Edexcel GCSE English Literature Past Papers (1ET0) – Free Paper 1 & Paper 2 Downloads with Mark Schemes
- Lucy Baker
- Feb 18
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 3
This page provides the latest and most complete collection of Edexcel GCSE English Literature (1ET0) past papers, including Paper 1 and Paper 2 question papers, mark schemes, and examiner resources from recent exam series. Practising real exam questions is one of the most effective ways to improve your grade. These papers are essential for students preparing for the 2026 and 2027 GCSE English Literature exams.
Before you begin attempting these papers, we strongly recommend reading the examiner advice section by clicking here or scrolling below. This insider guidance is from official Edexcel examiners and highlights the errors that cause thousands of students to lose marks every year for both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
2024 Edexcel GCSE English Literature Past Papers (1ET0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Papers With Answers
2024 Edexcel GCSE English Literature | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 June 2024 (1ET0/01) - Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 June 2024 (1ET0/02) - Novel and Poetry since 1789 | ||
2023 Edexcel GCSE English Literature Past Papers (1ET0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Papers With Answers
2023 Edexcel GCSE English Literature | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 June 2023 (1ET0/01) - Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 June 2023 (1ET0/02) - Novel and Poetry since 1789 | ||
2022 Edexcel GCSE English Literature Past Papers (1ET0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Papers with Answers
2022 Edexcel GCSE English Literature | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 June 2022 (1ET0/01) - Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 June 2022 (1ET0/02N) - 19th Century Novel | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 June 2022 (1ET0/02P) - Poetry since 1789 | ||
2021 Edexcel GCSE English Literature Past Papers (1ET0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Papers with Answers
2021 Edexcel GCSE English Literature | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 November 2021 (1ET0/01) - Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 November 2021 (1ET0/02N) - 19th Century Novel | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 November 2021 (1ET0/02P) - Poetry since 1789 | ||
2020 Edexcel GCSE English Literature Past Papers (1ET0) – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Papers With Answers
2020 Edexcel GCSE English Literature | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 June 2020 (1ET0/01) - Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature | ||
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 June 2020 (1ET0/02) - Novel and Poetry since 1789 | ||
What GCSE English Literature Examiners Want You to Know (Before You Practise Past Papers)
The following contains key insights directly from your examiners. We strongly urge you to read this carefully before attempting the past papers above, as it highlights the most common mistakes that have cost countless students marks in previous exam series.
5 Must-Know Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 Tips From Your Examiners
1. Follow the Assessment Objectives (AOs) very carefully.
Many students lose marks because they do not focus on the correct skills in each section. In Section A part (a), your main priority is analysing language, form and structure (AO2) in the extract. However, in Section A part (b) and Section B, the focus changes. Here, you should prioritise your knowledge and understanding of the wider text (AO1) and link your ideas to the writer’s context and intentions (AO3). Always adjust your approach depending on the question.
2. Treat the text as a deliberate creation by the writer.
Examiners expect you to analyse characters, events and settings as constructs, not as real people or real situations. This means you should explain why the writer presents something in a particular way and what message or effect they are trying to achieve, rather than simply describing what happens.
3. Use short and precise textual references.
The strongest responses avoid long quotations. Instead, they embed single words or short phrases directly into their sentences. This allows you to analyse language more closely and keeps your argument clear and focused.
4. Use a simple analytical framework if you feel stuck.
If you struggle to begin your response, start with a clear and structured sentence such as:“The writer uses [technique] to…”This keeps your answer focused on the assessment objectives and helps you build analysis step by step.
5. Manage your time with discipline.
Time management is a common issue. Edexcel examiners recommend spending around 55 minutes on Section A and 50 minutes on Section B. This ensures you give both sections enough detail and do not rush your final answer.
5 Must-Avoid Mistakes in Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1
1. Retelling the story instead of analysing the writer’s methods.
One of the most common mistakes is simply describing what happens in the extract or summarising the plot. This does not gain high marks. Examiners reward students who explain how and why the writer uses language, form and structure to create specific effects on the reader or audience. Always move beyond what happens to focus on the writer’s craft.
2. Moving beyond the extract in Section A part (a).
In the first part of the Shakespeare question, you must focus only on the lines provided in the extract. Many students lose marks because they bring in knowledge from other parts of the play too early. Save your wider understanding and references to the rest of the text for Section A part (b).
3. Using vague or inaccurate subject terminology.
Avoid general phrases such as “the writer uses words” or “the writer includes…”. These do not show strong understanding. Instead, use precise subject terminology, such as metaphor, imperative, sibilance, imagery, contrast, or juxtaposition. Accurate terminology helps demonstrate clear knowledge of literary methods.
4. Writing context as a separate or irrelevant paragraph.
Context (AO3) should not appear as a stand-alone history lesson. Examiners expect it to be fully integrated into your argument. For example, explain how context shapes the writer’s ideas, characters, or themes, and how it influences the audience’s response.
5. Not clearly separating part (a) and part (b).
Many candidates lose clarity because they do not show where their extract analysis ends and their discussion of the wider play begins. Use a clear transition or new paragraph to signal this change. This helps the examiner follow your structure and ensures your response meets the different assessment objectives.
5 Must-Know Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2 Tips From Examiners
1. Compare poems throughout your essay, not separately.
The strongest responses compare the poems in tandem, rather than writing about one poem first and the other afterwards. Examiners reward essays where comparisons are integrated from the start, using a clear structure or method (such as PETER, SMILER, or a “coat-hanger” approach). This shows a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of similarities and differences.
2. Focus on the correct skills in each poetry section.
In the Anthology comparison, you must analyse Language, Form, Structure and Context (LFS+C). However, in Unseen Poetry, context is not required. Instead, focus only on Language, Form and Structure (LFS). Many students lose marks by wasting time trying to guess context in the unseen section, which is not assessed.
3. Use close and precise analysis in the prose extract.
For the extract question, simply quoting a line is not enough. Examiners expect you to zoom in on specific words or short phrases and explain why the writer chose them. You should explore their connotations and how they shape the reader’s response or develop themes and characterisation.
4. Show a wide knowledge of the text in the whole-novel question.
In the 19th-century novel essay, high-level answers use examples from different parts of the text, such as the beginning, middle and end. This demonstrates secure understanding and allows you to build a more convincing and developed argument.
5. Manage your time carefully across all sections.
Time pressure is a common issue. Examiners suggest spending approximately 55 minutes on Prose, 35 minutes on the Anthology comparison, and 45 minutes on Unseen Poetry. This ensures every section receives enough depth and helps you avoid rushing the final questions.
5 Must-Avoid Mistakes in Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 2
1. Using context in the wrong sections.
Context is only assessed in Section B Part 1 (Anthology Poetry). A common mistake is including historical background or contextual facts in the Prose section or Unseen Poetry, where it is not rewarded. This wastes valuable time and does not gain marks. Always focus on the specific assessment objectives for each section.
2. Analysing language and structure in the whole-novel question.
In Prose Part (b), the focus is on your knowledge and understanding of the text (AO1). Some students try to perform detailed technical analysis of remembered quotations, which is difficult and unnecessary in a closed-book exam. Instead, prioritise clear argument, well-selected references, and thoughtful explanation of characters, themes and ideas.
3. Falling into narrative summary.
Many candidates lose marks because they retell the story or describe what happens in poems rather than analysing the writer’s methods. Examiners reward responses that explain how and why writers present ideas in particular ways, not simply what happens.
4. Referring to film or television adaptations instead of the original text.
This is especially common for texts such as A Christmas Carol. Students sometimes describe scenes that appear in films but not in the novel itself. Always base your ideas on the original text, as examiners can only reward accurate knowledge of the set work.
5. Using incorrect or vague subject terminology.
Precision is important. Avoid referring to poems as plays, stanzas as paragraphs, or poets as writers. Using correct literary and genre-specific terminology shows strong subject knowledge and helps you achieve higher-level marks.
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