OCRA-Level36 resources

OCR A-Level English Language Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Free OCR A-Level English Language (H470) past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports. Exploring Language plus Dimensions of Linguistic Variation. All sessions available. 27 resources.

📅June 2018 – June 2024📄36 resources available✅Free to download

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

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36 of 36 resources

June 2023

11 files

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English Language – Question paper – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Question Paper

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English Language – Question paper – Dimensions of linguistic variation resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Exploring language

Mark Scheme

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English Language – Question paper – Exploring language

Question Paper

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English Language – Examiners’ report – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Examiner Report

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English Language – Examiners’ report – Exploring language

Examiner Report

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language

Question Paper

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📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Exploring language

Mark Scheme

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📊

English Language – Examiners’ report – Exploring language

Examiner Report

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June 2022

11 files

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English Language – Question paper – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Question Paper

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📄

English Language – Question paper – Dimensions of linguistic variation resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Exploring language

Mark Scheme

Download

📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language

Question Paper

Download

📊

English Language – Examiners’ report – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Examiner Report

Download

📊

English Language – Examiners’ report – Exploring language

Examiner Report

Download

✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Mark Scheme

Download

📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language

Question Paper

Download

📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Exploring language

Mark Scheme

Download

📊

English Language – Examiners’ report – Exploring language

Examiner Report

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November 2021

4 files

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English Language – Question paper – Dimensions of linguistic variation resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Exploring language

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Mark Scheme

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November 2020

5 files

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English Language – Question paper – Dimensions of linguistic variation resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Exploring language

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language

Question Paper

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📄

English Language – Question paper – Exploring language resource booklet

Question Paper

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✅

English Language – Mark scheme – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Mark Scheme

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No date

5 files

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English Language – Annotated sample assessment materials

Sample Assessment Materials

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English Language – Dimensions of linguistic variation

Sample Assessment Materials

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English Language – Exploring language

Sample Assessment Materials

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English Language – Annotated sample assessment materials

Sample Assessment Materials

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📝

English Language – Exploring language

Sample Assessment Materials

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Linguistics in Action: How OCR English Language Combines Analysis with Research

OCR A-Level English Language (H470) is a linguistics-focused specification that examines how language works at every level — from phonetics and morphology to discourse and sociolinguistics. It balances textual analysis with an independent research project, making it one of the most academically rigorous English specifications available. Component 1: Exploring Language (H470/01, 2 hours 30 minutes, 80 marks, 40%) presents students with two unseen texts in Section A and requires detailed linguistic analysis using the frameworks of lexis, semantics, grammar, phonology, pragmatics, and discourse. The texts span a wide range of genres and modes — spoken transcripts, digital communication, literary extracts, advertising copy, and journalistic writing. Section B is a directed writing task where students produce an original text for a specified audience and purpose, then write a linguistic commentary explaining their language choices. Component 2: Dimensions of Linguistic Variation (H470/02, 2 hours 30 minutes, 80 marks, 40%) tests knowledge of language change, child language acquisition, and sociolinguistics. Section A focuses on language in its social context — how language varies by region, social group, gender, and power dynamics — using data from a resource booklet. Section B addresses either child language acquisition (analysing transcripts of children's speech) or language change (analysing historical texts and discussing attitudes to language change). Component 3: Independent Language Research (non-exam assessment, 40 marks, 20%) is a 2,500–3,000 word investigation into a linguistic topic of the student's choice, using primary data they have collected. Past topics have ranged from code-switching in bilingual families to politeness strategies in online gaming communities.

Exam Paper Structure

Component 1No calculator

Exploring Language

⏱ 2 hours 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 40% of grade

Section A: Linguistic analysis of two unseen textsAnalysis using lexis, semantics, grammar, phonology, pragmatics, discourseSection B: Directed writing (creative text + linguistic commentary)

Component 2No calculator

Dimensions of Linguistic Variation

⏱ 2 hours 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 40% of grade

Section A: Language in its social context (sociolinguistics)Section B: Child language acquisition OR Language changeAnalysis of resource booklet data

Component 3No calculator

Independent Language Research

⏱ Coursework🎯 40 marks📊 20% of grade

2,500–3,000 word linguistic investigationPrimary data collection and analysisApplication of linguistic frameworks to original research

Key Information

Exam Board	OCR
Specification Code	H470
Qualification	A-Level
Grading Scale	A*–E
Assessment Type	2 written exams + 1 NEA (coursework)
Number Of Papers	2 exams + 1 NEA
Exam Duration	Papers 1 & 2: 2h 30m each
Total Marks	200 (80 + 80 + 40)
Calculator Status	Not applicable
Available Sessions	June 2018 – June 2024
Total Resources	27

Key Topics in English Language

Topics you need to know

Linguistic frameworks (lexis, semantics, grammar, phonology, pragmatics, discourse)Sociolinguistics (regional variation, social group, gender, power)Child language acquisition (stages, theories, transcript analysis)Language change (historical development, standardisation, attitudes)Directed writing and linguistic commentaryIndependent research methodology (data collection, ethical considerations)Text analysis across modes (spoken, written, digital)Pragmatics (implicature, politeness theory, speech acts)

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Analyse	Examine language data systematically using linguistic frameworks, identifying patterns and explaining their effects
Evaluate	Weigh the strengths and limitations of a linguistic theory, argument, or interpretation
Compare	Identify linguistic similarities and differences between texts, explaining their significance
Discuss	Explore a linguistic issue from multiple perspectives, using evidence to support your argument
Explore	Investigate linguistic features in depth, considering multiple possible interpretations
Assess	Make a judgement about the validity or significance of a linguistic claim, with evidence

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
A*	75–87%
A	64–74%
B	54–63%
C	44–53%
D	35–43%
E	26–34%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across two exams and NEA (200 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check OCR's website.

Building a Linguistic Toolkit and Avoiding the Common Analysis Trap

The most common weakness in OCR English Language responses is feature-spotting without analysis. Students identify linguistic features — 'the writer uses a metaphor' — without explaining why that feature is significant or what effect it creates. OCR's mark scheme explicitly rewards analysis of effect and meaning, not merely identification. For every feature you identify, follow the pattern: identify, exemplify, analyse effect, connect to context or purpose. Build a systematic linguistic toolkit that covers all levels of language analysis. At lexis level: semantic fields, connotation, register, colloquialism, neologism. At grammar level: sentence types, clause structure, mood, modality, tense. At phonology level: plosives, fricatives, sibilance, rhythm patterns. At discourse level: cohesion, deixis, turn-taking, adjacency pairs, topic management. Practise applying every level to every text — the strongest responses address multiple linguistic levels rather than dwelling on one. Child language acquisition questions are among the most predictable in the specification. Know the key theorists (Halliday's functions, Bruner's LASS, Chomsky's LAD, Skinner's reinforcement) and the developmental stages (babbling, holophrastic, telegraphic, post-telegraphic). But crucially, use the transcript data rather than simply reciting theory. The marks are in the evidence-based analysis: 'The child's utterance 'more juice' at 20 months illustrates the telegraphic stage where function words are omitted, consistent with Brown's MLU stage I.' For the directed writing task, the commentary is worth as many marks as the creative piece itself. Plan both simultaneously — choose language features deliberately so you can discuss them insightfully in your commentary.

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OCR A-Level English Language Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download Past Papers

June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

No date

Linguistics in Action: How OCR English Language Combines Analysis with Research

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in English Language

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Building a Linguistic Toolkit and Avoiding the Common Analysis Trap

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History A

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Physics B (Advancing Physics)

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Latin

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