Amended question paper layout for GCSE English Language
02 April 2025
As part of our accessibility principles, we're making improvements to the question paper layout for GCSE English Language (J351). These changes apply to live assessments taking place from the June 2026 series onwards.
Component 01: Communicating information and ideas (Paper 1) and Component 02: Exploring effects and impact (Paper 2)
To provide clarity and better guidance for students on what they should answer in their exams, we're making the following changes:
- For Paper 1, Section A, the relevant section of the extract text will be printed alongside questions 1 and 3, indicating candidates must consult named lines of the extract.
- For Paper 2, Section A, the relevant section of the extract text will be printed alongside questions 1–3, indicating candidates must consult named lines of the extract.
- Clearer and more consistent presentation to reduce cognitive burden for candidates.
- Accessible fonts will be used.
- The front cover of the extract booklets will include summary details such as genre, author's name, and publication date.
- For both papers in Section B, we are adding more planning space to support and encourage students to think about their work.
We are not changing the structure of the papers. There are the same number of questions on each paper with the same number of marks and the same assessment objectives (AOs) allocated to each. There’s no change to how students are expected to answer the questions in the exam.
Amended sample assessment material (SAM)
To reflect these changes to we're making to our live assessment materials, we’ve amended the following sample question papers as examples:
You can view and download these examples from the Assessment > Sample assessment materials section of the GCSE English Language qualification page on our website.
These are also available from the Assessment > Exams > Sample assessment materials section on Teach Cambridge.
Please share the examples of the new question paper layout with your current Year 10 students.
Please note: These changes affect current Year 10 students taking exams in summer 2026 and onwards. Current Year 11 students and those students resitting exams in November 2025 will not see any changes to the GCSE English Language exam papers.
If you have any queries about this update, please contact our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email us at english@ocr.org.uk.
Qualification