AQAGCSE68 resources

AQA GCSE Urdu Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA GCSE Urdu (8648) past papers and mark schemes. Listening, speaking, reading, writing. Foundation & Higher. 79 resources from 2018 to 2024.

📅June 2018 – June 2024📄68 resources available✅Free to download

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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Year

68 of 68 resources

June 2023

23 files

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2023

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Transcript

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2023

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Transcript

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2023

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Sound file: tracked: Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Audio File

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2023

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2023

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2023

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 Speaking – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2023

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2023

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2023

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 Speaking – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2023

Mark Scheme

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June 2022

17 files

📜

GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Transcript

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📜

GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Transcript

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🔊

GCSE Urdu – Sound file: tracked: Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Audio File

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2022

Question Paper

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2022

Question Paper

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 Speaking – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2022

Question Paper

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – June 2022

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 Speaking – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – June 2022

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – June 2022

Question Paper

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November 2021

8 files

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GCSE Urdu – Sound file: tracked: Paper 1 Listening – November 2021

Audio File

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📜

GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2021

Transcript

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2021

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2021

Question Paper

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2021

Question Paper

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2021

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2021

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2021

Question Paper

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November 2020

20 files

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation

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📜

GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Transcript

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📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation

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📜

GCSE Urdu – Transcript (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Transcript

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📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation

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GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2020

Mark Scheme

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2020

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2020

Question Paper

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2020

Mark Scheme

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📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Question Paper

Download

📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2020

Question Paper

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✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Mark Scheme

Download

📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2020

Question Paper

Download

📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation

Download

📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 4 Writing – November 2020

Question Paper

Download

✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Mark Scheme

Download

✅

GCSE Urdu – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 3 Reading – November 2020

Mark Scheme

Download

📄

GCSE Urdu – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 Listening – November 2020

Question Paper

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About AQA GCSE Urdu

AQA GCSE Urdu (specification code 8648) is one of AQA's most widely taken heritage language GCSEs, primarily sat by students from British Pakistani and British Kashmiri families who use Urdu at home or at community school. The qualification assesses four skills — Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing — each worth 25% of the final grade. Both Foundation and Higher tiers are available for all four assessed components. Urdu is written in the Nastaliq style of the Perso-Arabic script, written right-to-left. Students must be able to read and write in Nastaliq script for the Reading and Writing papers. The script's cursive, calligraphic nature means letter forms change substantially depending on position in a word (initial, medial, final, isolated), and mastery of script is directly rewarded in both papers. Paper 1 (Listening) tests comprehension of spoken Urdu covering the AQA themes: identity and culture, local and national areas, and education and employment. Transcripts are in spoken Standard Urdu (rather than regional variants such as Punjabi-inflected Urdu), and students answer questions in English. The listening paper is available at Foundation and Higher tiers with different audio tracks. Paper 2 (Speaking) is teacher-assessed using the standard AQA format: role play, photo card, and general conversation. Urdu verb morphology changes based on the gender of both the subject and object in many tenses — this gender agreement system, as well as the use of postpositions (rather than prepositions), is assessed throughout and distinguishes higher performance bands. Paper 3 (Reading) requires reading in Nastaliq script and includes comprehension questions and a translation from Urdu into English. Paper 4 (Writing) requires extended writing in Nastaliq script and includes a translation from English into Urdu. The verb system — including tenses, aspect (perfect, continuous, habitual), and gender agreement — is directly assessed in the writing tasks.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1No calculator

Listening

⏱ 35 min (Foundation) / 45 min (Higher)🎯 50 marks📊 25% of grade

Listening comprehension of spoken Standard Urdu5-minute reading period before audio beginsComprehension questions answered in English

Paper 2No calculator

Speaking

⏱ Approximately 12 minutes🎯 60 marks📊 25% of grade

Role playPhoto card discussionGeneral conversation on AQA themes

Paper 3No calculator

Reading

⏱ 45 min (Foundation) / 60 min (Higher)🎯 60 marks📊 25% of grade

Reading comprehension of Nastaliq script Urdu textsTranslation from Urdu into English

Paper 4No calculator

Writing

⏱ 75 min (Foundation) / 80 min (Higher)🎯 60 marks📊 25% of grade

Structured and extended writing in Nastaliq script UrduTranslation from English into Urdu (SOV word order, gender agreement, and correct postpositions required)

Key Information

Exam Board	AQA
Specification Code	8648
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	4 components: Listening (25%), Speaking (25%), Reading (25%), Writing (25%)
Number Of Papers	4
Exam Duration	Listening: ~35 min. Speaking: ~12 min. Reading: ~45 min. Writing: ~75 min
Available Sessions	June 2018 – June 2024
Total Resources	79

Key Topics in Urdu

Topics you need to know

Listening comprehension of spoken Standard UrduSpeaking: role play, photo card, general conversationReading and writing in Nastaliq (Perso-Arabic) scriptTranslation Urdu–English and English–UrduGender agreement in verbs and adjectives (masculine/feminine, singular/plural)SOV word order and postpositional constructionsVerb tense and aspect: perfect, continuous, and habitual formsIdentity and culture, local/global areas, education and employment

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Answer in English	Write your response in English, not Urdu
Translate into English	Render the Urdu text accurately in natural English
Translate into Urdu	Render the English text in accurate Urdu using Nastaliq script with correct gender agreement and SOV word order
Write approximately [X] words	Aim for the stated word count in your Urdu writing task
Choose ONE title	Select a single option from the two extended writing tasks provided
Write the letter	Indicate your listening multiple-choice answer by writing only the letter

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	87–97%
Grade 8	77–86%
Grade 7	66–76%
Grade 6	56–65%
Grade 5	46–55%
Grade 4	36–45%
Grade 3	26–35%
Grade 2	16–25%
Grade 1	6–15%

⚠️ Urdu is a heritage language GCSE with Foundation and Higher tiers. Grade boundaries reflect the predominantly heritage-speaker candidature and are typically higher than non-heritage subjects. Actual boundaries vary — check AQA's website.

How to Use AQA GCSE Urdu Past Papers Effectively

GCSE Urdu requires formal Standard Urdu — which may differ significantly from the conversational Urdu or Punjabi-inflected varieties spoken at home. Read the past paper reading extracts carefully and notice vocabulary and constructions that you would not typically use in conversation. Building a vocabulary list of formal Urdu terms (particularly those derived from Persian and Arabic roots) is essential for higher-band performance. Script fluency is fundamental to both the Reading and Writing papers. Practise reading Nastaliq text aloud and then silently — the goal is to read without sounding out each letter. For writing, practise joined-up Nastaliq carefully: the most common script errors involve incorrect letter connections, confusion between similar-shaped letters (like ب، پ، ت، ث), and incorrect nuqte (dot) placement. A systematic script drill — practising each letter form in each position — is worth doing early in the revision period. Gender agreement in Urdu is pervasive: it affects verb forms in the present and past tenses, adjectives, and some postpositional constructions. For the Writing paper, before you write any verb, identify the gender and number of the subject (and in transitive past tense, the object). Create a reference table for each tense showing masculine singular, masculine plural, feminine singular, and feminine plural verb endings. For the English-to-Urdu translation task, map out the sentence structure before writing. Urdu follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, which is the reverse of English Subject-Verb-Object. Rearranging sentence elements while maintaining accurate postpositions and verb agreement is the main challenge in translation tasks.

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AQA GCSE Urdu Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

About AQA GCSE Urdu

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Urdu

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

How to Use AQA GCSE Urdu Past Papers Effectively

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