Cambridge AS & A Level English Language 9093/22 is the May/June 2026 Paper 2 (Writing), variant 2, an AS Level component. It lasts 2 hours, is worth 50 marks and you answer two questions: the compulsory Question 1 (a 15-mark story opening and a 10-mark reflective commentary) and one 25-mark extended writing task from three in Section B. The biggest single answer is your Section B piece, so the choice between a review, a descriptive piece and a magazine article matters. This guide covers every question and explains how the official mark scheme’s level bands work. The paper and its mark scheme are free on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

For an overview of all four 9093 papers from this series, see A Level English Language 9093 May/June 2026 past papers: what came up and how it was marked.

9093/22 at a glance

Rubric: answer two questions in total. Section A: answer Question 1. Section B: answer one question. Dictionaries are not allowed.

Question	Section	Task	Length	AO	Marks
1(a)	A (compulsory)	Story opening from a set first sentence, creating drama and suspense	No more than 400 words	AO2	15
1(b)	A (compulsory)	Reflective commentary on your linguistic choices in 1(a)	–	AO3	10
2	B (option)	Review of a TV documentary about plastic waste, for an environmental website	600 to 900 words	AO2	25
3	B (option)	Descriptive piece, “Departures”, about a busy airport departure lounge, focusing on sound, movement and colour	600 to 900 words	AO2	25
4	B (option)	School magazine article on whether children should be taught about money at school	600 to 900 words	AO2	25
		Total answered (Question 1 + one from 2–4)			50

Question-by-question walkthrough

How the paper is marked

The 9093/22 mark scheme has no list of expected content for any question. Each task is placed in one of five levels (plus 0) on a grid.

• AO2 (writing) is used for Question 1(a) and all of Section B. It is judged equally on expression, meaning the range of language and accuracy, and development, meaning organisation and relevance to task and audience.
• Five bullets describe each AO2 level: expression and range of language, accuracy, organisation and development of ideas, achievement of task and relevance of content, and engagement of the audience.
• AO3 (analysis) is used for Question 1(b) only.
• Word limits are judged, not penalised. The scheme says there is no direct penalty, but adherence to the limit is assessed under the fourth AO2 bullet: achievement of task and relevance to purpose.
• Best fit. Each bullet counts equally when choosing a mark within a level.

Question 1(a): the story opening (15 marks)

Your teacher has asked for the opening of a story that begins with a given sentence: as a door slowly opens, a character called John has a strong feeling that he should not go in. You continue it in no more than 400 words, creating drama and suspense.

• Marks: AO2 only. Level 5 is 13 to 15, Level 4 is 10 to 12, Level 3 is 7 to 9, Level 2 is 4 to 6 and Level 1 is 1 to 3.
• What separates the levels: Level 3 asks for clear expression with some complex structures and some less common lexis, perhaps with repetition, and an audience that is addressed. Level 4 needs effective expression, only a few minor errors and an engaged audience. Level 5 needs a wide range of language, a high level of accuracy, very effective organisation and a fully engaged audience.
• The task words matter: it is an opening, so you do not need to resolve the story, and “drama and suspense” is the task you are judged on achieving. Use the given sentence as your first line.

Question 1(b): the reflective commentary (10 marks)

You explain how your linguistic choices in 1(a) help you fulfil the task your teacher set.

• Marks: AO3 only. Level 5 is 9 to 10, Level 4 is 7 to 8, Level 3 is 5 to 6, Level 2 is 3 to 4 and Level 1 is 1 to 2.
• Two strands in every level: analysis of form, structure and language, and analysis of how your stylistic choices relate to the audience and shape meaning. Both rise together from minimal to limited, clear, detailed and sophisticated.
• In practice: quote short parts of your own story and explain the effect each choice was meant to create, such as how sentence length, pacing or withheld information builds suspense. Describing what happens in the story is not analysis.

Section B: extended writing (25 marks, one question)

All three options share one AO2 grid. Level 5 is 21 to 25, Level 4 is 16 to 20, Level 3 is 11 to 15, Level 2 is 6 to 10 and Level 1 is 1 to 5.

• Question 2, documentary review: you recently watched a TV documentary about the problems caused by the amount of plastic we throw away, and write a review for an environmental website. The form is a review, so the task is achieved by evaluating the programme for readers who care about the environment, not only by writing about plastic.
• Question 3, “Departures”: a descriptive piece about the departure lounge of a busy airport, focusing on sound, movement and colour so the reader can picture the scene. The question names the three senses and qualities to use, which is the clearest guide to what “task achieved” means here.
• Question 4, money at school: after a class discussion, you write an article for your school magazine on whether children should be taught about money at school. Your audience is fellow students, and the article needs a position developed across 600 to 900 words.
• The top band: sophisticated expression, a wide range of language including complex structures and less common lexis, a high level of accuracy, logical and effective organisation, a fully achieved task and a fully engaged audience. Level 4 allows a few minor errors and an engaged audience; Level 3 has occasional errors and an audience that is addressed.

Where the marks are on 9093/22

Assessment objective	Q1(a)	Q1(b)	Section B	Total
AO2 Writing	15	–	25	40
AO3 Analysis	–	10	–	10
Total	15	10	25	50

• Four fifths of the paper is your own writing. The commentary is the only analysis, and it analyses your own text.
• Section B is half the paper. Plan it properly and leave enough time to write 600 to 900 words.
• The same five qualities run through every AO2 level: range of language, accuracy, organisation, task and audience. A strong piece needs all five, not just ambitious vocabulary.

How to self-mark 9093/22 with the mark scheme

1. Count your words first. Check 1(a) is no more than 400 words and your Section B piece is 600 to 900. Note it under the task and relevance bullet.
2. Read the five AO2 bullets one by one. For each bullet, decide which level’s wording fits, then choose the level that fits best overall.
3. Mark accuracy honestly. Count errors on one page: a few minor ones points to Level 4, occasional ones to Level 3, frequent ones to Level 2.
4. Check the audience. Is the reader of the website, the magazine or the story engaged throughout, engaged in places, or only addressed?
5. Mark 1(b) on analysis, not description. Highlight each place where you explain the effect of a choice on the reader. If there are few, the commentary sits in the lower levels.
6. Choose the mark within the level by best fit, weighing each bullet equally.

Sit 9093/22 as a timed mock

The paper allows 120 minutes for 50 marks.

Block	Marks	Time
Plan the story opening	–	5 minutes
Write the story opening (1(a))	15	30 minutes
Write the reflective commentary (1(b))	10	20 minutes
Choose a Section B question and plan	–	10 minutes
Write the Section B piece	25	50 minutes
Check word counts and proofread both pieces	–	5 minutes

Other May/June 2026 9093 papers

• 9093 Paper 12 (Reading)
• 9093 Paper 32 (Language Analysis)
• 9093 Paper 42 (Language Topics)

Practise and download

• Download 9093/22 and its mark scheme on the Learning Portal →
• All 9093 May/June 2026 papers: overview and marking patterns
• Try a free A Level English Language quiz

Need help with a 9093 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an A Level English Language tutor →

Frequently asked questions

What is the rubric for 9093 Paper 22 May/June 2026? +

Answer two questions in 2 hours: Question 1 in Section A, which has a 15-mark story opening and a 10-mark reflective commentary, and one of Questions 2, 3 or 4 in Section B, worth 25 marks. The paper is out of 50.

What was the Section A story on 9093/22 in 2026? +

You wrote the opening of a story that begins with a set sentence about a character, John, sensing he should not go through a slowly opening door. It had to be no more than 400 words and create drama and suspense.

What were the Section B choices on 9093/22? +

A review of a TV documentary about plastic waste for an environmental website, a descriptive piece called Departures about a busy airport departure lounge, or a school magazine article on whether children should be taught about money at school. Each is 600 to 900 words.

Does the 9093/22 mark scheme penalise going over the word limit? +

Not directly. The scheme says keeping to the 400-word limit in Question 1(a) and the 600 to 900 words in Section B is assessed as part of achievement of task and relevance to purpose, the fourth AO2 bullet.

Is there content guidance for each question in the 9093/22 mark scheme? +

No. The scheme for this paper is made up of level descriptors only: one AO2 grid for Question 1(a), one AO3 grid for 1(b), and one AO2 grid shared by Questions 2, 3 and 4.

Where can I download 9093/22 May/June 2026 and its mark scheme? +

Both are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal, on the Cambridge AS & A Level English Language 9093 past papers page.

Ready to Excel in Your Studies?

Get personalised help from Tutopiya's expert tutors. Whether it's IGCSE, IB, A-Levels, or any other curriculum — we match you with the perfect tutor and your first session is free.

Book Your Free Trial