Pearson EdexcelA-Level184 resources

Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature (9EL0) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Voices in speech and writing. 184 resources.

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June 2017

2 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2017

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2017

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June 2016

2 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2016

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2016

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June 2015

6 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 4 (6EL04) – June 2015

Examiner Report

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Mark scheme – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2015

Mark Scheme

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2015

Examiner Report

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Mark scheme – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2015

Mark Scheme

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 2 (6EL02) – June 2015

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2015

Examiner Report

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June 2014

8 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Mark scheme – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2014

Mark Scheme

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2014

Examiner Report

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2014

Question Paper

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📊

A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 4 (6EL04) – June 2014

Examiner Report

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📊

A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 2 (6EL02) – June 2014

Examiner Report

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✅

A-Level English Language and Literature – Mark scheme – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2014

Mark Scheme

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📄

A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2014

Question Paper

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📊

A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 3 (6EL03) – June 2014

Examiner Report

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January 2012

2 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 1 (6EL01) – January 2012

Question Paper

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Question paper – Unit 3 (6EL03) – January 2012

Question Paper

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June 2010

1 file

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 4 (6EL04) – June 2010

Examiner Report

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January 2010

2 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 3 (6EL03) – January 2010

Examiner Report

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 1 (6EL01) – January 2010

Examiner Report

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June 2009

2 files

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 2 (6EL02) – June 2009

Examiner Report

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A-Level English Language and Literature – Examiner report – Unit 1 (6EL01) – June 2009

Examiner Report

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…

Where Linguistic Analysis Meets Literary Study: An Integrated Approach

Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature (9EL0) occupies a distinctive position among English A-Levels, requiring students to apply linguistic analytical methods to both literary and non-literary texts. Rather than treating language and literature as separate disciplines, this specification integrates them — demanding that students use the same linguistic frameworks (lexis, grammar, pragmatics, phonology, discourse) whether analysing a contemporary novel, a political speech, or a transcribed conversation. Paper 1: Voices in Speech and Writing (3 hours, 80 marks, 40%) presents students with a literary text extract and a thematically linked non-literary text. Students analyse both texts using linguistic methods, comparing how voice and perspective are constructed in different modes and genres. This paper rewards students who can move fluently between literary analysis and linguistic analysis without treating them as separate tasks. Paper 2: Varieties in Language and Literature (2 hours 30 minutes, 60 marks, 30%) focuses on a chosen literary text studied during the course. Students answer questions that require close linguistic analysis of passages from their set text, combined with wider knowledge of the text as a whole. The choice of set texts changes between series, and past papers reflect the range of texts that have been set. The NEA (30%) comprises two pieces: a creative writing piece and a critical commentary analysing the student's own creative choices using linguistic frameworks. This component rewards students who can write creatively with conscious control of language and then step back to analyse their own writing with the same rigour they apply to published texts. The 184 resources here include both current specification papers and legacy unit papers (6EL01-6EL04), providing a substantial bank of practice material across different question styles and set texts.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1No calculator

Voices in Speech and Writing

⏱ 3 hours🎯 80 marks📊 40% of grade

Comparative analysis of literary and non-literary textsApplication of linguistic frameworks to voice and perspectiveMode analysis (speech vs writing)

Paper 2No calculator

Varieties in Language and Literature

⏱ 2 hours 30 minutes🎯 60 marks📊 30% of grade

Close linguistic analysis of set text passagesAnalysis of language variety within literary worksContextual understanding of literary and linguistic choices

Key Information

Exam Board	Pearson Edexcel
Specification Code	9EL0
Qualification	A-Level
Grading Scale	A*–E
Assessment Type	2 written papers + NEA coursework
Paper 1	3 hr — Voices in Speech and Writing (40%)
Paper 2	2 hr 30 min — Varieties in Language and Literature (30%)
NEA	Creative writing + critical commentary (30%)
Available Sessions	June 2017 – June 2024 (plus legacy papers)
Total Resources	184

Key Topics in English Language and Literature

Topics you need to know

Linguistic frameworks applied to literary and non-literary textsVoice and perspective construction in speech and writingComparative textual analysis across modes and genresLanguage variation (social, regional, historical, contextual)Narrative voice and dialogue analysisCreative writing with linguistic self-awareness

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Analyse	Examine language features using linguistic frameworks, explaining how meaning is created
Compare	Identify and explain linguistic similarities and differences between texts
Evaluate	Judge the effectiveness of language choices, considering purpose and audience
Explore	Investigate how language works in a text, considering multiple interpretations
Comment on	Provide informed observations about specific language features with supporting evidence

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
A*	74–85%
A	64–73%
B	54–63%
C	44–53%
D	34–43%
E	24–33%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across examined papers. NEA marks are separate. Actual boundaries vary — check Pearson's website.

Bridging Linguistic and Literary Analysis: How to Approach This Unique A-Level

The defining challenge of this specification is integration — applying linguistic frameworks to literary texts without losing sight of the literary context, and applying literary sensitivity to non-literary texts without abandoning systematic analysis. When analysing a literary extract, don't default to PEE paragraphs from GCSE English Literature. Instead, identify specific linguistic features (noun phrase pre-modification, modal verbs, discourse markers, prosodic features in dialogue) and explain how they construct voice, perspective, or power dynamics. For Paper 1, practise analysing paired texts — one literary, one non-literary — connected by theme. The strongest responses don't treat the two texts as separate mini-essays but weave comparative analysis throughout, using connectives like 'whereas', 'in contrast', and 'similarly' to draw linguistic parallels and differences. Focus particularly on how mode (speech vs writing) affects language choices. For Paper 2, know your set text inside out at the level of individual linguistic choices, not just plot and character. You might be asked to analyse a specific passage for how dialogue constructs character, or how narrative voice shifts between sections. Have specific examples ready — not just 'the author uses metaphor' but 'the extended semantic field of imprisonment in Chapter 7 constructs Nora's psychological state through noun phrases like "gilded cage" and "locked door"'. For the NEA creative writing, choose a genre and form you can sustain convincingly. The critical commentary matters as much as the creative piece — it must demonstrate that your creative choices were deliberate and linguistically informed. Use terminology precisely and reference your own text with the same analytical rigour you'd apply to an exam extract.

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Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download Past Papers

June 2017

June 2016

June 2015

June 2014

January 2012

June 2010

January 2010

June 2009

Where Linguistic Analysis Meets Literary Study: An Integrated Approach

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in English Language and Literature

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Bridging Linguistic and Literary Analysis: How to Approach This Unique A-Level

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