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Read the note once for understanding, then close it and rewrite the key argument from memory. Turn each section into a practice question and answer it under timed conditions. Active recall beats highlighting.
Revision notes summarise plot, theme, context and method so you understand the text. Model answers show how to convert that understanding into an exam response that hits the assessment objectives - read them for structure and technique, not to memorise.
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For AQA English Language Paper 1, focus on the language-analysis and structure technique guides plus narrative/descriptive model answers. For Paper 2, use the comparison and persuasive-writing walkthroughs. Map each resource to the specific question it serves rather than reading broadly.
Yes - the model-answers section includes grade-7-to-9 exemplar essays with marker commentary explaining the band judgement. Read them for structure and how analysis is built, not to memorise, then apply the same moves to your own practice essays.
Learn techniques in pairs of name plus effect, not definitions alone, and immediately apply each to a short passage. For vocabulary, prioritise precise analytical verbs and conceptual nouns you can deploy in essays rather than long word lists.
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AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)
Recent grade boundaries, what each grade looks like in practice, and how to push your marks into the next band.
Grade boundaries change every year based on the difficulty of the papers and the performance of the whole cohort. The boundaries below are from recent exam series and are provided as a guide only. Your actual grade boundary may be slightly higher or lower. Always check the AQA website for the most up-to-date boundaries after results day.
The total number of marks across both papers is 160. Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel) is worth 40% (64 marks) and Paper 2 (Modern texts, Poetry anthology, and Unseen poetry) is worth 60% (96 marks). Your raw marks from both papers are combined to produce your overall grade. Below are the approximate boundaries from recent exam series:
| Grade | Approx. mark (/160) | Approx. % |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | ~136 | ~85% |
| 8 | ~120 | ~75% |
| 7 | ~104 | ~65% |
| 6 | ~89 | ~56% |
| 5 | ~74 | ~46% |
| 4 | ~58 | ~36% |
| 3 | ~42 | ~26% |
| 2 | ~26 | ~16% |
| 1 | ~12 | ~8% |
Note: These boundaries are approximate and based on publicly available AQA data. The “Approx. %” column shows roughly what percentage of the total 160 marks you need.
Understanding what each grade looks like helps you see exactly what markers expect at each level. Here is what typical work looks like at the key grade boundaries:
Here are targeted strategies for moving from one grade band to the next:
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) is split into two papers. Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel) is worth 40% and Paper 2 (Modern texts, Poetry anthology, and Unseen poetry) is worth 60%.
1 hour 45 minutes • 64 marks
| Section | Question | Marks | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — Shakespeare | Extract + essay | 30 marks + 4 SPaG | Shakespeare play (extract-based essay) |
| B — 19th-century novel | Extract + essay | 30 marks | 19th-century novel (extract-based essay) |
| Paper 1 Total | 64 marks | 40% of qualification | |
2 hours 15 minutes • 96 marks
| Section | Question | Marks | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — Modern texts | Essay question | 34 marks + 4 SPaG | Modern prose or drama (essay from choice of two) |
| B — Poetry anthology | Comparison | 30 marks | One named poem compared with one of your choice |
| C — Unseen poetry | C1 | 24 marks | Analysis of one unseen poem |
| C2 | 8 marks | Comparison of two unseen poems | |
| Paper 2 Total | 96 marks | 60% of qualification | |
Paper 2 carries more weight and includes both the poetry anthology and unseen poetry sections. Knowing your anthology poems inside out and practising unseen poetry under timed conditions are two of the most effective ways to improve your overall Literature grade.
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