AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Prepare for AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) with the latest past papers and official mark schemes for Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, covering both Foundation and Higher tiers. Practise authentic exam questions, understand how marks are awarded and improve your technique for the 2027 exams. You can also jump to our examiner tips or read the frequently asked questions for practical revision guidance.
2025 AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers
2025 AQA GCSE Bengali | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – June 2025 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – June 2025 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – June 2025 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – June 2025 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – June 2025 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – June 2025 |
2024 AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers
2024 AQA GCSE Bengali | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – June 2024 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – June 2024 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – June 2024 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – June 2024 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – June 2024 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – June 2024 |
2023 AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers
2023 AQA GCSE Bengali | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – June 2023 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – June 2023 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – June 2023 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – June 2023 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – June 2023 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – June 2023 |
2022 AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers
2022 AQA GCSE Bengali | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – June 2022 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – June 2022 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – June 2022 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – June 2022 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – June 2022 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – June 2022 |
2021 AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers
2021 AQA GCSE Bengali | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – November 2021 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – November 2021 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – November 2021 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – November 2021 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – November 2021 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – November 2021 |
2020 AQA GCSE Bengali (8638) Past Papers
2020 AQA GCSE Bengali | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – November 2020 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – November 2020 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – November 2020 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – November 2020 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – November 2020 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – November 2020 |
AQA GCSE Bengali Sample Papers
AQA GCSE Bengali Sample Set 1 | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LF) Foundation – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening (8638/LH) Higher – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RF) Foundation – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading (8638/RH) Higher – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WF) Foundation – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing (8638/WH) Higher – Sample Set 1 |
Six Top Examiner Tips for AQA GCSE Bengali
1. Answer Every Writing Bullet Point Precisely
Students frequently lose marks by omitting a bullet point, misreading key vocabulary or giving a memorised response that does not answer the question.
Before writing:
Read the scene-setting information carefully.
Underline the key word in every bullet.
Identify the required person and time frame.
Tick each bullet after answering it.
Pay particular attention to easily confused terms such as:
বাড়ির কাজ – homework
সময়মতো – on time
পরিবেশ – environment
পরিবার – family
সেবামূলক কাজ – charitable work
সামাজিক মাধ্যম – social media
If the question uses তুমি or তোমার, respond personally using first-person language such as আমি করব rather than writing generally about what society or the government should do.
2. Check Tenses, Verb Endings and Bengali Word Order
Common writing and translation errors include using the wrong tense, mixing grammatical persons and following English sentence structure.
Before answering, identify whether each task requires the past, present or future. Make sure the verb ending agrees with the subject.
Bengali normally follows Subject–Object–Verb order:
আমি একটি ওষুধের দোকানে কাজ করি।
Avoid placing the main verb too early simply because that would be natural in English. Practise high-frequency verbs, tense formations, connectives and postpositions until the structures can be used confidently.
3. Answer Every Part of Multi-Part Questions
In Listening and Speaking, students often answer the first part of a question but miss the second. For example, they may explain when something happened but not with whom, or state where they went without explaining why.
Listen for question words such as:
কবে? – When?
কোথায়? – Where?
কার সঙ্গে? – With whom?
কেন? – Why?
কীভাবে? – How?
During the Speaking preparation period, mark two-part prompts clearly and prepare a detail for each part. Before moving on, check that the complete question has been answered.
4. Develop Speaking Answers and Ask a Question
One-word or single-sentence responses restrict the marks available in the Photo Card and General Conversation.
Develop answers by including:
A direct response
An opinion
A reason
An example or additional detail
An appropriate past, present or future reference
Aim to extend naturally rather than reciting a long memorised speech. You must also be prepared to ask the teacher-examiner a clear and relevant question. Ask it during the appropriate part of the test so that it is not forgotten.
Use Standard Bengali rather than a regional dialect such as Sylheti, and make sure pronouns and verb forms match the person named in the question.
5. Watch for Distractors and “Not Mentioned” Answers
Do not select an answer immediately after recognising one familiar word. The speaker or text may later correct, reject or qualify the idea.
Use the five-minute Listening reading period to:
Underline keywords
Identify negative expressions
Mark multi-part questions
Check whether answers are required in English or Bengali
Predict possible distractors
In True/False/Not Mentioned questions:
Choose True when the text supports the complete statement.
Choose False when the text directly contradicts it.
Choose Not Mentioned when the specific information is absent.
The appearance of the same person, place or topic does not automatically make a statement true or false.
6. Translate Precisely—Do Not Paraphrase or Transliterate
Translations must communicate the complete meaning of the original. Students frequently lose marks by omitting pronouns, negatives, connectives, time expressions or other small details.
When translating from Bengali into English, write the English meaning rather than a phonetic version of the Bengali word. For example, do not write Bengali terms such as soisob or kolahol in English letters—translate their meanings.
When translating from English into Bengali:
Use Bengali script
Maintain the correct tense
Check pronouns and grammatical person
Use natural Bengali word order
Translate every part of the sentence
Re-read the completed translation for missing details
Accuracy is more important than producing an elaborate paraphrase.
AQA GCSE Bengali 2027 FAQs
1. Which AQA GCSE Bengali specification will be examined in 2027?
Students taking AQA GCSE Bengali in 2027 will follow specification 8638. The qualification assesses four language skills:
Paper 1: Listening
Paper 2: Speaking
Paper 3: Reading
Paper 4: Writing
Each component contributes 25% of the final GCSE grade, so students need to prepare for all four skills. AQA GCSE Bengali specification
2. What is the difference between Foundation and Higher tier?
Foundation tier awards grades 1–5, while Higher tier normally awards grades 4–9. Students must take Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing at the same tier and complete all four assessments in the same examination series.
The Higher papers contain longer, more complex language and place greater emphasis on extended communication, inference and accurate use of grammar.
3. Which topics are covered in AQA GCSE Bengali?
All four assessments are based on three themes:
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Students should prepare opinions, reasons, examples and different time frames for each theme rather than memorising one fixed response per topic.
4. What is included in AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 1 Listening?
Foundation Listening lasts 35 minutes and is worth 40 marks. Higher Listening lasts 45 minutes and is worth 50 marks. Both timings include five minutes of reading time before the recording begins.
The paper contains:
Section A: Questions in English, answered in English or non-verbally
Section B: Questions in Bengali, answered in Bengali or non-verbally
Each recording is played twice. Use the five-minute reading period to identify keywords, predict possible answers and mark which sections require English or Bengali responses.
5. What happens in the AQA GCSE Bengali Speaking exam?
The Speaking assessment contains:
Role-play – 15 marks
Photo card – 15 marks
General conversation – 30 marks
The test lasts 7–9 minutes at Foundation tier and 10–12 minutes at Higher tier. Students receive 12 minutes of supervised preparation time.
During the general conversation, students discuss two themes. They choose the first theme, while the second is the remaining theme not covered by the photo card. Practise answering unexpected follow-up questions and asking a question during the role-play. AQA Bengali speaking requirements
6. Can I take notes into the Bengali Speaking exam?
You may prepare notes during the 12-minute supervised preparation period and use them for the role-play and photo card. However, you must hand the notes to the teacher-examiner before the general conversation begins.
Do not attempt to write complete scripts during preparation. Record short prompts, key vocabulary, opinions, reasons and tense reminders that will help you respond naturally.
7. What is included in AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 3 Reading?
Foundation Reading lasts 45 minutes, while Higher Reading lasts one hour. Both papers are worth 60 marks and contain:
Section A: Questions in English, answered in English or non-verbally
Section B: Questions in Bengali, answered in Bengali or non-verbally
Section C: Translation from Bengali into English
The translation has a minimum length of 35 words at Foundation tier and 50 words at Higher tier. Translate the complete meaning, including negatives, time expressions, opinions and small qualifying words.
8. What questions appear in AQA GCSE Bengali Paper 4 Writing?
Foundation Writing lasts one hour and includes:
Four sentences responding to a photo
An approximately 40-word task covering four bullet points
Translation from English into Bengali
An approximately 90-word task covering four compulsory bullet points
Higher Writing lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and includes:
An approximately 90-word response covering four bullet points
An approximately 150-word open-ended response covering two bullet points
Translation from English into Bengali
Students choose between two questions for the 90- and 150-word tasks. AQA Bengali writing structure
9. Do word counts matter, and can I use a dictionary?
The 40-, 90- and 150-word figures are approximate. AQA states that completing the task is more important than reaching an exact number of words. However, writing far beyond the suggested length can waste time and introduce unnecessary errors.
Dictionaries are not permitted in the Listening, Speaking preparation, Reading or Writing assessments. Build confidence in recalling vocabulary, spelling and grammatical structures without external support.
10. What is the best way to revise for AQA GCSE Bengali in 2027?
Use a balanced revision plan covering all four skills every week:
Learn vocabulary by theme
Practise listening for key details, opinions and negatives
Complete timed reading comprehension and translation exercises
Prepare spontaneous answers for speaking follow-up questions
Practise accurate Bengali spelling and script
Write responses using past, present and future time frames
Complete official AQA past papers under timed conditions
Correct mistakes using mark schemes and examiner reports
When reviewing practice papers, classify each lost mark as a vocabulary, grammar, spelling, comprehension, translation or task-reading error. Then redo the question without looking at the original answer.