English Language and English Language and English Language and Literature - Why focus together?

Oct 20, 2026

Exam session notes outline how English Language and English Language and Literature are taught together, highlighting shared focus on language in use across texts from different times and for different audiences. The materials explain assessment objectives AO1 through leveled performance descriptors, showing how to apply linguistic methods, terminology, patterns, and argument development with accuracy and evaluation. Guidance covers AO1 for both subjects, approaching AO1 via concepts, methods and features, and where AO1 appears across papers, questions, and mark allocations for specific tasks like remembered places, imagined worlds, and poetic voices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Structure of the session

Why focus on both English Language and English Language and Literature together?

Focus on AO1 – English Language

Focus on AO1 – English Language and Literature

Approaching AO1

Where AO1 is assessed: English Language

Where AO1 is assessed: English Language and Literature

English Language question structure

Meanings, interpretations and representations

| This meeting will be recorded | | | --- | --- | | Exam boards have an Ofqual requirement to record event audio.
Recordings are kept for one year and not shared as an accompaniment to session resources.
The recording will begin now. | | | Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | Structure of the session | English Language and English Language and Literature | | | | --- | --- | --- | | • Why focus on both English Language and English Language and Literature together?
• Both these subjects focus on language in use, in a variety of texts, from different times, and for different audiences and purposes.
• Both draw on linguistic methods to examine and evaluate the ways that writers and speakers use language to create meanings and representations.
• Both require evaluation and comparison of the ways that language is used. | | | | 5 | Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Focus on AO1 – English Language | | | | --- | --- | --- | | AO1: Apply appropriate methods of language analysis, using associated terminology and coherent written expression. Level 5 Apply linguistic methods and terminology, identifying patterns and complexities
Apply different levels of language analysis in an integrated way, recognising how they are connected
Rare errors
Guide the reader Level 4 Apply linguistic methods and terminology with precision and detail Apply 2 or more levels of language analysis
Occasional errors
Develop a line of argument Level 3 Apply linguistic methods and terminology consistently and appropriately
Label features that have value for the task
More accuracy than inaccuracy
Communicate with clear topics/paragraphs | | | | 6 | Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Focus on AO1 – English Language and Literature | | | | --- | --- | --- | | AO1: Apply concepts and methods from integrated linguistic and literary study as appropriate, using associated terminology and coherent written expression. Level 5 Apply a range of terminology accurately
Select language levels with sustained relevance and evaluation of patterns
Express ideas with sophistication and sustained development Level 4 Apply terminology relevantly and mainly accurately Select language levels purposefully and explore some patterns
Express ideas coherently and with development Level 3 Apply terminology with some accuracy
Select language levels and explain some features Present ideas with some clear topics and organisation | | | | 7 | Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Approaching AO1 | | | | --- | --- | --- | | • For English Language and Literature there is no hierarchy of methods. However, students are rewarded for selecting methods purposefully and for evaluating patterns of use.
• English Language and Literature is more broad than simply looking at linguistic features. AO1 is best regarded as comprising:
• concepts eg characterisation
• methods eg speech and thought presentation
• features eg speech verbs. | | | | 9 | Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Where AO1 is assessed: English Language | | | | --- | --- | --- | | All questions which have accompanying data require close focus on language detail from the data
Paper 1
Section A Question 1/Question 2
AO1: 10 marks AO3: 15 marks
Section B Question 3/Question 4 (Child Language Development)
AO1: 15 marks AO2: 15 marks
Paper 2
Section B Question 3
AO1: 10 marks AO3: 15 marks AO4: 15 marks | | | | 10 | Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Where AO1 is assessed: English Language and Literature | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Paper 1 – Telling Stories [assessed for all questions] Section A – Remembered Places
AO1: 15 marks AO3: 15 marks AO4: 10 marks Section B – Imagined Worlds
AO1: 10 marks AO2: 10 marks AO3: 15 marks Section C – Poetic Voices
AO1: 15 marks AO2: 10

FAQs

Why should English Language and English Language and Literature be studied together?

Both subjects focus on language in use across varied texts, times, audiences, and purposes, and both use linguistic methods to examine how meaning is created and represented. They also require evaluating and comparing how language is used.

What does AO1 require for English Language?

AO1 requires applying appropriate language analysis methods using relevant terminology and coherent written expression. Higher levels emphasise integrated analysis across language levels, recognising connections and evaluating patterns, with fewer errors and clearer structured guidance.

How is AO1 assessed across the exam papers?

The notes indicate AO1 mark allocations differ by paper, section, and question, with some questions requiring close focus on language detail from provided data. They also show AO1 being assessed in tasks tied to specific themes such as remembered places, imagined worlds, and poetic voices.

Oct 20, 2026

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