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Free Practice Questions for A-Level English Language

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Key Facts: A-Level English Language Exam

A*-E

Grading scale

Ofqual

May-June

Exam series

AQA, Edexcel, OCR timetable

3 boards

Specifications available

AQA, Edexcel, OCR

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

AQA, Edexcel, OCR A-Level English Language is assessed through linear end-of-course exam papers (Year 13). Coverage spans language and the individual, language varieties, language and identity, and grading uses the A*-E scale on 2026 specifications.

Sample A-Level English Language Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the A-Level English Language exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which language level is concerned with the study of word meaning?
A.Phonetics
B.Semantics
C.Syntax
D.Graphology
Explanation: Semantics is the linguistic level that deals with meaning, including denotation, connotation, and lexical relations such as synonymy and antonymy. It operates at the level of individual words and how they combine into meaningful phrases.
2The smallest meaningful unit of a language is called a:
A.Phoneme
B.Morpheme
C.Grapheme
D.Lexeme
Explanation: A morpheme is the smallest unit that carries meaning. For example, 'unhappiness' contains three morphemes: 'un-', 'happy' and '-ness'. Morphology is the study of how morphemes combine.
3In the IPA, the symbol /ʃ/ represents which English sound?
A.The 'th' in 'thin'
B.The 'sh' in 'ship'
C.The 'ch' in 'chip'
D.The 'zh' in 'measure'
Explanation: The symbol /ʃ/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet represents the voiceless postalveolar fricative, heard in English words such as 'ship', 'shoe' and 'nation'.
4Which term describes the study of how context contributes to meaning in language use?
A.Pragmatics
B.Semantics
C.Syntax
D.Phonology
Explanation: Pragmatics examines how speakers convey and listeners infer meaning beyond the literal, drawing on context, shared knowledge and conversational principles. It includes concepts such as implicature, deixis and speech acts.
5Which word class do 'quickly', 'often' and 'very' all belong to?
A.Adjective
B.Adverb
C.Preposition
D.Determiner
Explanation: Adverbs typically modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs and answer questions such as how, when, where, or to what degree. 'Quickly' modifies how; 'often' modifies when/frequency; 'very' is a degree adverb.
6The way speech sounds pattern and function within a particular language is the domain of:
A.Phonetics
B.Phonology
C.Graphology
D.Lexis
Explanation: Phonology studies the abstract sound system of a language: which sounds count as distinct phonemes, allowable syllable structures and stress/intonation patterns. Phonetics focuses on the physical articulation and acoustics of any speech sound.
7In the sentence 'The cat sat on the mat', what is the syntactic function of 'on the mat'?
A.Subject
B.Direct object
C.Prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial
D.Complement of the subject
Explanation: 'On the mat' is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial of place, providing information about where the sitting took place. Adverbials are typically optional clause elements that can be moved or removed.
8Which of the following best defines 'discourse' in linguistic study?
A.A single sentence in isolation
B.Language above the level of the sentence, including extended texts and interactions
C.The phonetic transcription of speech
D.The grammar of subordinate clauses
Explanation: Discourse refers to stretches of language beyond the sentence — paragraphs, whole texts, or extended conversations — and how they cohere and function in context. Discourse analysis examines features like cohesion, topic management and structure.
9Which of the following is an example of a bound morpheme?
A.Cat
B.Run
C.-ing
D.Happy
Explanation: A bound morpheme cannot stand alone and must attach to another morpheme. The suffix '-ing' attaches to verbs to form present participles or gerunds and never appears as an independent word.
10Graphological features of a text include all of the following EXCEPT:
A.Typeface and font size
B.Use of colour and images
C.Paragraph spacing and layout
D.Stress and intonation
Explanation: Graphology refers to the visual presentation of written texts — typography, layout, images, colour, punctuation and use of white space. Stress and intonation are prosodic features of spoken language and belong to phonology.

About the A-Level English Language Exam

A-Level English Language is offered by AQA, Edexcel, OCR as part of the UK A-Level qualification framework. The course covers language and the individual, language varieties, language and identity, language change and is assessed primarily through written exam papers at the end of the two-year course.

Exam sponsor: AQA, Edexcel, OCR. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

5-7 hours total across multiple papers

Passing Score

Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass (A*-A-B-C-D-E)

Exam / Certification Fees

£75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Core

Language Levels

Lexis, semantics, grammar, phonetics/phonology, pragmatics, discourse

Core

Language Varieties

Regional, social, ethnic varieties; standardisation; sociolect; idiolect

Core

Language and Identity

Gender, age, occupation, region, ethnicity in language use

Core

Language Change

Historical change, attitudes to change, the rise of digital communication

Core

Child Language Acquisition

Stages of development, theories (Skinner, Chomsky, Vygotsky, Bruner), reading and writing acquisition

Core

Original Writing and Investigation

NEA: original writing piece plus a language investigation with data collection

Preparing for the A-Level English Language Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass (A*-A-B-C-D-E)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 5-7 hours total across multiple papers
  • Exam / certification fees: £75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

A-Level English Language: Suggested Study Strategy

1Use past papers from your specific exam board — questions follow the same style year on year
2Time yourself on full papers to build pacing for the long extended-response questions
3Build a clear understanding of mark schemes — examiners reward specific assessment objectives
4Review examiner reports each summer; common errors repeat

Frequently Asked Questions

What exam boards offer A-Level English Language?

A-Level English Language is offered by AQA, Edexcel, OCR. All boards follow Ofqual subject content but vary in the choice of set texts, optional topics, and paper structure.

When is the A-Level English Language exam taken?

Exams are written in the May-June series at the end of the two-year linear A-Level course. Most students sit the papers in Year 13.

How is A-Level English Language graded?

A-Levels are graded A*-E. A* is the highest grade and E is the minimum pass. UCAS tariff points are awarded for A-Level grades on most university applications.

How many papers does A-Level English Language have?

Most A-Level subjects have 3 written papers. The exact number, timing, and weighting depend on the chosen exam board. Some subjects also include a non-examined assessment (NEA) coursework component.