All AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 (8700/2) past papers from 2017 to 2025, with mark schemes and inserts, plus the 2026 sample paper.

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Paper 2 is Writers' viewpoints and perspectives. 1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks, 50% of the GCSE. Section A (40 marks) is four questions comparing two non-fiction sources, one modern and one from the 19th century. Section B (40 marks) is one piece of transactional writing. Paper 2 did not change for 2026.

Paper 2 past papers by year

Mark breakdown

How to structure the Question 5 answer

The structure I teach in the club, every time: a short introduction that states your view, your first big argument, your second big argument, a paragraph that acknowledges the other side and counters it, then a conclusion. Five clear paragraphs, every one of them doing a job.

How to use past papers properly

• Do them under timed conditions. 1 hour 45 minutes, no phone. The timing is the hardest part of this exam.
• Mark your own answers with the mark scheme first. Read the level descriptors, not just the indicative content. Work out which level you hit and why.
• Redo the question you scored lowest on. Same source, same question, a week later. That's where the marks come from.
• Keep a list of the phrases examiners reward. The mark schemes repeat the same ideas every year.

Frequently asked questions

What is AQA English Language Paper 2?

Paper 2 is Writers' viewpoints and perspectives. It is 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 80 marks and 50% of the GCSE. Section A compares two non-fiction sources, one modern and one from the 19th century. Section B is one piece of transactional writing.

Did Paper 2 change for 2026?

No. Paper 2 is unchanged for 2026, so every past paper on this page is in the current format.

What is transactional writing?

Writing for a real purpose and audience: a letter, article, speech, leaflet or essay that argues a point of view. Question 5 gives you a statement and asks you to respond to it in one of these forms.

How is Question 4 marked?

Question 4 is 16 marks for comparing the writers' viewpoints and the methods they use to convey them. You need both: what each writer thinks, and how their language and tone shows it, with quotations from both sources.

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Last updated October 2026. New papers are added as soon as AQA publishes them.