Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change

Paper 2 of AQA A-Level English Language (7702) is worth 100 marks and 40% of the qualification. It is 2 hours and 30 minutes long and is divided into two sections: Section A (Diversity and Change) and Section B (Language Discourses). This paper tests your ability to compare texts from different time periods, to discuss theories and concepts of language change and diversity, and to write persuasively about language debates. This lesson provides detailed guidance on technique for each section.

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Section A: Diversity and Change (30 marks)

What the Question Asks

You are given two texts from different time periods and asked to analyse how they use language, with a particular focus on how language has changed. The texts may share a topic, genre, or purpose, but they will differ in the period in which they were produced — for example, a 17th-century pamphlet alongside a 21st-century blog post on the same subject.

Example question stem: "Analyse how Texts A and B use language to present their ideas. In your answer you should consider how the texts reflect language change."