GCSE · AQA · English Literature
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) past papers for Shakespeare, novels, modern texts and poetry
16 AQA papers from November 2020 to June 2025, with 241 essay questions. Write your essay, get it marked against the AQA mark scheme with feedback, then rewrite it and have it marked again.
Studying A-Level? See AQA English Literature A or AQA English Literature B.
What you'll study
The AQA GCSE English Literature papers on Markaroo
An extract-based question on your play and one on your novel.
- Macbeth
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Tempest
- The Merchant of Venice
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Julius Caesar
- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- A Christmas Carol
- Great Expectations
- Jane Eyre
- Frankenstein
- Pride and Prejudice
- The Sign of Four
A modern prose or drama essay, an anthology comparison and two unseen poetry questions.
- An Inspector Calls
- Blood Brothers
- Lord of the Flies
- Animal Farm
- DNA
- A Taste of Honey
- Telling Tales
- Anita and Me
- Pigeon English
- Leave Taking
- Princess & The Hustler
- My Name is Leon
- Poetry anthology: Love and relationships, Power and conflict, Worlds and lives
- Unseen poetry
Papers come from November 2020 to June 2025, including the November 2021 and June 2022 papers AQA restructured when centres could drop a content area. AQA does not publish its June 2017 to 2019 papers, so those are not included. Texts AQA added for 2025, such as My Name is Leon and the Worlds and lives poems, have fewer past questions so far. Every set-text question is its own question, so you can filter by your text.
6 questions are held back because AQA did not reproduce the poem in its public paper for copyright reasons: one anthology question (June 2022) and five unseen poetry questions (November 2020, June 2023 and June 2025).
Assessment
How AQA GCSE English Literature is examined
| Paper | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel (1 hr 45 min, closed book) | Section A: your Shakespeare play, starting from an extract (30 marks plus 4 for spelling, punctuation and grammar). Section B: your 19th-century novel, starting from an extract (30 marks) | 64 · 40% |
| Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (2 hr 15 min, closed book) | Section A: one essay on your modern prose or drama text, from a choice of two (30 marks plus 4). Section B: comparing two poems from your anthology cluster (30 marks). Section C: one unseen poem (24 marks), then comparing it with a second (8 marks) | 96 · 60% |
Your essays are marked against the AQA mark scheme and level grid for that question, with feedback on what would move you up a level.
Markaroo is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by AQA. Past papers are attempted and marked inside the app, not offered as downloads.
Questions
AQA GCSE English Literature on Markaroo
Which AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) papers does Markaroo cover?
Both papers: Paper 1, Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel, and Paper 2, Modern texts and poetry. There are 16 AQA papers from November 2020 to June 2025 with 241 questions, including the restructured November 2021 and June 2022 papers. AQA’s June 2017 to 2019 papers are not public, so they are not included.
How is AQA GCSE English Literature assessed?
Two closed-book exams. Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 64 marks (40%): one question on your Shakespeare play and one on your 19th-century novel, each starting from an extract. Paper 2 lasts 2 hours 15 minutes and is worth 96 marks (60%): an essay on your modern prose or drama text, a comparison of two poems from your anthology cluster, and two questions on unseen poetry. The Shakespeare and modern text questions carry 4 extra marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Which set texts are included?
The Shakespeare plays, 19th-century novels and modern texts on AQA’s current list, the three poetry anthology clusters (Love and relationships, Power and conflict, Worlds and lives) and unseen poetry. How many past questions a text has depends on how long it has been on the list. Revision notes and flashcards cover all six Shakespeare plays, all seven 19th-century novels, An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm and the Love and relationships and Power and conflict clusters: 308 notes and 1,709 flashcards. The other modern texts, Worlds and lives and model answers are not available yet.
Why are some past-paper questions missing?
AQA does not reproduce some modern poems in its public papers for copyright reasons, and a question cannot be answered without its poem. 6 questions are held back: one anthology question from June 2022 and five unseen poetry questions from November 2020, June 2023 and June 2025.
Is there a free plan for AQA GCSE English Literature on Markaroo?
Yes. The free plan gives you your coach and 2 written answers marked free, with no card required. Plus unlocks unlimited questions, AI essay marking and the rewrite loop from £6.99 a month (add more subjects for £5 each, with a 7-day free trial).