Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Friday 22 May 2026
Morning (Time: 2 hours 30 minutes) Paper
reference 9EL0/02
English Language and Literature
Advanced
PAPER 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
Source Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
• inAnswer one question in Section A on your chosen theme and one question
Section B on your chosen texts. You must choose the same theme in
both sections.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
• Inforyour answers to Section B, you must not use texts that you have studied
coursework.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 50.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79730A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79730A0128*
,DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
*P79730A0228*
BLANK PAGE
2
, SECTION A
Unseen Prose Non-fiction Texts
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question on your chosen theme. Begin your answer on page 4
EITHER
Theme: Society and the Individual
Read Text A on pages 4–5 of the source booklet.
1 Critically evaluate the ways in which Caitlin Moran expresses her feelings on the
importance of libraries, both in her own life and in wider society.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 1 = 20 marks)
OR
Theme: Love and Loss
Read Text B on pages 6–7 of the source booklet.
2 Critically evaluate the ways in which Adrian Edmondson reflects upon his
friend’s death.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 2 = 20 marks)
OR
Theme: Encounters
Read Text C on pages 8–9 of the source booklet.
3 Critically evaluate the ways in which Safiya Sinclair explains the significance of her
encounter with the poetry of Sylvia Plath.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 3 = 20 marks)
OR
Theme: Crossing Boundaries
Read Text D on pages 10–11 of the source booklet.
4 Critically evaluate the ways in which Alastair Humphreys explains the reasoning
behind his latest exploration project.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 4 = 20 marks)
3
*P79730A0328* Turn over
, Indicate which question you are answering by marking a cross in the box . If you change your
mind, put a line through the box and then indicate your new question with a cross .
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Chosen question number: Question 1 Question 2
Question 3 Question 4
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4
*P79730A0428*
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Friday 22 May 2026
Morning (Time: 2 hours 30 minutes) Paper
reference 9EL0/02
English Language and Literature
Advanced
PAPER 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
Source Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
• inAnswer one question in Section A on your chosen theme and one question
Section B on your chosen texts. You must choose the same theme in
both sections.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
• Inforyour answers to Section B, you must not use texts that you have studied
coursework.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 50.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79730A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79730A0128*
,DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
*P79730A0228*
BLANK PAGE
2
, SECTION A
Unseen Prose Non-fiction Texts
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question on your chosen theme. Begin your answer on page 4
EITHER
Theme: Society and the Individual
Read Text A on pages 4–5 of the source booklet.
1 Critically evaluate the ways in which Caitlin Moran expresses her feelings on the
importance of libraries, both in her own life and in wider society.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 1 = 20 marks)
OR
Theme: Love and Loss
Read Text B on pages 6–7 of the source booklet.
2 Critically evaluate the ways in which Adrian Edmondson reflects upon his
friend’s death.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 2 = 20 marks)
OR
Theme: Encounters
Read Text C on pages 8–9 of the source booklet.
3 Critically evaluate the ways in which Safiya Sinclair explains the significance of her
encounter with the poetry of Sylvia Plath.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 3 = 20 marks)
OR
Theme: Crossing Boundaries
Read Text D on pages 10–11 of the source booklet.
4 Critically evaluate the ways in which Alastair Humphreys explains the reasoning
behind his latest exploration project.
In your answer, you must comment on linguistic and literary features and relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 4 = 20 marks)
3
*P79730A0328* Turn over
, Indicate which question you are answering by marking a cross in the box . If you change your
mind, put a line through the box and then indicate your new question with a cross .
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Chosen question number: Question 1 Question 2
Question 3 Question 4
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4
*P79730A0428*
