AQA English Language Paper 1 - practice paper

Support students as they strengthen language analysis skills for the AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section A questions with this exam-style sample paper. Updated for 2026 exams. 

What's included

Get everything you need for students as they practise evaluating fiction texts and responding to the newly adapted exam-style questions for GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section A from 2026: 

• Free printable PDF worksheet for students to explore a text of an appropriate level with typical question types included. 
• For subscribers only, an adaptable and customisable worksheet. 

AQA English Language Paper 1 - practice paper resource

Ideal for students studying AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section A from 2026, this sample exam paper enables students to increase their understanding of evaluating a fiction text and responding to exam-style questions with answers that fulfil exam board marking criteria. 

Students read the text and the questions, then answer each of the four questions with relevant details from the text and by applying their language analysis skills. This is excellent preparation for year 11 students as they expand their Paper 1 skill set or focus on revision in the run up to their final exams and for year 10 students as they become more familiar with Paper 1 layout and content. 

Key features of this resource

This targeted model exam paper resource uses an extract from the end of Chapter 1 of 'Great Expectations'. Please note that the original text was published in 1861 (the fiction extract for AQA will be taken from the 20th or 21st centuries).

The resource enables students to read the source and experience the type of section A questions they are likely to face in the AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1. This activity helps students to build confidence and resilience with the format and question type.

The questions take students through a typical Section A experience and help them to focus on language features, sentence forms and writers’ viewpoints ahead of their exams or during revision periods. 

How to use this AQA English Language Paper 1 - practice paper resource

This resource is perfect for:

• Building understanding of fiction texts and newly adapted 2026 questions
• Exploring detailed responses for the new style 2026 questions
• Consolidating language analysis skills
• Completing revision sessions and exam or assessment preparation
• Improving exam question answer construction at KS4

Additional GCSE English Language Paper 1 resources

• Practice exam question for AQA Paper 1A: Responding to literary fiction texts
• Tackling question 1 of the AQA English Language exam
• AQA English Language Paper 1 practice Hard Times extract
• AQA English Language Paper 1: practice reading assessment task
• AQA GCSE Language Paper 1 practice: The Tell Tale Heart

Browse additional resources in the AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 section