Paper 1 Question 5: Descriptive Writing (AQA GCSE English Language)

In Question 5, you will be set a question that asks you to write either a piece of creative writing or a piece of descriptive writing. Here, we will focus on the descriptive writing task, which is different to a short story, under the following sub-topics (click to go straight to that sub-topic):

• Overview of Paper 1 Question 5
• How to approach Paper 1 Question 5
• Descriptive writing form
• Descriptive writing detail
• Steps to success for Question 5
• Exam tips for Question 5

Paper 1 Question 5 is the writing question. It asks you to apply what you know about imaginative and creative fiction writing, such as in the text you read in Section A, and use these same techniques in your own writing. AO5 rewards you for your ideas, as well as the style and the fluency of your writing. As this task is worth 50% of the paper, it is worth making sure you set aside enough time to answer it well. You should allow 45 minutes for this task.

The Assessment Objectives for Question 5 are AO5 and AO6:

It is important to remember that writers plan their texts deliberately to make the reader respond in certain ways, and think and feel certain things. This task in Question 5 asks you to think about how you can effectively engage your reader and produce a cohesive piece of descriptive writing, which enables the reader to picture what you are describing in their mind. 

When you reach Question 5, you will already have read an example of creative writing. You can use the ideas and structure to inform your answer. You should spend some time thinking about the question, not only the content, but also the order of your ideas. An effective piece of descriptive writing considers the most engaging way to describe a scene. 

In your answer you must:

• Plan your writing and order the information into roughly five to seven paragraphs
• Consider the relevant information you need to give to create an effective description 
• Plan your setting to create an effective mood
• Use language techniques relevant to the style of writing

Question 5 tests your ability to create a text which is constructed in an appropriate manner.

The writing question assesses your skill in crafting a convincing piece of descriptive writing or a short story. The question will be worded according to a specific task, for example:

It is worth remembering that you will be given a choice of two tasks in the exam: one will be a creative writing task, and the other will be a descriptive writing task. One will also give you a picture as a prompt for your piece of writing, but this could be to write a story or a description, so it is important that you read both options carefully.

Here, we are looking at the first option, which is “Describe a marketplace as suggested by this picture”, divided into form and detail.

This task requires you to write a description, but this does not mean simply describing everything you can see in the image (if this is given to you as a prompt). Instead, you should use the image as a springboard into your imagination, and not limit yourself to just what you see. An image enables you to draw upon the senses, as well as including any people in the image in your description, but it is important not to stray into uncontrolled narrative. You do not need a plot for a piece of descriptive writing; this is primarily where description differs from creative writing.

If you are not given an image to support the piece of description, you have to work a little harder, but you are free from restrictions. Consider what appropriate image you could draw upon for inspiration. Try to keep it minimal and something that could be imagined by all.

As with any extended piece of writing, planning is vital. You should spend 5 minutes annotating the image, or mind-mapping your ideas before you start writing.

The examiners will reward responses which consider how the conventions of form can be used to convey your ideas. Descriptive writing should be a “snap-shot” of a moment. Imagine yourself behind the lens of a camera. 

Below is a suggestion of form for a piece of descriptive writing:

Remember, you can include action or movement in your description, but this should not involve any story progression or interaction. Any action should only cover a short period of “real time”, such as the wind blowing a basket over. Something seemingly inconsequential could move in the background, which is especially effective if you contrast this with things that remain still.

Your paragraphs should be appropriately linked, but should vary in terms of size and structure. Variety and accuracy are key; you are bringing a scene to life for your reader, so they should be able to picture it, hear it, even smell it!

When considering the detail you should include in your description, it is useful to consider the types of things that bring a scene to life. These things are normally rooted in contrast, for example:

1. Read the two task options carefully:
• Highlight whether you are writing a story or a descriptive piece
2. If you are describing from an image, then annotate the image
• Do not just limit yourself to the obvious details
3. Spend five minutes planning your writing:
• Use a mind-map or a table
• Circle on the image what you are going to zoom in on
4. Write down some reminders of figurative language or literary techniques to include to add interest and detail
• It might be helpful to jot down “sound and silence”, “movement and stillness” and “light and dark” to prompt you
5. Write your description, sticking to your plan
6. Try to leave five minutes at the end to re-read your writing carefully, correcting any obvious mistakes you have made

• Avoid confusing ideas in a paragraph
• Each paragraph should focus on one idea
• Ensure words are chosen to all contribute to the effect you want to create
• Do not confuse the tenses in a paragraph
• If you use a flashback, ensure it is in past-tense
• If you use present-tense verbs for effect, ensure they are all consistently in present-tense 
• Do not just describe everything you can see without any structure
• Do not use dialogue in a description
• Do not start your description with “In the image I can see….”
• The highest marks are awarded for students who use complex and sophisticated vocabulary