Descriptive and narrative writing · GCSE English Language

The task

Paper 1 Question 5 (40 marks) gives a choice: a description (often based on a picture) or a story. 24 marks are for content and organisation (AO5) and 16 for technical accuracy (AO6).
Spend about 45 minutes: 5 to 10 minutes planning, and 5 minutes checking at the end.
Other boards: Edexcel Paper 1 Section B, OCR Component 2 Section B and Eduqas Component 1 Section B are also 40-mark imaginative or creative writing tasks, usually with a choice of tasks.

Focus on creating a vivid picture of a place or moment, rather than a plot.
Use all five senses, move the focus (zoom in and out), or show the same place at different times, such as dawn and midnight.
Use ambitious, precise vocabulary, imagery such as metaphors and personification, and a variety of sentence structures.

Keep the plot simple: few characters, one main setting and a short time span.
Hook the reader with a strong opening, such as starting in the middle of the action, dialogue or an intriguing statement. Build to a climax, and give a satisfying or surprising ending; a cyclical ending can work well.
Show, don't tell: reveal feelings through actions and details ('her hands trembled') rather than stating them ('she was scared').

Vary sentence openings (adverbs, prepositions, -ing words) and sentence lengths, and use paragraphs for effect, such as a one-line paragraph at a key moment.
Use pathetic fallacy (weather that reflects mood) and avoid clichés.
Technical accuracy: correct spelling, a range of punctuation (including semicolons, colons and dashes), accurate grammar, varied vocabulary and Standard English. Punctuate dialogue correctly.

Narrative: A piece of writing that tells a story.
Descriptive writing: Writing that creates a vivid picture of a place, person or moment.
In medias res: Starting a story in the middle of the action.
Show, don't tell: Revealing feelings through actions and details instead of stating them.
Pathetic fallacy: Using the weather or setting to reflect a mood.
Sensory language: Words that appeal to sight, sound, smell, taste or touch.
Cliché: An overused phrase, such as 'as cold as ice'.