Complete AQA A-Level English Language specification revision resources. Tailored syllabus coverage with topic breakdowns, quizzes, and practice questions.
Overview
The AQA A-Level English Language course invites you to explore the richness and complexity of the English language, from how individuals use it in everyday interactions to how it varies and changes across time, place and social groups. You will study language as a dynamic system, developing a critical understanding of how meaning is created and contested. The course balances theoretical knowledge with practical analytical skills, encouraging you to examine real-world texts, data and discourses.
At its heart are three interconnected strands: textual variations and representations, children’s language development, and language diversity and change. You will learn to apply linguistic frameworks (phonetics, grammar, lexis, pragmatics, discourse) with precision, while also considering wider concepts like identity, power and technology. A key feature is the assessment of attitudes to language, requiring you to evaluate arguments and construct reasoned academic arguments.
The A-level qualification is linear and examined through two written papers and a non-exam assessment (NEA). Paper 1 (‘Language, the Individual and Society’) tests your ability to analyse texts and write about children’s language development. Paper 2 (‘Language Diversity and Change’) invites you to explore variation in English and engage with language discourses. The NEA is an independent investigation into an aspect of language use of your choice, plus a piece of original writing and commentary. This structure gives scope for both breadth and depth, and for you to pursue your own linguistic interests.
Why Choose AQA for English Language?
AQA’s specification emphasises real-world language use and independent research. The NEA allows you to pursue a personal language investigation on a topic that fascinates you, from accent and dialect to online communication, building skills valued by universities and employers.
The course has clear, well-structured assessment objectives that reward precise linguistic analysis and the ability to evaluate different perspectives. Mark schemes are designed to be transparent, supporting you in understanding exactly what is required for top grades.
AQA offers a wealth of free support materials, including specimen papers, exemplar student responses with examiner commentaries, and regular teacher training events. This helps ensure you and your teachers are confident in preparing for the exams.
Assessment & Exam Structure
The AQA A-Level English Language (7707) is assessed via two exam papers and a non-exam assessment (NEA). Paper 1 (Language, the Individual and Society) is a 2-hour 30-minute written paper worth 100 marks (40% of A-level) with two sections: Textual Variations and Representations, and Children’s Language Development. Paper 2 (Language Diversity and Change) is also 2 hours 30 minutes, 100 marks (40%), covering language diversity, language change and language discourses. The NEA (Language in Action) is a coursework portfolio of approximately 3,500 words, worth 100 marks (20%), consisting of a language investigation (2,000 words) and a piece of original writing with a commentary (1,500 words). Total A-level marks: 300.
Specification Topics
- Language and the individual
- Language varieties
- Language, the individual and society
- Language diversity and change
- Language in action
Top Exam Board Tips
- Ensure all analysis is supported by specific evidence from the text
- Use precise linguistic terminology consistently
- Focus on how the context (audience, purpose, genre, mode) influences the language choices made
- Structure responses clearly with an introduction and conclusion
- For comparative questions, explicitly link the language and contexts of the two texts
- Ensure the analysis of language levels (e.g., grammar, lexis) is integrated rather than just listed
- Ensure terminology is applied consistently and accurately
- Use a structured approach to analysis that covers multiple levels of language
- Connect language features to their specific contexts of use
- Ensure you apply methods of language analysis (phonetics, phonology, prosodics, graphology, lexis, semantics, grammar, morphology, pragmatics, discourse) to the data provided
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Identifying language features without providing linguistic description
- Discussing content or subject matter without linking it to language choices
- Misunderstanding the context or the text's purpose
- Inconsistent or inappropriate use of linguistic terminology
- Failure to explicitly make connections between texts in comparative tasks
- Paraphrasing or summarising content instead of analysing it
- Describing language features without using precise linguistic terminology.
- Discussing theories in isolation without linking them to the provided data.