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AQA Level 2 English Past Papers

Download AQA Level 2 Certificate in English past papers. Component 1 Reading and Component 2 Writing. 110 resources for adult and post-16 English learners.

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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145 of 145 resources — page 1 of 6

March 2023

3 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – March 2023

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – March 2023

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Functional Skills English – Mark scheme (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – March 2023

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June 2023

3 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – June 2023

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – June 2023

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Functional Skills English – Mark scheme (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – June 2023

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January 2023

2 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – January 2023

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – January 2023

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November 2022

2 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – November 2022

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – November 2022

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January 2022

2 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – January 2022

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – January 2022

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March 2022

3 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – March 2022

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – March 2022

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Functional Skills English – Mark scheme (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – March 2022

Mark Scheme

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June 2022

3 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – June 2022

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – June 2022

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Functional Skills English – Mark scheme (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – June 2022

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November 2021

2 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – November 2021

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – November 2021

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January 2020

2 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – January 2020

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – January 2020

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March 2020

3 files

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – March 2020

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Functional Skills English – Question paper (Level 1) : Component 2 Writing – March 2020

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Functional Skills English – Mark scheme (Level 1) : Component 1 Reading – March 2020

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Purposeful Reading Comprehension, Analytical Writing, and Effective Written Communication

AQA Level 2 Certificate in English is assessed at the same standard as GCSE English Language and is used widely in further education colleges for post-16 learners who did not achieve a Grade 4 or above at GCSE, and by adult learners seeking a recognised Level 2 English qualification. The certificate assesses reading and writing through two components, each targeting the fundamental skills of text comprehension, language analysis, and purposeful written communication. Component 1: Reading presents learners with one or more non-fiction texts — typically a newspaper article, a leaflet, an online extract, or a formal letter — and asks a series of questions that progress from retrieval and summarisation through to evaluation and comparison. Questions assess whether learners can identify explicit and implicit meaning, recognise how language choices create effect, evaluate the structural choices writers make to guide readers, and critically compare the perspectives or techniques of two writers. Accuracy of reference to the text is rewarded throughout. Component 2: Writing requires learners to produce two pieces of writing for different purposes and audiences. Transactional writing tasks typically include a formal letter, a report, an article, or a speech, while creative or personal writing tasks include narrative or descriptive tasks. Assessment focuses on communication (whether the writing achieves its purpose for the audience), organisation (whether it is structured effectively), vocabulary and sentence variety, and technical accuracy in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The qualification is designed to confirm that learners have command of the English skills necessary for higher education study and professional employment, where the ability to read purposefully and write clearly for specific audiences is a daily requirement.

Exam Paper Structure

Component 1No calculator

Reading

⏱ Timed examination🎯 marks📊 50% of grade

Retrieving explicit informationInferring implicit meaningLanguage analysis and effectStructural analysisComparing writers' perspectives or techniques

Component 2No calculator

Writing

⏱ Timed examination🎯 marks📊 50% of grade

Transactional writing (letters, reports, articles)Personal or creative writing (narrative, descriptive)Communication, purpose, and audienceOrganisation and structural techniquesTechnical accuracy (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

Key Information

Exam Board	AQA
Qualification	Level 2 Certificate
Standard	Equivalent to GCSE English Language
Component 1	Reading (non-fiction texts, comprehension, analysis)
Component 2	Writing (transactional and personal/creative tasks)
Audience	Post-16 re-sit learners; adult learners; FE college students
Total Resources	110

Key Topics in English

Topics you need to know

Retrieving and summarising information from textsAnalysing language choices and their effectsStructural analysis of non-fiction textsComparing two writers' perspectivesWriting for specific purposes and audiencesOrganising writing with effective structural techniquesTechnical accuracy in extended writing

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Identify	Select specific information from the text that answers the question — quote or paraphrase directly
Explain	Give the reason or effect behind a textual feature, supported by evidence
Analyse	Examine language or structural choices in detail, commenting on their effect on the reader
Compare	Identify specific similarities and differences between two texts or two writers' approaches
Write	Produce a piece of writing for a stated purpose and audience — demonstrate all the skills of communication, organisation, and accuracy

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
A* (Level 2 Distinction)	84-94%
A (Level 2 Merit)	70-83%
B/C (Level 2 Pass)	55-69%

⚠️ AQA Level 2 English is graded equivalent to GCSE grades. Boundaries vary by session. AQA publishes specific thresholds after each examination.

Text Analysis Technique, Purpose-Driven Writing, and Technical Accuracy

For Component 1, the most common source of lost marks is retrieving information that is not in the text. When a question asks "what does the writer tell us about X?", your answer must be grounded in evidence that appears explicitly in the passage — do not infer beyond what the text actually says unless the question asks you to. For analysis questions ("how does the writer use language to create an effect?"), quote a specific word or phrase, name the technique if relevant (e.g., "the tricolon 'fast, efficient, and invisible' suggests..."), and then explain the effect on the reader — why would an experienced reader respond in this way? Component 2 writing benefits from planning before writing. For a formal letter, decide in advance: who is the audience, what is the purpose, what are the three main points you want to make, and what tone is appropriate (formal, persuasive, urgent)? For narrative writing, plan the arc: opening (establish setting and character), complication, climax, and resolution. Students who plan even briefly produce more coherent, better-organised writing than those who begin immediately. Technical accuracy (spelling, punctuation, grammar) is assessed explicitly in Component 2. High-achieving responses use a variety of sentence structures purposefully — short sentences for impact, complex sentences for developing ideas, rhetorical questions to engage the reader. Avoid writing every sentence to the same rhythm. Punctuation, including colons, semicolons, and dashes, should be used correctly and deliberately, not randomly scattered to signal sophistication.