The paper structure varies over time
Complete papers range from 45 to 100 marks, with 8 to 10 assessed parts.
Practise: Prepare for the recurring paper shape while using the content and question trends to decide what to practise.
Parisel Exam Insight
See how English Advanced papers have changed
A student-friendly view of question patterns, syllabus coverage and response demands across 24 reviewed English Advanced papers.
Use these patterns to choose what to practise. They describe the papers reviewed; they do not predict the next paper.
24complete papers reviewed
2014–2025
2014–2025
138reviewed question links
4syllabus areas
shown below
shown below
Across the papers
Patterns worth knowing
Close reading is the leading recurring capability
This capability is associated with 911 reviewed marks across 85 parts over 12 years.
Practise: Practise close reading in several topics and response formats, rather than treating it as a one-off question type.
Short answer questions are less prominent in the latest paper
Their mark share changes from 33% in 2014 to 20% in 2025.
Practise: Include short answer practice in your revision plan, while checking the year-by-year weighting.
Syllabus coverage
Where the reviewed marks have accumulated
These rows join reviewed questions to syllabus outcomes or areas. A high total does not mean an area appears in the same form every year.
01
Texts and human experiences
reviewed syllabus links
731marks
02
Critical study of literature
reviewed syllabus links
660marks
03
Textual conversations
reviewed syllabus links
360marks
04
The craft of writing
reviewed syllabus links
140marks
reviewed evidence
What this page can tell you
- Which syllabus areas recur in the reviewed questions.
- How reviewed marks and question labels move across the years.
- Where the paper structure changes around a stable content base.
This page highlights recurring patterns from the reviewed papers.
How to use this
Turn the pattern into practice
Start with a mixed paper. When you review it, sort missed marks by syllabus area and response demand—not only by topic.
Best next move: use the year views below to choose a recurring area and practise it in a different question context.
Explore the pattern
See what changed from year to year
The same reviewed evidence can answer different student questions. Switch views without leaving the page.
reviewed marks for the highlighted reviewed syllabus areas. Darker cells show greater reviewed weight within this view.
| Syllabus area | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texts and human experiences | 30 | 68 | 28 | 70 | 67 | 177 | 100 | 60 | 37 | 37 | 17 | 40 |
| Critical study of literature | 140 | 140 | 100 | 140 | 20 | — | 80 | — | — | 20 | 20 | — |
| Textual conversations | 80 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| The craft of writing | 15 | — | 15 | — | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 20 | — | — |
A blank cell means no reviewed mark was recorded for that area in that year. reviewed marks can overlap when a question connects to more than one area.
Question labels connected to each highlighted syllabus area. A question can appear in more than one row.
| Syllabus area | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texts and human experiences | Q1(a) · Q1(b) · Q1(c) · Q1(d) · Q3 | Q1(b) · Q1(c) · Q1(d) · Q1(e) · Q10 · Q11 · Q3 | Q1(b) · Q1(c) · Q1(d) · Q3 | Q1(a) · Q1(b) · Q1(c) · Q1(d) · Q10 · Q11 · Q3 | Q1(b) · Q1(c) · Q1(d) · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 | Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 · Q7 · Q8 | Q1 · Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 · Q7 · Q8 | Q1 · Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 | Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 | Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 | Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 | Q1 · Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 |
| Critical study of literature | Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 · Q7 · Q8 · Q9 | Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 · Q7 · Q8 · Q9 | Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 · Q7 | Q3 · Q4 · Q5 · Q6 · Q7 · Q8 · Q9 | Q3 | — | Q2 · Q3 · Q4 · Q5 | — | — | Q2 | Q2 | — |
| Textual conversations | Q1 · Q10 · Q11 · Q2 | Q1 · Q2 | Q1 · Q2 | Q1 · Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 |
| The craft of writing | Q2 | — | Q2 | — | Q2 | Q9(a) · Q9(b) | Q9 | Q3(a) · Q3(b) | Q3(b) | Q3(a) · Q3(b) | — | — |
Question IDs are the labels a student sees on the paper; question labels are not shown.
The top one to three reviewed syllabus areas by paper section and year. Numbers in brackets are reviewed marks in that section.
| Section | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Textual conversations (40) Texts and human experiences (15) | Textual conversations (40) Texts and human experiences (13) | Textual conversations (40) Texts and human experiences (13) | Textual conversations (40) Texts and human experiences (15) | Textual conversations (20) Texts and human experiences (12) | Textual conversations (20) Texts and human experiences (17) | Texts and human experiences (20) Textual conversations (20) | Texts and human experiences (20) Textual conversations (20) | Textual conversations (20) Texts and human experiences (17) | Textual conversations (20) Texts and human experiences (17) | Textual conversations (20) Texts and human experiences (17) | Texts and human experiences (20) Textual conversations (20) |
| Section II | Critical study of literature (140) The craft of writing (15) | Critical study of literature (140) | Critical study of literature (100) The craft of writing (15) | Critical study of literature (140) | Critical study of literature (20) The craft of writing (15) | Texts and human experiences (160) | Critical study of literature (80) Texts and human experiences (80) | Texts and human experiences (40) | Texts and human experiences (20) | Critical study of literature (20) Texts and human experiences (20) | Critical study of literature (20) | Texts and human experiences (20) |
| Section III | Textual conversations (40) Texts and human experiences (15) | Texts and human experiences (55) | Texts and human experiences (15) | Texts and human experiences (55) | Texts and human experiences (55) | The craft of writing (20) | The craft of writing (20) | The craft of writing (20) | The craft of writing (15) | The craft of writing (20) | — | — |
These are reviewed syllabus signals, not official section allocations.
Information → practice
Practice resources for this subject
Use the patterns above to choose what to practise, then open a relevant Parisel practice pack.