Small changes, meaningful difference
A more positive English Language exam experience for you and your students is coming in 2026.
The first assessment of the updated GCSE English Language papers takes place in summer 2026. To support you and your students, we’ve brought together everything in one place – from guidance and exemplification to practical resources you can use straight away.
Following feedback on the changes introduced in January 2025, we made further enhancements to improve clarity. These are reflected in the updated SAMs 1 and the additional SAMs 2 and 3, published in November 2025, and will appear in the live exam papers from summer 2026 and in all future series.
These refinements were shaped by feedback from teachers like you and grounded in research. They build on what already works, keep core skills consistent, and aim to make the exam experience clearer and more positive for learners.
Wherever you are in your preparation, our resources are here to help you save time, feel confident and focus on what matters most – great teaching and student success.
A reminder of the changes
We haven’t changed the structure of the papers. There are the same number of questions on each paper with the same number of marks and the same assessment objectives (AOs) allocated to each.
Paper 1
- Question 1 is changing to a multiple-choice question. The layout is now more in line with Paper 2, Question 1, where students are asked to shade the circle in a box to record their answer, rather than place a tick.
- Question 3 now focuses on a single effect, for example, ‘How has the writer structured the text to create suspense’ etc.
- Question 4 has had the reference to a ‘student’ making the statement removed, making the focus on the statement clearer.
- There has also been a change to the wording of the second bullet point referring to methods.
- We’ve also made this question clearer so that learners can agree and/or disagree with the statement, rather than just doing one or the other.
- We’ve also made the decision to ensure that we will always foreground the question by stating which part of the extract the question refers to.
- We’ve added a further comment within the question to support an evaluative response.
- Question 5 prompt reminds students they can use their imaginations and do not have to describe the exact picture.
- Question 5 narrative option now offers students the option to write an ‘opening’, rather than a whole narrative.
Paper 2
- Question 2 has been reworded to improve clarity.
- Question 4 has a change to the wording of the bullet point referring to methods.
Mark schemes
We’re improving our mark schemes across paper 1 and paper 2 so that you have the guidance you need when marking your classroom assessments and you can better understand what earns marks. The changes will help you apply the mark scheme more accurately, see how your students are performing, and how they can improve.
When will this affect me and my students?
The changes will affect current Year 11 students taking exams in summer 2026 and onwards
Current Year 11 cohort (May/June 2026)
First GCSE English Language updated papers
Current Year 11 cohort (November 2026: resit)
Autumn resit with updated papers
Sample assessment materials (SAMs)
We now have a total of three sets of SAMs available on our website and on Centre Services, so you can decide how and when materials are shared with your students. We also have a set of answers and commentaries.
The three sample sets can be used as mock papers.
myAQA
To download SAMs sample sets 2 and 3, you’ll need a myAQA account to access our Centre Services platform. If you do not have a login, you’ll need to register for an account. Your exams officer will need to review your registration, then you’re ready to go.
Ready to give your students a more positive exam experience?
Our team of experts have developed materials to support your preparation for the 2026 exams. Here are some resources to explore now. New sample assessment materials for 2026 can now be downloaded on centre services.
Free training and events
Access live and on-demand CPD with our English experts, offering practical insight and guidance to support your teaching of the updated GCSE English Language.
Teacher-led support, tailored for you
These changes may raise questions, and we’re here to help. Your go-to team of English specialists provide practical, actionable advice and guidance, rooted in real classroom experience, to help you navigate changes and enhance your teaching. Let us support you every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most – your students.
It’s great to be able to take the feedback we’ve had from teachers and implement these small but meaningful changes to our GCSE English Language exams. By simplifying language, aligning prompts, and adjusting the mark scheme, our aim is to improve the experience of the students answering the questions, and increase clarity for teachers and examiners.”
Stephanie Keenan, Head of Product – English
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