GCSE English Language (AQA) Paper 2 Progress Test with Embedded Gap Analysis

Mock exams are very useful but they often have to be facilitated over a number of classes, so this resource was developed in response to the need to measure students’ progress but to have the assessment take place over 60 minutes rather then 1 hour and 45. We also

The documents included are:

• The progress test with embedded gap analysis
• Insert containing Source A and Source B
• Mark scheme
• Spreadsheet to automatically generate grades

The progress test consists of:

• Two texts – one Victorian, one contemporary. The subject is “the rooms of teenage boys”. These are shorter than those one would find in the exams to reflect the reduced time students have to complete this.
• Question 1 – Now worth two marks rather than four.
• Question 2 (synthesising two texts) – Still worth 8 marks.
• Question 3 (language) – Now worth 10 marks rather than 12.
• This makes the Reading section of the paper worth 20 marks.
• Question 5 – This is now a 30 minute task which is worth 20 marks. It is a speech about what really matters in the life of a teenager.

As you can see, Question 4 is left out altogether. When this resource was developed we thought it better to do this than to cut down the time for responses even further. Plus, we deliver the skills in the order that they appear in the exams. As such, at the time we were expected to do a progress test (just before the February half-term holiday), the students hadn’t adequately covered Q4. We decided that Q4 could wait until the full Paper 2 mock later in the term.

EMBEDDED GAP ANALYSIS
This is a reliable tool to support your students in preparing for their GCSE English Language exams and one I have been using with my own students for a while. These GAP Analysis resources (one each for Paper 1 and Paper 2) help teachers and students pinpoint strengths, identify areas for improvement, and set actionable targets for progress.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Skill Coverage: Includes self-assessment sections for the critical GCSE English skills (based on the breakdown of Assessment Objectives that appear in exam mark schemes). These are split into two sections – Reading and Writing.
• Target Setting: A dedicated section for students to set clear, achievable goals based on their mock exam performance.
• Example Actions List: Includes practical, ready-to-use suggestions to include as action descriptions when target setting.

Why teachers where I work love it:
This GAP Analysis provides a structured, student-friendly format that encourages meaningful reflection and targeted improvement. It’s a time-saving, flexible tool for classroom use or independent study. By empowering students to take ownership of their progress, you’ll help them build confidence and achieve their potential in GCSE English Language.

I have included the documents in two formats – PDFs and Word. As such, you can edit them to suit you more, although I hope that you will be able to use these as they are without any changes.