A-level English Language (7702) - Guide to Writing Realistic Practice Papers

Oct 20, 2026

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A-level English Language (7702) guidance for building realistic practice papers. Explains how exam questions are framed and assessed, and supports teachers in creating their own practice questions for students. Covers Paper 1 and Paper 2 structures, including Section A and Section B task requirements, consistent question components, and how to write questions and accompanying mark schemes aligned to assessment objectives and specification focus on language study, representation, and development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Contents

Paper 1: Language, the individual and society

Section A: Textual variations and representations

What’s the task asking students to do?

How are the questions assessed?

How to write a question for Section A

How to write an accompanying mark scheme

Section B: Children’s language development

What’s the task asking students to do?

How is this question assessed?

How to write a question for Section B

How to write an accompanying mark scheme

Paper 2: Language diversity and change

Section A: Diversity and change

What’s the task asking students to do?

How are the questions assessed?

How to write a question for Section A

How to write an accompanying mark scheme

Section B: Language discourses

What’s the task asking students to do?

How is this question assessed?

How to write Question 3

How to write an accompanying mark scheme

How to write Question 4

How to write an accompanying mark scheme

A-level Guide to writing realistic practice papers Write practice papers quicker and more accurately A-level English Language (7702) Contents This resource will explain how exam questions for A-level English Language (7702) are framed and will help you to create your own practice questions to use with students. It will also highlight important aspects of the assessment objectives and offer some guidance that will support your teaching in preparation for the exam papers. Paper 1: Language, the individual and society 4 Section A: Textual variations and representations 5 What’s the task asking students to do? 6 How are the questions assessed? 7 How to write a question for Section A 8 How to write an accompanying mark scheme 8 Section B: Children’s language development 10 What’s the task asking students to do? 11 How is this question assessed? 11 How to write a question for Section B 12 How to write an accompanying mark scheme 12 Contents Paper 2: Language diversity and change 13 Section A: Diversity and change 14 What’s the task asking students to do? 14 How are the questions assessed? 14 How to write a question for Section A 15 How to write an accompanying mark scheme 15 Section B: Language discourses 17 What’s the task asking students to do? 18 How is this question assessed? 18 How to write Question 3 19 How to write an accompanying mark scheme 20 What’s the task asking students to do? 20 How is this question assessed? 21 How to write Question 4 22 How to write an accompanying mark scheme 22 Paper 1: Language, the individual and society As detailed in specification section 4.1 (found at [bit.ly/2m4ZjFV](bit.ly/2m4ZjFV)), the aim of the area of study examined in this paper is to introduce students to language study, exploring textual variety and children’s language development. This area of study introduces students to methods of language analysis to explore concepts of audience, purpose, genre, mode and representation. Section A: Textual variations and representations In this section, students answer three compulsory questions on two texts (one contemporary and one older text) linked by topic or theme. Questions 1 and 2 require analysis of each text individually, and Question 3 requires comparison of the two texts. Look at how Questions 1 – 3 from the sample assessment materials at [bit.ly/2m4WKUq](bit.ly/2m4WKUq) are constructed. In the sample questions below we have italicised in red below those parts that will remain consistent from year to year. Text A – This is from a forum on learner drivers on The Student Room website. See insert. Text B – This is an article from the regional newspaper The Western Times , published on Friday 18 April 1902. See facing page. 01 Analyse how Text A uses language to create meanings and representations. [25 marks] 02 Analyse how Text B uses language to create meanings and representations. [25 marks] 03 Explore the similarities and differences in the ways that Text A and Text B use language. [20 marks] You can see from the sample questions that there will always be: • two texts to write about, labelled Text A and Text B • a brief description of each text detailing where it has been sourced • texts printed in colour (where appropriate) and clear/legible as possible • texts printed in the question paper or in a separate insert (depending on the size of the texts in question) • an instruction to analyse how the text uses language to create meanings and representations in Questions 1 and 2 • an instruction to explore the similarities and differences in the ways both texts use language in Question 3. A note on the choice of texts Although the question structure will remain consistent, the choice of two texts will vary from year to year. The choice of texts should be linked by topic/theme and should allow students to make a range of comparative points. Students should study a range of texts:

FAQs

What is the purpose of this guide for A-level English Language (7702)?

It explains how exam questions are framed and assessed, and helps teachers create their own practice questions for students. It also highlights assessment objective aspects and provides teaching guidance for preparing for the exam papers.

How is Paper 1 structured in this resource?

Paper 1 includes Section A on textual variations and representations and Section B on children’s language development. Section A uses three compulsory questions on two linked texts, with Questions 1–2 analysing each text and Question 3 comparing them.

What does the command word “analyse” require in Questions 1 and 2?

Students should explore how language is shaped by audience, purpose, genre, mode, and context, and how it constructs meanings and representations. The analysis includes relationships between writers/speakers and audiences and functions, structure, and organisation of the texts.

Oct 20, 2026

4

0

Uploaded by RuangKosong