AQA A-Level English Language 7702: Language in Action (NEA) — Revision Notes

Language in Action is the non-exam assessment (NEA) of AQA A-level English Language (7702), worth 100 marks and 20% of the A-level. You produce a language investigation of 2,000 words (excluding data) and a piece of original writing with a commentary (750 words each), about 3,500 words in total, marked by your teacher and moderated by AQA. Methods of language analysis (the language levels) underpin both. For the full explanation, use the Language in Action study guide.

NEA at a glance

Part (7702, 4.3)	Length	Marks	AOs
Language Investigation (3.3.1)	2,000 words, excluding data	50	AO1 15, AO2 15, AO3 20
Original Writing (3.3.2)	750 words	25	AO5
Commentary (3.3.2)	750 words	25	AO1–AO5
Total	about 3,500 words	100	Scaled ×1 to 100 of the 500 A-level marks

The NEA is A-level only; the AS (7701) has no coursework.

The assessment objectives

AO	Wording	Share of A-level from NEA
AO1	Apply appropriate methods of language analysis, using associated terminology and coherent written expression	4%
AO2	Demonstrate critical understanding of concepts and issues relevant to language use	4%
AO3	Analyse and evaluate how contextual factors and language features are associated with the construction of meaning	5%
AO4	Explore connections across texts, informed by linguistic concepts and methods	1%
AO5	Demonstrate expertise and creativity in the use of English to communicate in different ways	6%

AO3 carries the most marks in the investigation (20 of 50), and AO5 is the whole of the original-writing mark.

3.3.1 Language Investigation

Possible areas (the specification’s examples)

Representations of individuals, social groups or nationalities; regional dialect; gendered talk; language of new communication technologies; children’s language use; norms and variations; language of the media; code switching and mixing; language of occupations or pastimes; historical change. You may also choose other areas your teacher agrees will yield interesting questions.

Four kinds of question

Type	Guiding question
Genre-based	What are the distinctive features of this type of language use?
Function/use-based	What is the language used to do?
Attitudes-based	How do people feel about this language?
User-based	Who uses this type of language?

Data types

Spoken, written, multimodal, word lists, attitudes to language, uses of language, views about language. You should collect your own data and select your own approach, in consultation with your teacher.

Required sections

Section	Contents
Introduction	Reasons for the focus; aims
Methodology	Evaluative account of how data was collected and organised; approaches to analysis
Analysis	Interpretation of findings against the aims; concepts and issues; contextual influences
Conclusion	Findings interpreted in relation to the aims
References	All paper and web sources
Appendices	Clean copies of data; evidence for quantitative approaches

What the top level looks like (Level 5)

• AO1 (13–15): apply methods and terminology identifying patterns and complexities; guide the reader with controlled, accurate expression.
• AO2 (13–15): a synthesised, conceptualised and individual overview; use data to challenge viewpoints; evaluate methodology and explore alternative approaches; detailed bibliography.
• AO3 (17–20): evaluate how language is influenced by different contexts; explore data in light of wider social and cultural contexts; reflective and cautious conclusions.

3.3.2 Original Writing

• Choose one of three areas: The Power of Persuasion, The Power of Storytelling, The Power of Information.
• Study a range of style models, then select and analyse one style model in detail, chosen with your teacher.
• Folder contents: the original writing, an annotated style model, a reflective commentary, and references.

Area	Example forms from the specification
Persuasion	Investigative journalism; a speech on a controversial topic; a letter to an MP
Storytelling	A short story; an extract from a biography; a dramatic monologue
Information	Travel journalism; a blog on social issues; a piece of local history

Original writing top level (AO5, 21–25)

Use form creatively and innovatively; manipulate register skilfully at all levels; position the audience skilfully; write accurately; guide the reader through a coherent, cohesive text.

Commentary top level (21–25)

Evaluate connections across your writing and style model (AO4); evaluate language and representations in the two contexts (AO3); show genre as a “dynamic process” (AO2); apply language levels in an integrated way (AO1); write accurately with a coherent structure (AO5). A commentary that discusses only one text is capped at 3 marks for AO4.

3.3.3 Methods of language analysis

Level	Covers
Phonetics, phonology and prosodics	Speech sounds and effects
Graphology	Visual design and appearance
Lexis and semantics	Vocabulary, including social and historical variation
Grammar, including morphology	Patterns at sentence, clause, phrase and word level
Pragmatics	Contextual aspects of language use
Discourse	Extended communication in different genres, modes and contexts

Worked example: turning a topic into an investigation

• Topic (too broad): “Language and gender.”
• Focus: “How do male and female presenters on two football podcasts use hedges and boosters?”
• Data: 20 minutes transcribed from each podcast, plus a word count of hedges and boosters per 1,000 words.
• Methods: grammar (modal verbs, adverbs), pragmatics (politeness), discourse (turn-taking).
• Concepts (AO2): deficit, dominance and difference debates; later critiques of binary gender models.
• Context (AO3): the podcast format, audience, expertise roles.
• Cautious conclusion: findings from two podcasts cannot be generalised to all speakers.

Common mistakes / traps

• Too broad a focus, leading to thin analysis.
• Data you did not collect yourself, without your teacher’s agreement.
• Methodology that only describes rather than evaluates.
• Overclaiming: the top band asks for “reflective and cautious conclusions”.
• Theory dumping: AO2 rewards connecting theories with data, not listing them.
• A commentary about one text only, with no connection to the style model.
• Missing the folder elements: no annotated style model or references.
• Forgetting authentication: you sign the Candidate record form, and teachers must be able to authenticate the work.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the AQA English Language NEA? About 3,500 words: a 2,000-word investigation (data excluded) and 750 words each for the original writing and commentary.

Can I choose any topic for my language investigation? The specification gives examples but says the list is “neither definitive nor prescriptive”. Any area your supervising teacher agrees yields interesting questions about language in use can be chosen.

Does my data count towards the word limit? No. The 2,000 words exclude data; clean copies of the data go in the appendices.

What is a style model? A published text in the genre you are writing, which you analyse in detail and use to inform your own writing; it is submitted annotated in your folder.

Syllabus coverage

AQA AS and A-level English Language (7701/7702) specification, A-level subject content 3.3 Language in action: 3.3.1 Language Investigation, 3.3.2 Original writing, 3.3.3 Methods of language analysis (numbered 4.3.1 to 4.3.3 in the combined AS and A-level specification PDF, Version 1.2); 5.2 assessment objectives, 5.4 non-exam assessment marking criteria and 6 NEA administration (PDF section numbers).

Self-test

1. How many marks is the investigation worth, and how are they split? (50: AO1 15, AO2 15, AO3 20.)
2. Name the three original-writing areas. (Power of Persuasion, Storytelling, Information.)
3. What four items go in the original-writing folder? (Writing, annotated style model, commentary, references.)
4. Which language level deals with visual design? (Graphology.)
5. What percentage of the A-level is the NEA? (20%.)

Related pages

• Language in Action study guide
• Language in Action practice questions
• Paper 1 revision notes

Official specification

AQA AS and A-level English Language (7701/7702) specification — aqa.org.uk.