AS Level: reading and analysing non-fiction texts, directed writing, text analysis frameworks. A Level extends to language and the self (child language acquisition, identity) and language and society (global English, change, power).
| Topic | Sub-Topic | Confidence (1–5) | Last Reviewed | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS1. Reading and analysing non-fiction texts (AS) | Identifying form, audience and purpose of a text | |||
| 1. Reading and analysing non-fiction texts (AS) | Analysing lexis and semantic fields | |||
| 1. Reading and analysing non-fiction texts (AS) | Analysing grammar, syntax and sentence structures | |||
| 1. Reading and analysing non-fiction texts (AS) | Analysing phonology (where relevant) and graphology / layout | |||
| 1. Reading and analysing non-fiction texts (AS) | Identifying tone, register and stylistic choices | |||
| 1. Reading and analysing non-fiction texts (AS) | Comparative analysis across two or more texts | |||
| AS2. Directed writing (AS) | Adapting source material for a new audience and purpose | |||
| 2. Directed writing (AS) | Writing in different forms (article, speech, letter, blog, review) | |||
| 2. Directed writing (AS) | Controlling register, tone and voice for effect | |||
| 2. Directed writing (AS) | Synthesising information from source text(s) | |||
| 2. Directed writing (AS) | Reflective commentary on stylistic choices | |||
| AS3. Text analysis frameworks (AS) | Lexical and semantic analysis (jargon, slang, formality, fields) | |||
| 3. Text analysis frameworks (AS) | Grammatical analysis (clauses, modality, tense, voice) | |||
| 3. Text analysis frameworks (AS) | Phonological features (sound patterning, prosody) | |||
| 3. Text analysis frameworks (AS) | Pragmatics: implicature, politeness, deixis | |||
| 3. Text analysis frameworks (AS) | Discourse structure: cohesion, coherence, turn-taking | |||
| ↓ A Level content begins. Papers 3 & 4 build on AS Level material. AS content is assumed knowledge. | ||||
| A Level4. Language and the self (A Level) | Child language acquisition: theories (nativist, behaviourist, interactionist) | |||
| 4. Language and the self (A Level) | Stages of speech and writing development | |||
| 4. Language and the self (A Level) | Functions of children's language (Halliday) | |||
| 4. Language and the self (A Level) | Language and identity: idiolect, sociolect, accent and dialect | |||
| 4. Language and the self (A Level) | Gender, age and identity in language use | |||
| A Level5. Language and society (A Level) | English as a global language: world Englishes, lingua franca | |||
| 5. Language and society (A Level) | Language change over time (historical, lexical, grammatical) | |||
| 5. Language and society (A Level) | Attitudes to language change: prescriptivism vs descriptivism | |||
| 5. Language and society (A Level) | Language and power: politics, media, institutions | |||
| 5. Language and society (A Level) | Sociolinguistic variation: class, ethnicity, region | |||
| A Level6. A Level analytical and discursive writing | Essay structure: thesis, argument, counter-argument, conclusion | |||
| 6. A Level analytical and discursive writing | Use of linguistic terminology and frameworks accurately | |||
| 6. A Level analytical and discursive writing | Application of theory and research to language data | |||
| 6. A Level analytical and discursive writing | Evaluation of competing perspectives and evidence | |||
| 6. A Level analytical and discursive writing | Academic register and precise referencing | |||
| A Level7. Exam technique and revision | Time management across Papers 1–4 | |||
| 7. Exam technique and revision | Annotating unseen texts efficiently | |||
| 7. Exam technique and revision | Constructing comparative responses with clear structure | |||
| 7. Exam technique and revision | Quoting accurately and embedding evidence | |||
| 7. Exam technique and revision | Avoiding common errors (over-quotation, under-analysis, terminology mistakes) | |||
Use with our Past Paper Finder for Cambridge A Level English Language 9093 past papers.
Quick answers about this free revision checklist, how to use it for exam prep, and how it relates to the official syllabus.
This revision checklist mirrors the official Cambridge A Level English Language 9093 syllabus for the 2026 examination series. Every topic and sub-topic on the page is taken from the published syllabus document, so working through the list in order gives you full coverage of what your exam can assess. It is aligned to the AS & A Level tier expectations. For the authoritative version, always cross-check with the latest syllabus PDF on your exam board's website before your final revision push.
The number of top-level topic groups varies by subject, but you can see the exact count on this page — each major heading in the checklist corresponds to one syllabus topic group, and each row below it is a syllabus-level sub-topic. Use the confidence column (1–5) to flag which sub-topics need more work, and re-score yourself weekly to track real progress instead of guessing.
12–16 weeks of focused revision, working through one topic group per week with weekly past-paper practice, is a realistic target for most A Level students. Use this checklist to plan your weeks: filter by topics you have rated 1–3 and spend your first revision block there. Subjects with heavy practical or extended-writing components (e.g. sciences, English) need more past-paper time in the final block than the topic-by-topic phase.
Revise in roughly the order the syllabus lists the topics — exam boards build later topics on earlier ones, so taking them in syllabus order avoids gaps. Once you have rated every topic, switch to weakest-first: filter the checklist by confidence ≤ 2 and prioritise those topics in your next study block. This is more effective than re-revising topics you already score 4–5 on.
You can find past papers and mark schemes via Tutopiya's Past Paper Finder and on your exam board's official site. Once you have rated each sub-topic on this checklist, attempt past-paper questions on your weakest topics first — practising under timed conditions is the single best predictor of exam performance, more so than re-reading notes.
Use the Download CSV or Print PDF button at the bottom of the checklist. CSV opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets so you can sort by confidence and re-arrange revision order. The PDF is print-ready for offline use. A free Tutopiya account is required for download — this also unlocks the matching topic resources, notes and worked examples on the Learning Portal.
Yes, the checklist itself is free — you can view, score and re-score every topic on this page without an account. The CSV / PDF downloads and access to matching Tutopiya Learning Portal resources require a free account. There is no payment required at any point; teachers and parents can also use this checklist freely with their students.
Yes. The topics and sub-topics on this page are drawn from the current 2026 Cambridge A Level English Language 9093 specification published by Cambridge. Exam boards occasionally tweak weighting or assessment structure mid-cycle, so do a quick sanity-check against the official syllabus PDF when you start your revision and again 4 weeks before the exam.