Descriptive Writing: Understanding the Question

 In Section B of Paper 2, you’ll get four options to choose from: Questions 2 and 3 will focus on descriptive writing, while Questions 4 and 5 will focus on narrative writing. You only need to pick one question, and each is worth 40 marks. Even though descriptive writing might include some narrative elements, it’s important to know the difference so you can tailor your response. Take time to read through all four options and choose the one that will best show off your writing skills.

 

Overview

Descriptive writing tasks give you two scenarios or prompts to choose from (Questions 2 and 3). You’ll need to write about 350–450 words, which is around 2–3 sides of A4 in standard handwriting, and you’ll have one hour to complete it. Marks are split into:

• Content and structure (16 marks) – How well-developed and focused your ideas are.
• Style and accuracy (24 marks) – Your use of vocabulary, sentence structure, and technical accuracy.

 

What Examiners Look For:

1. Content and Structure:
• Your writing should include detailed, vivid ideas that create a clear and realistic picture.
• Use a variety of focus techniques, like zooming in on small details or giving an overview.
2. Style and Accuracy:
• Choose precise and imaginative vocabulary to bring your description to life.
• Vary your sentence structures to create specific effects.
• Maintain consistent spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout.

Your goal is to help the reader visualise your scene as if they were there. Spend 15 minutes planning, 45 minutes writing, and 5 minutes checking your work.

 

How to Approach the Question

 When planning your response, think carefully about the two titles and pick the one that will allow you to show originality and detail. Ask yourself:

• How will I start and end my description?
• What details can I add to make my writing unique and memorable?
• What vocabulary and sentence structures will help create the right atmosphere?

Here are some examples of past CIE descriptive writing tasks:

• Write a description with the title, ‘The factory’.
• Describe waking up to find the scene around you has changed.
• Describe a wild place

 

Top Tips for Descriptive Writing

 1. Avoid Turning It Into a Story

• Focus on what is happening in the moment, not a plot.
• Do not include dialogue or background information—keep it observational.

 

2. Be Detailed and Unique

• Move beyond obvious or clichéd descriptions. For example, instead of ‘The night was dark and quiet,’ try ‘The thick shadows clung to the trees, muffling even the faintest rustle of the wind.’

 

3. Keep Tenses Consistent

• Decide on past tense or present tense and stick to it.
• If using a flashback, ensure it’s clearly in the past tense.

 

4. Use Sensory Details

• Make your description immersive by involving the reader’s senses:
• Sight: What do things look like?
• Sound: Are there distant noises, whispers, or loud crashes?
• Smell: Is the air filled with fresh rain, smoke, or flowers?
• Touch: How does the air or environment feel on your skin?
• Taste: Can you include a sensory detail about food, drink, or even the air?

 

5. Add Movement and Contrast

• Include motion to keep your description dynamic, but keep the narrator as a silent observer.
• For example: ‘The market stalls swayed under the weight of the wind, their colourful fabrics snapping sharply like sails on a stormy sea.’

 

6. Vary Sentence and Paragraph Lengths

• Use shorter sentences for emphasis and longer ones for detailed imagery.
• This variation keeps your writing interesting and creates rhythm.

 

7. Play with Colours and Repetition

• Repetition of key details, like colours or sounds, can create cohesion.
• For example: ‘The rooftops were a dull orange in the dying light, the same orange that reflected off the cracked windows of the bakery.’

 

Final Reminders

• Descriptive writing is not about solving a problem or telling a story, so there’s no need for a traditional ‘ending.’
• Your job is to create a vivid, engaging picture in the reader’s mind.
• Plan carefully, and always aim to surprise your reader with originality.