Cambridge (CIE) A Level English Language specification (9093)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Cambridge (CIE) A Level English Language exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official Cambridge (CIE) A Level English Language specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official Cambridge (CIE) A Level English Language (9093) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official Cambridge (CIE) specification PDF.
Specification overview
Cambridge International AS & A Level English Language develops transferable skills such as critical analysis, argument construction, and effective writing. Learners explore how context, audience, and purpose shape language use, while studying a wide range of textual forms. The course fosters confident, reflective, and creative engagement with English in both written and spoken modes. At A Level, it introduces deeper linguistic topics such as language change, child language acquisition, global English, and the relationship between language and identity. This foundation prepares students for further study in English, linguistics, or related disciplines, and for communication in diverse real-world contexts
Subject content breakdown
AS Level content (Paper 1 and Paper 2)
Paper 1 Reading
- Analyse unseen texts of diverse genres and styles
- Demonstrate understanding of form, structure, language, audience, and context
- Produce directed responses in a specific style or voice
- Compare their writing with original texts in analytical commentary
Paper 2 Writing
- Write in varied forms (e.g. narrative, discursive, descriptive, review)
- Produce original writing tailored to audience, purpose, and context
- Use appropriate structure, language and tone
- Reflect on stylistic choices and their effectiveness
A Level content (Paper 3 and Paper 4)
Paper 3 Language Analysis
- Language Change: Study historical development and mechanisms of language change, using corpus data and theoretical frameworks
- Child Language Acquisition: Analyse child speech and transcripts, and relate to key theories of language development
Paper 4 Language Topics
- English in the World: Explore global spread of English, standard and nonstandard forms, and ethical considerations
Language and the Self: Investigate language and identity, speech communities, language and thought, and social identity markers
Across all papers, learners apply theory, evaluate data, and synthesise ideas in structured analytical writing
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Reading
- 2 hours 15 minutes, 50 marks
- Section A: Directed response to unseen text and analytical comparison
- Section B: Text analysis of unseen prose
- 50% of AS Level / 25% of A Level
Paper 2: Writing
- 2 hours, 50 marks
- Section A: Short original writing and reflective commentary
- Section B: Extended writing (choose 1 of 3 genres)
- 50% of AS Level / 25% of A Level
Paper 3: Language Analysis
- 2 hours 15 minutes, 50 marks
- Section A: Language change – unseen text, n-gram graphs, corpus data
- Section B: Child language acquisition – transcript analysis
- 25% of A Level
Paper 4: Language Topics
- 2 hours 15 minutes, 50 marks
- Section A: English in the world – response to unseen text
- Section B: Language and the self – response to unseen text
25% of A Level
- No coursework; all papers are externally assessed
- Three assessment routes: AS Level only, A Level staged, or full A Level in one series
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Cambridge (CIE) A Level English Language isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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