How to Ace AQA English Language GCSE: Tips and Tricks for Success

7th Jul 2025

Introduction

One of the two biggies of GCSE success. English Language. (The other is Maths in case you were wondering). Your whole school career has been leading up to this moment: the chance to prove just how literate you are.

AQA is the largest exam board in the country, so you’ll likely be studying towards these exams. However, do check. Whilst all GCSEs in English Language aim to demonstrate literacy, the tasks can vary significantly.

What Makes the AQA English Language Exam Unique?

With AQA English Language, you do two equally weighted exams (both worth 80 marks). Reading and writing are equally weighted. Fiction and non-fiction: equally weighted. You get the idea.

Other exam boards might put more emphasis on particular skills and may test a broader range of text types. The good news about AQA English Language is that you’ll know what you’re getting – the questions are almost the same each time. Only the texts change.

Paper 1	Paper 2
1 x fiction text to read An information retrieval question A language analysis question A question about structure An evaluation question A creative writing question	2 x non-fiction texts (1 will be pre-1900) An information retrieval question A summary question A language analysis question A comparison of writers’ viewpoints An opinion writing piece

Top Tips for Exam Success

Long term, the best thing you can do is work on the skills that will put you in the best position to succeed. So, how can you do that?

1) Read Widely

The more that you read independently, the more prepared you’ll be to tackle a text that you’ve never seen before in the real exam.

Since the texts you’ll come across will be fiction and non-fiction, modern and pre-1900, it’s a great idea to read in those genres. Maybe try:

• Some modern classics like The Book Thief, Catcher in the Rye or The Hobbit.
• Pre-1900 bangers like Frankenstein, some of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories or The Scarlett Letter
• Newspapers and opinion editorials – The Guardian allows free online access to its opinion section, where you can read about both serious topics and more trivial aspects of life
• Biographies, autobiographies, diaries and books of letters

2) Watch the News

You’ll need to have an opinion for the Paper 2 written piece. That’s so much easier if you understand the complexities of what’s happening in the world.

When asked about the impact of cars on the environment, your written answers will be so much more persuasive if you have some understanding of the social impacts of both using and not using cars.

When asked about the dangers of fast fashion, you will write so much more passionately if you know the reasons people choose to shop this way and the potential impacts of this in other countries.

Think of the news as a window into parts of the world you would have little access to.

3) Debate Your Ideas

The students who do best at opinion writing are often those who regularly have an opinion and aren’t afraid to share it!

Practice your persuasive skills at the dinner table or discuss your thoughts on the books you read and the TV shows you watch with a friend. If you can communicate your ideas well, listen to their counterarguments and address them, you are preparing for AQA GCSE English Language. And what a fun way to do it!

4) Write for Fun

Practice makes perfect. If you only write in lessons, how can you ever expect to be the next famous author? Even if your aspirations are only to get through this exam, any writing you do in your spare time will help you hone your skills. Try:

• Writing a diary – anyone can do this, and it can be great for getting any pent-up frustration out of your head and onto a page, too.
• Poetry – writing poetry will make you a much better writer because you should be crafting every word. Consider writing poetry about a moment in time or something that you find beautiful or frightening.
• Short stories – you will have a choice to write a short story in your exam, so any practice of putting together a plot and characters in a short period of time will be excellent preparation. You can find some prompts at Reedsy.
• Opinion pieces/blogs – do you have something to say? Then, practice constructing your thoughts into a coherent argument.
• Book or Film Reviews – write up your thoughts on your favourite characters or your disdain for the latest blockbuster.

5) Work with an Expert

Working with a tutor can really help you to refine your skills. Maybe you need help with exam technique, confidence or how to tackle unseen texts. A one-to-one tutor can help you fill in gaps in your knowledge and work with you on the aspects of English that you find difficult.

What About Revision?

Revising for English Language is often deemed difficult. As the exam looms, try the following:

1) Learn Exam Technique

One of the trickiest aspects of the AQA English Language exams is the pace at which you need to get through questions. Therefore, you must have a plan for:

• How much time you’ll spend on questions (a good rule of thumb is to look at the marks – if the question is worth 4 marks, you have just over 4 minutes to answer it).
• How you’ll tackle each question – teachers often use acronyms such as PEE/ PEA/ PETAL and PEAZ to help you learn how to answer the question. Make sure you know how you should answer each question using the strategies you’ve learned from teachers and tutors.
• Know how to write a letter, an article and a speech and the difference between a description and a story.

2) Use Past Papers

Previous exams are available online - practice to perfect your exam technique and timing.

Conclusion

Follow all of these tips and tricks, and you will improve your chances for the all-important English GCSE.

Still struggling with English Literature? Find our tips and tricks to ace that here.