses
    • Vocabulary and sentence variety in Spelling
    • Technical accuracy — SPaG in Spelling
    • Mark-scheme expectations for Spelling
03

Spoken Language

3 topics in this unit

  1. 1Presenting and speakingAdvanced
    • Presenting and speaking — presentation and response skills
    • Using Standard English appropriately — Presenting and speaking
    • Structuring spoken answers — Presenting and speaking
    • Non-verbal communication in Presenting and speaking
    • Assessment criteria for Presenting and speaking
  2. 2Responding to questionsAdvanced
    • Responding to questions — presentation and response skills
    • Using Standard English appropriately — Responding to questions
    • Structuring spoken answers — Responding to questions
    • Non-verbal communication in Responding to questions
    • Assessment criteria for Responding to questions
  3. 3Using Standard EnglishAdvanced
    • Using Standard English — presentation and response skills
    • Using Standard English appropriately — Using Standard English
    • Structuring spoken answers — Using Standard English
    • Non-verbal communication in Using Standard English
    • Assessment criteria for Using Standard English

Tick topics off as you study — synced to your personal syllabus after sign-up

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How we mark English Language

1. Analyse your response

Structure, tone, and language choices evaluated against the question and mark band.

2. Apply AO marking

Content, organisation, and technical accuracy marked separately as examiners do.

3. Show how to improve

Specific sentences flagged with rewrites that would move you up a band.

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