Exam Intelligence · 6 Official Documents Analysed

How to Score Higher in AQA A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) (7687)

Evidence-based Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 exam guide built from official AQA examiner reports and mark schemes. Specialised and comprehensive study tips — specific, cited insights so you can achieve top grades.

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Evidence-BasedBuilt from 6 official examiner reports & mark schemes (2022–2023)

What Are Assessment Objectives (AOs)?

Before we dive in, you need to understand how AQA actually marks your answers.

AO stands for Assessment Objective. Think of AOs as the different “skills” AQA tests you on in every single question. When an examiner marks your paper, they don't just give you a mark out of 12 based on how “good” your answer feels — they allocate specific marks to each AO separately.

For example, a 12-mark question might be split as: AO1 (2 marks) + AO2 (2 marks) + AO3 (2 marks) + AO4 (6 marks). If you write a perfect textbook answer but don't evaluate, you can only score 6 out of 12 — because the other 6 marks are specifically reserved for evaluation.

This is why understanding AOs matters: they tell you exactly what the examiner is looking for and how many marks each skill is worth. Here are the 4 AOs for this subject:

AO1

Understand and respond in writing to spoken language drawn from a variety of sources

20% (A-Level overall; AQA per-paper P1 0%, P2 0%, P3 20% — AO1 is only assessed in Paper 3)

Understand and respond in writing to spoken Polish across a range of registers. Assessed only in Paper 3, through listening tasks including true/false/not-in-the-text questions, multiple choice, short-answer questions, and the multi-skill task that requires evidence from the listening source. Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) has no spoken assessment — AO1 is assessed entirely in writing.

AO2

Understand and respond in writing to written language drawn from a variety of sources

30% (A-Level overall; AQA per-paper P1 25%, P2 0%, P3 5%)

Understand and respond in writing to written Polish — assessed in Paper 1 (reading tasks and the Section B research-topic essay, where students must link source text information to their own research) and Paper 3 (multi-skill task using both written and spoken sources). Direct copying from the source earns no AO2 credit; students must rephrase and apply their own knowledge.

AO3

Manipulate the language accurately, in written form, using a range of lexis and structure

30% (A-Level overall; AQA per-paper P1 7.5%, P2 10%, P3 12.5%)

Use accurate grammar, varied vocabulary and complex structures across translation, essay writing (Paper 2) and the summary tasks. Includes correct noun/adjective declension, verb conjugation, gender agreement, spelling of Polish phonological pairs (rz/ż, ch/h, ó/u), and grammatical manipulation in summaries.

AO4

Show knowledge and understanding of, and respond critically and analytically to, different aspects of the culture and society of countries/communities where the language is spoken

20% (A-Level overall; AQA per-paper P1 10%, P2 10%, P3 0% — AO4 is not assessed in Paper 3)

Demonstrate critical knowledge of Polish society and culture — assessed in Section B research-topic essays (Paper 1) and in Paper 2 essays on prescribed literary texts and films. Top marks require in-depth, research-based knowledge with relevant evidence, not surface-level general opinions.

The key takeaway: Most students lose marks not because they lack knowledge (AO1), but because they skip the higher-order skills — applying to context (AO2), building chains of reasoning (AO3), and making supported judgements (AO4). Everything below shows you exactly how to hit each AO based on what AQA examiners have written in their reports.

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Top Mistakes in A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687

The most common reasons students lose marks in A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687, cited directly from official AQA examiner reports across multiple sessions.

Lifting text verbatim in summary tasks instead of writing in own words

June 2022 and June 2023, Papers 1 and 3 · Affects: Paper 1, Paper 3

What examiners say

“It is worth reminding students that they should aim to write summaries in their own words, avoid lifting from the text and aim for the recommended length of 90 words.”
— 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2022

“There were a number of summaries where students used lifted language or showed little manipulation of the grammar. There were some students who scored 0 because of that.”
— 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2023

How to fix this

Never copy phrases directly from the source text. Manipulate the grammar: change verb tense or person, shift from active to passive (or vice versa), change word order, or alter case endings. Even changing a first-person plural past tense to a present-tense reflexive (e.g. zorganizowaliśmy wybory → organizuje się wybory) counts as manipulation and earns AO3 marks. Copied language scores zero for AO3.

Exceeding the 90-word limit in summary tasks and losing content marks

June 2022 and June 2023, Papers 1 and 3 · Affects: Paper 1, Paper 3

What examiners say

“Students missed the content points mainly because they went over the word count and missed the last couple of marks altogether.”
— 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2023

“Perhaps the instruction given in the rubrics, that the summary should not exceed 90 words, is not strong enough. The students may not be aware of the consequences.”
— 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2023

How to fix this

Count every word and stop at 90. The final bullet-point marks are the ones lost when the word limit is breached — typically two marks that go to candidates who plan better. Pre-plan bullet by bullet during reading time. Avoid introductory sentences that eat into your word budget without earning content marks.

Research-topic essays rely on general opinions and stereotypes instead of in-depth research evidence

June 2022 and June 2023, Paper 1 Section B · Affects: Paper 1

What examiners say

“many essays based on the individual research project lacked the knowledge and depth required for achieving marks in the highest bands”
— 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2022

“A vast majority of answers lacked relevant knowledge, and students were not able to provide examples (from the historical, political or cultural context). Instead, many essays contained widespread stereotypes”
— 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2022

How to fix this

High AO4 marks require specific, research-based evidence: named leaders, dates, statistics, and cause-effect chains. Vague opinions ('Poles are racists' or 'tourism is popular') score very low. Choose your research topic carefully and prepare concrete examples from historical, political, and cultural contexts. Always link source-text information to your own research knowledge for AO2 marks.

Translation errors: incorrect vocabulary, numeral renditions, and word omissions

June 2022 and June 2023, Papers 1 and 3 · Affects: Paper 1, Paper 3

What examiners say

“erroneous renditions of numerals – sześćdziesięciu as six hundred”
— 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2022

“Poor spelling has greatly contributed to lowering marks.”
— 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2023

How to fix this

Translate literally and completely — never omit words or paraphrase. In Paper 1 (Polish-to-English), watch for: numerals (sześćdziesięciu = sixty, not six hundred), professions (naukowcy = scientists not teachers, plastycy = visual artists not plasterers), seasons (jesień = autumn not spring), and idioms (rzuca się w oczy = it is striking; trudno przecenić = it is difficult to overestimate). In Paper 3 (English-to-Polish), treat every word omission as a lost point.

Paper 2 essays are descriptive or narrative rather than analytical and evaluative

June 2022 and June 2023, Paper 2 · Affects: Paper 2

What examiners say

“Most students relied mainly on description and narration; their responses lacked relevant examples from the text and critical evaluation.”
— 7687/2 Paper 2, June 2023

“many just summarised the plot without deeper analysis of the meaning of these symbols in Polish culture and tradition”
— 7687/2 Paper 2, June 2022

How to fix this

Do not retell the plot. Each paragraph should: state a claim → give precise textual evidence or a scene → analyse its significance → offer a personal critical judgement. Use the question's key verb (e.g. 'evaluate', 'analyse', 'compare') as your analytical spine. The opening paragraph should outline your main argument, not the author's biography or the historical background.

Essays where detailed planning had not occurred were recycled and off-topic

June 2022 and June 2023, Paper 2 · Affects: Paper 2

What examiners say

“Essays where detailed planning had not occurred tended to be recycled versions of essays written previously, which may or may not be fully relevant to the question chosen.”
— 7687/2 Paper 2, June 2022

How to fix this

Plan in the exam before writing. Identify the specific focus of the question and organise your knowledge around that focus. A recycled essay answers the question you wish had been set, not the one that was. Read both question options carefully before choosing — the wording determines what AO4 evidence is relevant.

Spelling errors in Polish: rz/ż, ch/h, ó/u confusions and lower-case proper nouns

June 2022 and June 2023, Paper 2 · Affects: Paper 2, Paper 3

What examiners say

“There were occasionally some spelling errors, however, particularly in words with either rz or ż, ch or h, ó or u. Occasionally there was the wrong gender or person in the verb conjugation or wrong case in the noun or adjective descension.”
— 7687/2 Paper 2, June 2022

“Very often, the students wrote names of characters, places or nations in the lower case, e.g. polacy, niemcy, artur.”
— 7687/2 Paper 2, June 2022

How to fix this

Drill the Polish phonological pairs that require memorisation: rz vs ż, ch vs h, ó vs u. Names of people, places, and nationalities must always be capitalised (e.g. Polacy, Niemcy, Artur). Practise the declension of proper nouns used in your set texts (e.g. Katyń → w Katynie, Wilko → w Wilcu) as these are regularly penalised.

Multi-skill question (Paper 3, Q6) answered using personal knowledge rather than both sources

June 2022 and June 2023, Paper 3 · Affects: Paper 3

What examiners say

“there were a number of answers focusing only on one source, mostly spoken. In addition, teachers are reminded that this question is a comprehension task and does not require any knowledge. Marks are only awarded for AO1 and AO2 if the information used in the answer comes from the spoken and/or written source.”
— 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2022

“There were some answers based mainly on students' own knowledge or experience which resulted in a low score.”
— 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2022

How to fix this

Question 6 is a comprehension task, not an essay on your general knowledge. You must draw information from BOTH the written and spoken sources — answers based solely on personal knowledge or experience score very low for AO1 and AO2. Practise noting key points from both sources before writing. The quality of language (AO3) can still score highly even if AO1/AO2 are weak, so write accurately.

Apply what you've learned

Practice identifying these mistakes in real papers. Try a recent paper and mark yourself — you'll spot these patterns immediately.

Try June 2024 All 7687 Papers

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What A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 Examiners Reward

Patterns that consistently earn high marks in A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687, based on AQA examiner report commentary on top-scoring answers.

Grammatical manipulation in summaries: changing verb tense, person, and mode

7687 examiners in Paper 3 2022 cited top performers who 'managed to manipulate the original by changing verb modes and tenses; for example, a verb in the first person plural past tense denoting a single completed action (zorganizowaliśmy wybory) changed into a present tense reflexive indicating a general habit or routine (organizuje się wybory).'

Source: 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2022

In-depth, research-backed arguments with factual evidence in Section B essays

7687 examiners in Paper 1 2022 noted that students who 'demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of the research topic they had chosen and were able to present relevant information supporting their arguments scored the highest number of marks for AO4.' Top scorers on the resistance movement topic cited statistics, complexity, and long-term consequences.

Source: 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2022

Linking source text information directly to independent research knowledge

7687 examiners in Paper 1 2023 stated that students who 'demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of the research topic and were able to present relevant information supporting/illustrating their arguments scored the highest number of marks for AO4.' Using source text and personal research together maximises both AO2 and AO4.

Source: 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2023

Planning before writing Paper 2 essays, resulting in focused and evaluative answers

7687 examiners in Paper 2 2022 reported: 'There was clear evidence that, where students had taken time to prepare and plan their answers, this was reflected in the quality of the response produced.' Well-planned answers addressed the specific question focus and organised knowledge around relevant key points.

Source: 7687/2 Paper 2, June 2022

Accurate grammar and rich vocabulary earning high AO3 marks across all three papers

7687 examiners in Paper 1 2022 reported that 83% of students scored seven or more marks for AO3, noting that students 'wrote using generally good language, showing a good grasp of grammar and a good range of vocabulary relevant to the context and the task.' Similarly, Paper 3 2022 showed more than 90% of students scoring at least 7 marks for AO3 on Q6.

Source: 7687/1 Paper 1, June 2022

Using both written and spoken sources effectively in the Paper 3 multi-skill task

7687 examiners in Paper 3 2023 noted that students 'tried to use both sources and rarely referred to their own knowledge', contributing to improved AO2 scores. The quality of language (AO3) greatly contributed to the higher overall mark, with more than half of students scoring 7 to 9 marks.

Source: 7687/3 Paper 3, June 2023

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A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 Answer Frameworks

Structured approaches for each A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 question type, derived from AQA mark scheme requirements.

Summary Task — Papers 1 and 3 (Q2/Q4)

~20 minutes including planning

Structure

Address bullet point 1 in own-words Polish with at least one grammatical change → Address bullet point 2 with a different type of grammatical manipulation → Address bullet point 3. Stop at 90 words.

•Manipulate grammar — change verb tense, person, mode, or active/passive construction — but do NOT swap individual vocabulary items, which distorts meaning
•Address every bullet point specifically: off-topic material still counts toward the 90-word limit but earns no AO1
•Stop at 90 words: the final content marks are the ones lost by students who overrun
•Avoid introductory sentences ('Ten tekst dotyczy…') — they waste your word budget without earning marks

Translation into Polish (Paper 3 Section B)

~25 minutes

Structure

Read the full text first. Translate sentence by sentence, verifying spelling, case, gender, and completeness. Never omit a word.

•Every word omission loses a point — read your translation back against the English to check nothing is missing
•Translate 'although' as mimo, że (not nawet że or chociaż że); 'dislike' as niechęć; 'the vast majority' as zdecydowana większość
•Check complex subordinate-clause structures before writing — 'Some of them admitted their parents' prejudices towards the homeless' was the most commonly mistranslated sentence in 2023
•Poor spelling directly reduces your score; double-check rz/ż, ch/h, ó/u in every word

Paper 2 Essay on Literary Text or Film

~55 minutes per essay

Structure

Opening paragraph outlining main argument → 3–4 evaluative paragraphs (claim → precise textual evidence → analysis → personal critical judgement) → brief conclusion (new point, not repetition).

•Plan before writing — well-planned answers address the specific question focus and produce coherent, logically developed essays
•Do NOT narrate the plot: analyse and evaluate throughout; use the question's key verb as your analytical guide
•Support judgements with specific, accurate evidence from the text or film; factual errors (wrong names, dates, character relationships) are penalised
•Write in Polish you know is correct: wrong case endings, gender, and verb conjugation all reduce your AO3 mark

Paper 1 Section B Research-Topic Essay

~40 minutes

Structure

Brief opening referencing the source text → 3–4 paragraphs each linking source evidence to independent research knowledge → conclusion evaluating the question set.

•Read the source text carefully AND the full wording of the question: many students ignore the specific question and write a generic essay that scores little for AO2 and AO4
•Use both the source text (AO2) and your own research knowledge (AO4) — essays relying on only one lose half the available marks
•Topics 6 (communism/PRL) and 9 (WWII resistance movement) consistently produce better results than 7 (racism) and 8 (tourism) because students prepare more specific evidence
•General opinions and stereotypes are not accepted as AO4 evidence — every claim needs factual, researched support

Practice by topic

Use topical past papers to practice specific question types. Each topic collects questions from multiple years — perfect for drilling the frameworks above.

Topical Past Papers

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A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 Command Words Decoded

Each command word in A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 is a scoring instruction. Understanding what AQA examiners expect is critical to earning full marks.

translate (Polish into English)10 marks (Paper 1 Section A)

Render the Polish text into clearly comprehensible English. Every word must be accounted for — omissions lose marks. Polish idioms must be conveyed by meaning, not translated literally.

Common mistake

Literal translation of idioms: rzuca się w oczy rendered as 'catches your eyes' instead of 'it is striking'; trudno przecenić as 'it is difficult to judge' instead of 'it is difficult to overestimate'. Also: numerals (sześćdziesięciu = sixty, not six hundred), professions, and seasonal vocabulary (jesień = autumn, not spring).

“erroneous renditions of numerals – sześćdziesięciu as six hundred”

translate (English into Polish)10 marks (Paper 3 Section B)

Render the English text into accurate Polish. Every word must be spelt correctly and placed in the correct grammatical form. Omitting any word from the text results in the loss of that point.

Common mistake

Omitting words — 'leaving a word out of a section of text results in the loss of a point'; mistranslating 'although' (mimo, że); translating 'dislike' as nienawiść (hatred) rather than niechęć; writing większość instead of zdecydowana większość for 'the vast majority'.

“Poor spelling has greatly contributed to lowering marks.”

napisz streszczenie (write a summary)12 marks (Papers 1 and 3 summary tasks)

Summarise the text in your own Polish words, addressing each bullet point, within a maximum of 90 words. Marked for AO1 (content) and AO3 (grammatical manipulation).

Common mistake

Lifting phrases verbatim from the source earns no AO3; exceeding 90 words causes the final content marks to be lost. 'Perhaps the instruction given in the rubrics, that the summary should not exceed 90 words, is not strong enough.'

“It is worth reminding students that they should aim to write summaries in their own words, avoid lifting from the text and aim for the recommended length of 90 words.”

napisz wypracowanie (write an essay — Paper 2)40 marks per essay

Write a structured essay on your chosen prescribed text or film. Argue, analyse, and evaluate — do NOT narrate the plot. Marked for AO3 (language accuracy) and AO4 (knowledge and critical understanding).

Common mistake

Retelling the plot or describing characters without analytical comment. Recycled essays written for a previous question do not address the specific wording of the question set and score poorly for AO4.

“Most students relied mainly on description and narration; their responses lacked relevant examples from the text and critical evaluation.”

napisz esej badawczy (write a research-topic essay — Paper 1 Section B)Part of 85-mark Paper 1

Write one essay on your chosen research topic using information from the source text provided AND your own independent research. Link source evidence to research knowledge. Marked for AO2 (use of source) and AO4 (knowledge and understanding).

Common mistake

Using only the source text without adding independent research knowledge loses AO4 marks. Using only personal knowledge without referencing the source loses AO2 marks. General opinions and stereotypes (especially on racism or tourism topics) are not accepted as evidence.

“Students who demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of the research topic they had chosen and were able to present relevant information supporting their arguments scored the highest number of marks for AO4.”

prawda/fałsz/nie podano (true/false/not in the text)1 mark per statement

Decide whether each statement is true, false, or not given in the source material. 'Not given' means the information is neither confirmed nor contradicted by the text — do not use common knowledge.

Common mistake

Using common knowledge instead of what is stated in the source. The most common error is choosing 'false' when the correct answer is 'not given' — typically because students infer from context rather than checking whether the text explicitly addresses the statement.

“The most common mistake is when a student uses common knowledge instead of what appears (or, most often in this case, does not appear) in the source material.”

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Topics Students Struggle With Most In A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687

These A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 topics consistently produce the lowest scores. Prioritise these in your revision.

Polish spelling: rz/ż, ch/h, ó/u phonological pairs

7687 examiners flagged spelling errors 'particularly in words with either rz or ż, ch or h, ó or u' in both Paper 2 2022 and Paper 2 2023. Paper 3 2023 additionally noted that 'Poor spelling has greatly contributed to lowering marks' in the translation task.

Affects: Paper 2, Paper 3

Noun and adjective declension (case endings)

7687 examiners noted 'wrong case in the noun or adjective descension' in both Paper 2 2022 and Paper 2 2023 as a recurring AO3 weakness. Paper 3 2022 listed 'inflexion of nouns, adjectives and verbs' as one of the biggest contributors to lower translation scores.

Affects: Paper 2, Paper 3

Capitalisation of proper nouns (names of people, places, nationalities)

7687 examiners in Paper 2 2022 stated: 'Very often, the students wrote names of characters, places or nations in the lower case, e.g. polacy, niemcy, artur.' Declension of place names was also flagged: 'Katyń – w Katynie or Wilko – w Wilcu.'

Affects: Paper 2

Vocabulary for professions and specialist terms in the Polish-to-English translation

7687 examiners in Paper 1 2022 listed recurring mistranslations: 'naukowcy were often translated as teachers' (correct: scientists), 'plastycy as plasticians or plasterers' (correct: visual artists), 'ekonomiści as economics' (correct: economists), and 'antyinteligencki' mistranslated as anti-intelligent.

Affects: Paper 1

Polish idioms in the translation task

7687 examiners in Paper 1 2022 noted that 'idioms rzuca sie w oczy and trudno przecenić straty proved to be too challenging for many' — the former 'was often translated literally as eye-catching or catches your eyes', the latter 'as it is difficult to judge'. In 2023, the idiom rzut kamieniem 'was often translated literally as stone's throw'.

Affects: Paper 1

Research-topic essays: surface knowledge on racism (Q7) and tourism (Q8) topics

7687 examiners across both years consistently found that 'The most common misconception seems to be the belief that frequent visits to Poland and the awareness (without any significant details) of just a few of the most popular tourist attractions constitutes good research of this topic.' Similarly, racism essays relied on stereotypes rather than historical or political evidence.

Affects: Paper 1

Conjunctions and subordinate clause structure in the English-to-Polish translation

7687 examiners in Paper 3 2023 noted that many students failed to translate 'although' correctly as mimo, że — frequent mistranslations included nawet że, chociaż że, nawet kiedy, and lecz nawet jeśli. Complex subordinate-clause structures were also flagged as the most challenging grammatical area.

Affects: Paper 3

Verb conjugation errors: wrong gender, person, and tense in essays

7687 examiners in Paper 2 2022 and 2023 noted 'wrong gender or person in the verb conjugation' as an occasional but recurring weakness. Paper 3 2022 listed 'grammar (inflexion of nouns, adjectives and verbs)' as a primary contributor to lower translation scores.

Affects: Paper 2, Paper 3

Target your weak areas

The topics above are where most marks are lost. Use past papers and mark schemes to practice these specific areas until they become second nature.

Past Papers & Mark Schemes Topical Papers

Frequently Asked Questions

What papers make up AQA A-Level Polish 7687?

Three written papers: a 2h 30m paper marked out of 85, a 2h paper marked out of 80, and a 2h 30m paper marked out of 75. All three sit in the regular JCQ summer timetable.

Which research topics produce the best results in Paper 1 Section B?

Across 2022 and 2023, students who chose topics related to communism/PRL (Q6) and the WWII resistance movement (Q9) consistently outperformed those who chose racism (Q7) and tourism (Q8). Examiners attribute this to better preparation: Q6 and Q9 students arrived with detailed historical knowledge, specific names, dates, and factual evidence. Q7 and Q8 are perceived as easy but require equally rigorous research preparation to reach the higher AO4 bands.

Are dictionaries or other resources permitted in any AQA Polish 7687 paper?

No. AQA does not permit dictionaries or any reference materials in any of the three papers. Students must rely on their own preparation. In the translation task, the accompanying source text can provide vocabulary clues, but all grammar, idioms, and specialist vocabulary must come from the student's own knowledge built through reading widely in Polish.

What are the most popular literary texts and films in Paper 2?

In both 2022 and 2023, by far the most popular literary text was Tango by Sławomir Mrożek (over 500 entries each year), followed by Panny z Wilka and Brzezina by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (approx. 200 entries). For films, Katyń by Andrzej Wajda was overwhelmingly the most popular (over 500–621 entries). Przypadek (Blind Chance) by Kieślowski had a smaller but engaged cohort. All remaining works had entries in the tens.

Put It All Into Practice

You now know exactly what AQA examiners reward and penalise. The next step is deliberate practice with real papers. We have 5 exam sessions available for A Level Polish (Listening, Reading, Writing) 7687 — question papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports.

View All Past Papers Latest Session: June 2024 Topical Past Papers