AQA Syllabus

GCSE English Language at Better EdSpace

AQA Syllabus

1 or 2 Year Course

Starting September 2026

Exam Sitting:

May/June 2027 or May/June 2028

Hands-on Learning

Ideal for ages 14+

Two Hourly Sessions Weekly

Timetable available on request

A Bit About the Course

Language shapes how we think, feel, and connect—and at Better EdSpace, we help teenagers master it with confidence, creativity, and clarity. Our 1 or 2 year GCSE English Language course is designed for students aged 14+, with a focus on powerful communication, close reading, and compelling writing. As our priority is about students loving what they do we don't bombard them with tests, but we do provide Mock Exams at key learning milestones where we feel is appropriate to ensure they are fully prepared to sit their GCSE.

We keep our groups small so that every student gets personalised support, and we teach through discussion, exploration, and real-world application. Whether your teen loves writing stories or wants to speak and write more effectively, this course builds the core skills needed for academic and life success.

AQA Specification at a Glance

Subject Content:

Paper 1:

Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Paper 2:
Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Spoken Language

(Non-Exam Assessment)

Mark Scheme Improvements

Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
Spoken Language (non-exam assessment)

Note: To be awarded the GCSE, students must complete all three assessments. All texts in the exams will be unseen.

Section A – Reading: One literature fiction text
Section B – Writing: Descriptive or narrative writing

Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks - 50% of GCSE

Reading (40 marks / 25%)

Q1: A multiple-choice question
Q3: Focuses on a single structural effect (e.g., suspense)
Q4: Cleaner, more direct phrasing with an emphasis on evaluating a viewpoint; updated method bullet point

Writing (40 marks / 25%)

Q5 Prompt: Now reminds students they can be imaginative and not restricted to the image shown
Narrative Option: Students can write an opening to a story, rather than a full narrative

Section A – Reading: One non-fiction and one literary non-fiction text
Section B – Writing: Writing to present a viewpoint

Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks – 50% of GCSE
Reading (40 marks / 25%)
Q2: Reworded for improved clarity
Q4: Bullet point on methods updated for greater precision
Writing (40 marks / 25%)
1 extended writing task (24 marks for content, 16 for technical accuracy)

Assessed throughout the course
Involves presenting, responding to questions, and using Standard English
Teacher-assessed; reported separately (0% weighting of final GCSE grade)

Mark schemes for both papers have been updated to provide clearer guidance and more consistent assessment, helping students and teachers understand what earns marks and how to improve.