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

Revision Note

Deb Orrock

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Paper 1 Question 5: Descriptive Writing

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.

Overview of Paper 1 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:

AO5 (24 marks)

Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences

Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts

AO6 (16 marks)

Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation

Overview

  • Question 5 is a writing question

  • Question 5 is worth 40 marks

  • You should aim to write 5-7 paragraphs (no more than 3-4 pages)

  • You should spend approximately 45 minutes on this question

How to approach Paper 1 Question 5

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:

aqa-english-language-paper-1-question-5
aqa-english-language-paper-1-question-5-

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.

Descriptive writing form

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:

Descriptive writing form

Panoramic

  • Broadly describe the scene

  • Introduce the time and atmosphere

  • In the market example, this could include colour and how tightly packed everything is

Zoom

  • Focus your lens in on one segment of the image

  • Choose smaller, less obvious details

  • In the market example, this could be the butcher on the right cutting into the animal carcass 

Single line

  • Emphasise the key feeling of your description in one line

  • In the market example, this could involve smell

Shift

  • Focus your lens on another segment of the image

  • If you started in the foreground, then move to something in the background

  • In the market example, this could be the lady dressed in dark colours at the back, grasping a bag

Shift

  • Now move your lens to a final segment of the image, or suggest something that is just “off camera”

  • In the market example, this could be the lady with her back to you in the middle of the picture

Panoramic

  • Zoom out again to look at the scene from a new perspective

  • How has it changed? Time? Atmosphere? Mood?

  • In the market example, you could change the time of the scene from early morning to mid-afternoon

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!

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember Question 5 requires an extended written response. Therefore, the most effective answers will demonstrate a well-planned answer which has considered what details are the most interesting to the reader and the most effective way to order the writing.

Descriptive writing detail

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:

Sound and silence

  • Noise contributes to the reality of a scene

    • Chatter, background noise, the weather or nearby wildlife all bring the scene to life

  • But there will also be silence

    • A momentary lull, or a really purposeful moment of quiet

Movement and stillness

 

  • Some things may move

    • This could be the main focus of your writing, or something in the background

    • It could be human, animal or object - use personification

    • Powerful verbs and adverbs can create dynamic movement in a piece of writing

    • For example: “The swarming, struggling crowd.”

  • Other things will remain still

    • Try to focus on things that resist being moved, or whose stillness is in contrast with the movement of something

    • Avoid cliches such as “still as a statue”

Light and dark

  • There will be sources of light, so describe them

    • But also describe the way the light hits other things in your description

  • Where there’s light, there’s also darkness

    • Consider what shadows are cast or where the light does not reach

    • Who, or what, is left in the darkness?

Steps to success for Question 5

  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

Exam tips for Question 5

  • 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

Overview

  • Carefully consider the order of your writing to construct an engaging piece of writing 

  • Zoom in and out as if behind a camera

  • Include some movement and contrast to add interest

  • Use sensory language to create a clear mood

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Deb Orrock

Author: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

Kate Lee

Author: Kate Lee

Expertise: English and Languages Lead

Kate has over 12 years of teaching experience as a Head of English and as a private tutor. Having also worked at the exam board AQA and in educational publishing, she's been writing educational resources to support learners in their exams throughout her career. She's passionate about helping students achieve their potential by developing their literacy and exam skills.