Every AQA GCSE English Language (8700) past paper from 2017 to 2025, with mark schemes and inserts, plus the 2026 sample papers in the new format. Free to download, no sign-up.

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Past papers by year

Paper 1 is Explorations in creative reading and writing. Paper 2 is Writers' viewpoints and perspectives. Each row has the question paper, the mark scheme and the insert (the source texts).

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

Are these the real AQA GCSE English Language past papers?

Yes. Every paper, insert and mark scheme on this page is the official AQA document for the 8700 specification, hosted here so you can open or download it in one click.

Are the 2026 English Language papers available yet?

The June 2026 question papers are not public yet. AQA releases them to the public the following year. What is here now is AQA's official 2026 sample set, which shows the new Paper 1 format. We'll add the real June 2026 papers as soon as AQA publishes them.

How many past papers should I do before the exam?

Aim for at least four full papers per paper type under timed conditions, then redo the questions you scored lowest on. Quality beats quantity: one paper marked properly against the mark scheme is worth three rushed ones.

Which paper should I start with?

Start with the most recent series, June 2025, because it best reflects what examiners currently expect. Then work backwards. For Paper 1, also do the 2026 sample paper so you've seen the new Question 1 and Question 3.

Do I need the insert?

Yes. The insert contains the source text the questions are about. Open the insert and the question paper side by side, exactly as you would in the exam.

Question papers, inserts and mark schemes are © AQA and are reproduced here for non-commercial revision use. MurtzTV is not affiliated with AQA.

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