OCRGCSE62 resources

OCR GCSE English Language Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free OCR GCSE English Language past papers and mark schemes. 62 resources covering 2020 – 2023. Free PDF downloads.

📅2020 – 2023📄62 resources available✅Free to download

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Year

62 of 62 resources

June 2023

10 files

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Exploring effects and impact

Mark Scheme

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact insert

Question Paper

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas insert

Question Paper

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📋

English Language (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Communication information and ideas

Mark Scheme

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Exploring effects and impact

Examiner Report

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English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Spoken language

Examiner Report

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English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Communicating information and ideas

Examiner Report

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November 2023

7 files

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Exploring effects and impact

Mark Scheme

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact insert

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas insert

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Communicating information and ideas

Mark Scheme

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English Language (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact

Question Paper

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June 2022

9 files

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Exploring effects and impact

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact insert

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas insert

Question Paper

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📋

English Language (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Communication information and ideas

Mark Scheme

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Exploring effects and impact

Examiner Report

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Communicating information and ideas

Examiner Report

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November 2022

9 files

📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Exploring effects and impact

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact insert

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas insert

Question Paper

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📋

English Language (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Communicating information and ideas

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact

Question Paper

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Communication information and ideas

Examiner Report

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Exploring effects and impact

Examiner Report

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November 2021

9 files

✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Exploring effects and impact

Mark Scheme

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact insert

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas insert

Question Paper

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📋

English Language (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Communicating information and ideas

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas

Question Paper

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Communication information and ideas

Examiner Report

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Exploring effects and impacts

Examiner Report

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November 2020

9 files

✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Exploring effects and impact

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact insert

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas insert

Question Paper

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📋

English Language (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Communicating information and ideas

Mark Scheme

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Exploring effects and impact

Question Paper

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📄

English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Communicating information and ideas

Question Paper

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Communication information and ideas

Examiner Report

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📊

English Language (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Exploring effects and impacts

Examiner Report

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No date

9 files

✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Practice Set 1

Mark Scheme

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Practice Set 1

Question Paper

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✅

English Language (9-1) – Mark scheme – Practice Set 1

Mark Scheme

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Practice Set 1

Question Paper

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Practice Set 1 insert

Question Paper

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📝

English Language (9-1) – Exploring effects and impact

Sample Assessment Materials

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English Language (9-1) – Question paper – Practice Set 1 insert

Question Paper

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📝

English Language (9-1) – Annotated sample assessment materials

Sample Assessment Materials

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📝

English Language (9-1) – Communicating information and ideas

Sample Assessment Materials

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About OCR GCSE English Language

OCR GCSE English Language (specification J351) is assessed through two 2-hour written papers, each worth 80 marks. There is no coursework. The qualification carries equal weight on reading skills (50%) and writing skills (50%), with the specification's Spoken Language endorsement reported separately. Paper 1 (Communicating Information and Ideas) is non-fiction focused, with two unseen texts — typically one 19th-century non-fiction text and one 20th/21st-century non-fiction text on a related theme. Reading questions test summary, comparison, evaluation; writing tasks include letter, article, leaflet or speech with a specified audience and purpose. Paper 2 (Exploring Effects and Impact) is fiction focused, with two unseen prose extracts — typically one 19th-century literary fiction text and one 20th/21st-century literary fiction text. Reading questions test language analysis, structural analysis, and comparison; writing tasks are descriptive or narrative.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1

First exam paper

⏱ 1h 30min🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade

Paper 2

Second exam paper

⏱ 1h 30min🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade

Key Information

Exam Board	OCR
Specification Code	J351
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	2
Number Of Papers	2
Exam Duration	1 hour 30 minutes per paper
Total Marks	160–180
Available Sessions	2020 – 2023
Total Resources	62

Key Topics in English Language

Topics you need to know

Reading 19th-century non-fictionReading 19th-century literary fictionLanguage analysis (lexis, syntax)Structural analysisComparative writingCreative and persuasive writing

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Analyse	Examine in detail how language, structure or form creates meaning and effect
Compare	Identify similarities and differences in writers’ choices and effects
Evaluate	Make a judgement about the success or impact of a text, supporting it with evidence
Explain	Give reasons for an effect, supported by precise textual reference
Comment on	Offer an interpretation of a feature or quotation
Discuss	Consider different interpretations or aspects of a text

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	76–86%
Grade 8	63–75%
Grade 7	51–62%
Grade 6	43–50%
Grade 5	35–42%
Grade 4	27–34%

⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries across two papers. Actual boundaries vary by series — check the awarding body website.

How to Use OCR GCSE English Language Past Papers Effectively

Two skills separate Grade 9 from Grade 6 in OCR English Language. The first is methodical close-reading. For every reading question above 4 marks, identify three pieces of evidence and analyse each at three levels: word-level (individual lexical choice), sentence-level (structural feature), and text-level (overall effect). The second is structural awareness. The 'analyse structural features' question on each paper rewards specific structural terms, not just language analysis: shifts in narrative perspective, changes in pace, foreshadowing, use of repetition for emphasis, in medias res openings, cyclical endings. Memorise twelve structural terms and their typical effects. For the writing tasks, plan in 5 minutes before writing. A planned response that runs to 1.5 sides scores higher than an unplanned response of 3 sides. Examiner reports show that the strongest scripts have a clear narrative arc — hook → development → climax → resolution — even within a 45-minute writing window. For 19th-century non-fiction (Paper 1), build vocabulary lists of period-specific terms (workhouse, suffrage, Reform Acts, philanthropist, locomotion). Half the comprehension difficulty is unfamiliar lexis, not analytical complexity.

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OCR GCSE English Language Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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June 2023

November 2023

June 2022

November 2022

November 2021

November 2020

No date

About OCR GCSE English Language

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in English Language

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

How to Use OCR GCSE English Language Past Papers Effectively

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Twenty First Century Science Suite

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Biology

Religious Studies (9-1)

Classical Greek (9-1)

Classical Civilisation (9-1)

Latin (9-1)

English Language (9-1)

Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (9-1)

Geography A (Geographical Themes) (9-1)

English Literature (9-1)

English Literature

Citizenship Studies (9-1)

Ancient History (9-1)

Physical Education (9-1)

Economics (9-1)

Business (9-1)

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Psychology (9-1)

Design and Technology (9-1)

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