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GCSE English Language Online Course
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GCSE English Language online with Lift College follows the AQA 8700 specification, assessed by two written exams: creative reading and writing, and writers' viewpoints and perspectives, plus a separately endorsed spoken language assessment. Study fully online from age 14, with your exams booked for you at a partner centre on the +Exams plan.
This GCSE English online course is the AQA 8700 GCSE (qualification 601/4292/3), from £39.99 a month when you pay today, with a named UK tutor who marks your writing. You sit both papers, 1 hour 45 minutes each, in the November or May/June series at a Tutors & Exams centre, and on +Exams your entry and centre fees are included and your seat is booked for you.
GCSE English Language (AQA 8700) online with Lift College, with a named UK tutor: £359.99 a year (that is £30.00 a month) or £39.99 a month when you pay today, pay for 9 months and get 3 free, with your price fixed for life. Prefer to try it first? Free for 7 days, then £44.99 a month or £458.99 a year. | |
| Qualification | GCSE English Language |
|---|---|
| Level | Level 1/2, grades 9 to 1 |
| Awarding body | AQA |
| Qualification number | 601/4292/3 |
| Exams | Exam entry and seat booking are through Tutors & Exams, and only on the +Exams plan. |
| Price | £359.99 a year or £39.99 a month when you pay today: pay for 9 months, get 3 free, price fixed for life. Prefer to try it first? Free for 7 days, then £44.99 a month or £458.99 a year. |
| Typical duration | 12 to 18 months, or faster if you study more each week |
| Age | Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. |
| Who it suits | You need GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above for nursing, teacher training, an apprenticeship or a university application, and you want to study around work or family. |
Can adults take GCSE English Language online and sit the exam?
Yes. Adults of any age can study AQA GCSE English Language 8700 online with Lift College and sit the same two papers as school candidates, as a private candidate at a Tutors & Exams centre. There are no formal entry qualifications and no upper age limit. English Language is one of only two GCSEs that run in November as well as May/June. The November series is open to candidates aged 16 or over at the start of the academic year, which gives adults two chances a year to sit. The papers are untiered, so every candidate can reach grade 9, and both are sat in the same series. Most adults study 6 to 12 hours a week and finish in 12 to 18 months, or sooner with more weekly study. On +Exams we enter you before the AQA deadline and book your seat; exam entry is only on +Exams. Our guide on sitting GCSEs as a private candidate explains the process.
How much does an online GCSE English Language course cost?
Pay today, pay for 9 months and get 3 free, with your price fixed for life. Pay monthly and start today for £5 a month less than after a trial. Prefer to try it first? Start for £0 today on the 7-day free trial.
| Study | +Exams | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay today, yearlyBest value3 months free, fixed for life | £359.99 a yearthat is £30.00 a month | £629.99 a yearthat is £52.50 a month |
| Pay today, monthly£5 a month less than after a trial | £39.99 a month | £69.99 a month |
| 7-day free trial first£0 today, first payment on day 8 | £44.99 a monthor £458.99 a year | £79.99 a monthor £815.99 a year |
+Exams paid monthly has an expected term of 9 months, as exam fees are built in: cancel any time with no exit fee, but unused exam credit is lost. No term applies if you pay yearly.
- 14-day money back
- No contract
- No credit check
- No finance agreement
- Cancel any time
How the cost compares
NEC and Open Study College charge £449 to £470 for the course, paid in full or in instalments. With Lift College you can start for £0 today, and a full year of Study is £359.99 when you pay today.
| Provider | Course fee | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lift College Lowest cost to start | £359.99for 12 months, Study, paid today | £0 today on the 7-day free trial. Monthly or yearly, no contract, no credit check, cancel any time |
| NEC | £470 | In full, or a £47 deposit then 0% APR finance with Omni |
| Open Study College | £449 | In full, 3 payments with Klarna or PayPal, or monthly Direct Debit |
None of these fees includes exams, and nor does our Study plan. Our guide to the best online GCSE English Language courses in the UK sets Lift College alongside the other main providers.
Your GCSE English Language tutor
Every Lift College GCSE English learner has a named UK tutor, the same qualified subject expert from enrolment to exam day. Your tutor marks the exam style reading and writing tasks at the end of every unit, with individual written feedback within 5 to 7 working days, and uses your unit scores and topic strengths to tailor that feedback. Before you are entered you sit a full timed mock paper, and your tutor gives you a written summary of what to focus on.
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Start today with your named UK tutor from day one. 14-day money-back guarantee, or try it free.
14-day money-back guarantee on every payment
Studying more than one course? 2 courses save 5%, 3 save 10%, 4 or more save 15%.
Next: secure payment with Stripe. Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted.
Try it free. Stay while it works for you. Leave whenever you like.
There is no course fee to find, no finance agreement to sign and no debt to worry about. Your first 7 days are free, then you pay for the month you are in, and every payment is covered by the 14-day money back guarantee. Prefer to pay today? Skip the trial and save up to 17%, with your price fixed for life, with the same 14-day guarantee.
+Exams on Monthly: Monthly comes with a 9-month expected term because exam fees are built in. Cancel any time, no exit fee; exam credit you have not used is forfeited and unbooked exams are void. Pay annually and no term applies.
You never sign a credit agreement with us, so there is no debt and nothing for anyone to chase. If you stop paying, you simply stop studying. No finance company, no loan and no letters.
Ten centres across England. One partner. Your seat booked for you.
The hardest part of studying a GCSE outside school has always been the exam. Lift College and Tutors & Exams remove it: you study online with us, and you sit the same AQA papers as any school candidate at a professional Tutors & Exams centre, with your entry, venue and invigilation arranged through the partnership.
Runs from May to June. The main series, where most learners sit both papers.
Runs in November. A second full series each year, open to candidates aged 16 or over at the start of the academic year, so it suits adult learners and resits.
On +Exams we enter you before AQA's deadline for the series you choose.
Start your free trial, meet your named UK tutor and work through the AQA specification at your own pace.
On +Exams, Lift College submits your AQA entry and books your place at the Tutors & Exams centre you choose, before the entry deadline.
Trained invigilators, a room built for formal assessment, and an AQA certificate identical to a school candidate's.
This course is for you if
- You need GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above for nursing, teacher training, an apprenticeship or a university application, and you want to study around work or family.
- You left school without a grade 4 (or a C) and want the same GCSE, from the same awarding body, that is sat in UK schools.
- You are home educating and want a full GCSE with a named tutor, marked work and your exam seat booked for you.
- You are an adult returning to study who wants a recognised GCSE at your own pace, with a tutor who marks your work and a resit route if you need one.
Entry requirements
- Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. There are no formal entry qualifications.
- Recommended starting point: you can read a newspaper article or a short story comfortably and write a paragraph in clear sentences. This is recommended, not required, and the first unit builds reading and writing technique from the start.
- A computer, tablet or phone with internet access, and a notebook or a way to write and upload your practice answers.
- The ability to attend a Tutors & Exams centre in England for your written papers.
There is no minimum study time. Most learners spend 6 to 12 hours a week and finish in 12 to 18 months, or faster if you study more each week. Assignments are for feedback and do not count towards your grade; the qualification is 100% examined.
Home education from age 14
- From age 14 with a parent or guardian's permission; the parent holds the account.
- Exams booked for you at a named Tutors & Exams centre on +Exams.
- Your named tutor can be your UCAS referee.
Follow every step in the parent portal
Every family studying with us can have its own parent portal. See how your child is getting on week by week, agree a study plan together and get a short summary in your inbox, without ever having to ask "have you done any work?".
- Progress at a glance. Study days, lessons finished and progress against their target.
- Their work and marks. Everything they hand in, with the mark and their tutor's feedback.
- A plan you make together. A weekly study plan, an alert if it slips and a weekly summary.
Every topic in the AQA 8700 specification, in one course
The AQA 8700 specification is built around reading unseen fiction and non-fiction and writing for different purposes. Every text in the exam is unseen, so the course teaches transferable reading and writing skills rather than set texts. Open each content area to see what it covers.
Two equally weighted papers, 1 hour 45 minutes and 80 marks each
1Explorations in creative reading and writingPaper 1 · reading one literature fiction text, descriptive or narrative writing
- Reading a 20th or 21st century fiction extract: identifying information, language and structure
- Analysing how writers use words, phrases, language features and sentence forms
- Evaluating texts critically and supporting a view with textual references
- Descriptive and narrative writing for a given purpose and audience
- Technical accuracy: sentence structure, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary
2Writers' viewpoints and perspectivesPaper 2 · reading non-fiction and literary non-fiction, writing to present a viewpoint
- Reading one non-fiction and one literary non-fiction text from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
- Summarising and synthesising ideas and perspectives across two texts
- Comparing writers' ideas, perspectives and methods
- Writing to present a viewpoint: articles, letters, speeches and essays
- Organising information and ideas with structural and grammatical features
3Spoken languageNon-exam endorsement · presenting, responding to questions, standard English
- Planning and delivering a presentation on a topic of your choice
- Responding to questions and feedback
- Using spoken standard English
Every exam text is new to you, so each unit trains a repeatable method for reading, annotating and answering under time pressure.
Every unit ends with marked, exam style questions. Before entry you sit full timed mock papers with written feedback returned within 5 to 7 working days.
On +Exams your entry and your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre are booked for you and the fees are included.
How you are assessed
Two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes, each 80 marks and worth 50%. Both are sat in the same series and all texts are unseen. Paper 1 covers creative reading and descriptive or narrative writing; Paper 2 covers non-fiction reading and writing to present a viewpoint. The spoken language endorsement is assessed separately: you deliver a presentation, respond to questions and use standard English, and it is graded Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified and reported on your certificate. It does not count towards the 9 to 1 grade. GCSE English Language is examined in May/June, with a second series in November open to candidates aged 16 or over at the start of the academic year.
| Paper | Length | Marks | Weighting | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing | 1 hour 45 minutes | 80 marks | 50% | Section A: Reading, one literature fiction text (40 marks): four questions (1 × 4, 2 × 8, 1 × 20). Section B: descriptive or narrative writing (40 marks; 24 marks content, 16 marks technical accuracy). |
| Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives | 1 hour 45 minutes | 80 marks | 50% | Section A: Reading, one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text (40 marks): four questions (1 × 4, 1 × 8, 1 × 12, 1 × 16). Section B: writing to present a viewpoint (40 marks). |
A named UK tutor from enrolment to exam day
The same qualified UK subject expert supports you from enrolment through to your exam series.
Exam style tasks with individual written feedback within 5 to 7 working days.
Unit scores and topic strengths on your dashboard, which your tutor uses to tailor feedback.
A timed mock paper and a written summary of what to focus on before you are entered.
Choose how you want to study
Every option includes the full course, tutor marking and study support. The difference is whether we handle your exams. Pick your option, then try it free for 7 days or pay today and save up to 17%, with your price fixed for life.
Start today with your named UK tutor from day one. 14-day money-back guarantee, or try it free.
14-day money-back guarantee on every payment
Studying more than one course? 2 courses save 5%, 3 save 10%, 4 or more save 15%.
Next: secure payment with Stripe. Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted.
- Full course content and tutor marking
- Named UK tutor and study support
- Exam entry and centre fees included
- Exam booking handled for you
Reviews from Lift College learners
“The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.”
Sarah M. · ManchesterAccess to HE Diploma“I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.”
James P. · BirminghamA Level Biology“Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.”
Aisha K. · LondonAccess to HE Diploma (Nursing)Frequently asked questions
What is the best online GCSE English Language course in the UK?
Look for the same GCSE that schools sit, a tutor who marks your writing, and your exam entry included. Lift College teaches the AQA GCSE English Language 8700 online with a named UK tutor: two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes, each worth 50%, with all texts unseen, plus the separately reported spoken language endorsement. You can sit in May/June, or in November if you are 16 or over at the start of the academic year, which suits adults and resits. Most learners take 12 to 18 months at 6 to 12 hours a week, and full timed mock papers come back marked within 5 to 7 working days. On the +Exams plan your AQA entry and Tutors & Exams centre fees are included and your seat is booked for you.
Is GCSE English Language the same as the school version?
Yes, exactly the same. Our GCSEs are awarded by AQA and use the identical specification, grading, and exam papers as the GCSE taken in UK schools.
How old do I need to be?
Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. There are no formal entry qualifications.
Do I need to attend lessons?
No, all study is online and self-paced. You access lessons, video tutorials, past papers, and tutor feedback through your learner dashboard. The exam itself is sat at an approved exam centre near you.
When can I sit the GCSE English Language exams?
AQA GCSE English Language 8700 is examined in May/June each year, with a second full series in November open to candidates aged 16 or over at the start of the academic year. Both papers are sat in the same series. On +Exams we enter you and book your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre for the series you are ready for.
Where will I sit the exams?
At one of the ten Tutors & Exams centres across England: Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots and Taunton. Use the centre finder on this page to see your nearest. Exams are always sat in person at an approved centre; no GCSE can be sat online.
How can I pay?
GCSEs at Lift College are paid monthly by subscription, or annually up front, which saves 15% against paying monthly. The current prices are shown on each course page. You can pay today, saving up to 17% with your price fixed for life, or start on a 7-day free trial; there is no contract and no credit agreement, you can cancel from your account at any time, and every payment is covered by 14-day money back. Choose +Exams and your exam entry and Tutors & Exams centre fees are included in the price, with your seat booked for you. Choose Study only and you arrange and pay for your own exam entry separately.
What does the Study option include?
The full course, your named UK tutor, marked practice in every unit, mock papers and AI Study Support.
What if I stop paying?
You simply stop studying. There is no contract, no credit agreement and no debt. You can cancel from your account at any time and there is 14-day money back on every payment.
What is the spoken language endorsement?
A short presentation followed by questions, delivered in standard English, assessed against AQA criteria and reported on your certificate as Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified. It does not count towards your 9 to 1 grade. It is recorded, and AQA can ask to see the recording. Ask an adviser before you enrol if you need it assessed.
Can I take GCSE English Language as a private candidate?
Yes. Lift College learners are entered as private candidates. On +Exams we handle the entry and book your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre, and the entry and centre fees are included. On Study you can enter yourself at a centre that accepts private candidates; you are responsible for that entry and the fees. The spoken language endorsement is reported separately and does not affect your 9 to 1 grade. Ask an adviser before you enrol if you need it assessed.
Are these GCSEs identical to school GCSEs?
Yes. Our GCSEs are awarded by AQA (and WJEC Eduqas for Film Studies) and are identical to those taught in UK schools. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 or above is a strong pass. Universities and employers treat them exactly as they treat a GCSE taken at school.
How long does the course take?
Most learners take 12 to 18 months from enrolment to sitting the exams, studying 6 to 12 hours a week. There is no minimum study time and no term dates: you can go faster if you study more each week, or take longer, and your subscription runs for as long as you need it. Marked work is returned within 5 to 7 working days.
How much does GCSE English Language cost online with the exams included?
On Lift College's +Exams plan, GCSE English Language is £69.99 a month or £629.99 a year when you pay today, save up to 17% for life, or £79.99 a month or £815.99 a year after a 7-day free trial, with your AQA entry and Tutors & Exams centre fees included and your seat booked for you. The Study plan is £39.99 a month or £359.99 a year when you pay today (£44.99 or £458.99 after the trial); exam entry is only on +Exams.
Should I take GCSE English Language or Functional Skills English Level 2?
If a course or employer names GCSE English Language, take the GCSE. If they accept a grade 4 equivalent, Functional Skills English Level 2 is quicker, typically 8 to 16 weeks with an on-screen exam, and costs £39.99 a month at Lift College when you pay today, with one exam sitting included.
Is there a GCSE English course online free?
If you are 19 or over in England without GCSE English at grade 4, you are entitled to fully funded GCSE English at a college or provider that holds Adult Skills Fund money, usually classroom based. If you want GCSE English online, Lift College's course is paid: £39.99 a month when you pay today, or start for £0 on the 7-day free trial, with nothing charged until day 8.
How much does GCSE English Language cost online?
GCSE English Language with Lift College is £359.99 a year or £39.99 a month on the Study plan when you pay today: pay for 9 months and get 3 free, with your price fixed for life. Or start for £0 today on the 7-day free trial, then £44.99 a month or £458.99 a year. +Exams, with your exam entry and centre fees included, is £629.99 a year or £69.99 a month when you pay today. Every payment has a 14-day money back guarantee.
Is GCSE English Language Ofqual regulated?
Yes. GCSE English Language at Lift College is the AQA GCSE, specification 8700, on the Ofqual register with qualification number 601/4292/3. You sit the same two papers and get the same AQA certificate as school candidates, graded 9 to 1, and grade 4 is a standard pass. Lift College teaches the full course online with a named UK tutor, from £39.99 a month on the Study plan when you pay today.
How is GCSE English Language assessed?
Lift College's GCSE English Language is assessed by two written AQA 8700 papers of 1 hour 45 minutes, each 80 marks and worth 50%, sat in person at an approved centre in the same series. Every text in the exam is unseen and there is no coursework. The spoken language endorsement is assessed separately, graded Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified, and does not count towards your 9 to 1 grade.
Can I start GCSE English Language today?
Yes. You can start GCSE English Language with Lift College today on the 7-day free trial: you pay £0 today, meet your named UK tutor and start the course, and nothing is charged until day 8. Prefer to pay today? Skip the trial and save up to 17%, with your price fixed for life. After the trial, the Study plan is £44.99 a month, with no contract and 14-day money back on every payment.
Is there a GCSE English course for adults online?
Yes. Lift College's GCSE English course is the AQA 8700 GCSE English Language, open to adults with no upper age limit and no formal entry qualifications. You study online with a named UK tutor and sit the same two papers as school candidates at a Tutors & Exams centre, from £39.99 a month on Study when you pay today.
Can I retake English GCSE as an adult?
Yes. Adults retake GCSE English Language as private candidates. The November series is open to candidates aged 16 or over at the start of the academic year, so you can resit in November or May/June, and on +Exams Lift College enters you and books your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre, with the entry and centre fees included. Our guide to retaking GCSE Maths and English as an adult walks through each step.
Do I get a GCSE English tutor online?
Yes. Every learner has a named UK tutor from enrolment to exam day. Your tutor marks your exam style reading and writing tasks with written feedback within 5 to 7 working days, then marks your timed mock paper and tells you what to focus on before you are entered.
Do I need GCSE English for nursing or teacher training?
Many courses ask for it. Nursing, teacher training, apprenticeships and university applications are among those that ask for GCSE English at grade 4 or above, so check the entry requirements of the course you are applying to. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 or above is a strong pass, and a GCSE you take as an adult counts exactly as one taken at school.
Can I take the GCSE English exam online?
No. You study GCSE English online, but both written papers are sat in person at an approved exam centre, in the same series. On +Exams Lift College enters you and books your seat at one of ten Tutors & Exams centres across England, with the entry and centre fees included.
How much do other online GCSE English Language courses cost in the UK?
Lift College's GCSE English Language is £359.99 for 12 months when you pay today, or £0 today on the 7-day free trial and then £44.99 a month, with no contract and no credit check. NEC and Open Study College charge £449 to £470 for the course, from their own websites on 22 October 2026. None of these fees includes exams, and nor does our Study plan.
A UK adviser calls you back within 2 working hours, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. No sales script.
New to the qualification? Start with our English Language GCSE guide covering papers, assessment and grading.