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AQA · GCSE

AQA GCSE English Language

AQA GCSE English Language (8700). What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official specification, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.

Syllabus
8700
Board
AQA
Qualification
GCSE
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Topics and resources

8 free resources, 2 of 3 topics covered

Each topic below is from the official AQA document for AQA GCSE English Language (8700), with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for AQA GCSE English Language (8700) only.

  • Learn with study guides
  • Revise with revision notes
  • Practise with practice questions
  1. Topic 1 3 resources

    Critical reading and comprehension

    Covers critical reading and comprehension, summary and synthesis, evaluation of a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, comparing texts

    Study guides

    Revision notes

    Practice questions

  2. Topic 2 3 resources

    Writing

    Covers producing clear and coherent text, writing for impact

    Study guides

    Revision notes

    Practice questions

  3. Topic 3 No resources yet

    Spoken language

    Covers presenting information and ideas, responding to spoken language, spoken Standard English

    No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.

Covering more than one topic

Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.

Study guides

Revision notes

No revision notes for this course yet.

Practice questions

Source: AQA — official specification pages at aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-8700/specification — For first teaching 2015. Verified 2026-09-02. Every subtopic the document lists is shown. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.

About this course

Qualification
AQA GCSE English Language
Spec code
8700
Does Marlbridge teach it?
Yes — request a free trial class
Who teaches it?
Lubna Waseem · Ammar Bilal
Are resources available?
Yes — 8 published
Is enrolment open?
Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
Official specification
AQA specification
Topic checklist
Printable 8700 checklist
Where was this verified?
2026-08-18, official AQA specification

Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official AQA specification on 2026-08-18.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.

The qualification

AQA GCSE English Language (8700)

Marlbridge's summary of the course

The specification will enable students of all abilities to develop the skills they need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of different texts covering the 19th, 20th and 21st century time periods as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.

The board's own description is on the official AQA syllabus page.

Assessed across two equally-weighted papers: Paper 1 'Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing' and Paper 2 'Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives', plus a separately-reported spoken language endorsement (not counted in the GCSE grade). Fully co-teachable with AQA GCSE English Literature (8702).

Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the AQA syllabus page for your examination year.

Assessment structure

Linear qualification

Assessment components for AQA English Language 8700
Component Duration Marks Weighting Type
8700/1: Paper 1: Explorations in creative reading and writing 1h 45m 80 50% Written exam
8700/2: Paper 2: Writers' viewpoints and perspectives 1h 45m 80 50% Written exam

Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28. Directly confirmed against the official AQA specification-at-a-glance page: linear, not tiered, two written papers each 1h45/80marks/50% of GCSE, each split 40/40 marks between a reading section and a writing section. Paper 1 (Explorations in creative reading and writing): Section A Reading (one literature fiction extract, 40 marks) + Section B Writing (descriptive/narrative, 40 marks). Paper 2 (Writers' viewpoints and perspectives): Section A Reading (two linked non-fiction extracts, 40 marks) + Section B Writing (viewpoint-based, 40 marks). In addition to the two written papers, every candidate also completes a compulsory Spoken Language endorsement – a separate, internally assessed and centre-marked speaking/listening activity, reported on the certificate as Pass/Merit/Distinction/Not Classified. Ofqual rules require it to be reported separately and it does NOT contribute to the overall GCSE grade – it is NOT modeled as a component here (the endorsement carries no numeric mark at all, only a qualitative grade, so it has no place in a table of marked components), but is disclosed here so the two written papers are not mistaken for the qualification's full assessment picture. First teaching September 2015, first examination June 2017.

Questions about this course

How is AQA English Language (8700) assessed?

AQA English Language (8700) is assessed through: 8700/1 (Paper 1: Explorations in creative reading and writing) — 1h 45m, 80 marks, 50% of the qualification; 8700/2 (Paper 2: Writers' viewpoints and perspectives) — 1h 45m, 80 marks, 50% of the qualification. It is a linear qualification. Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28.

What topics does AQA GCSE English Language (8700) cover?

3 topics in the current syllabus: Critical reading and comprehension; Writing; Spoken language. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.

Can I get a tutor for AQA GCSE English Language (8700)?

Yes. Marlbridge teaches AQA GCSE English Language (8700) live online, one-to-one or in small groups, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.

Are there free AQA GCSE English Language (8700) revision notes and practice questions?

Yes. Marlbridge has published 8 free resources for this course (exam preparation guides, study guides, practice questions, revision notes, a subject guide), free to read with no sign-up.

The subject

English Language teaching and study resources, organised by level, board and topic.

All English at Marlbridge

English Language at other qualifications

These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.

Related articles

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