Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing is one of the most important skills you need for the CSSE 11+ exam. When the examiner reads your extended writing task, they want to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel the world you are creating. Great description turns flat writing into vivid, immersive storytelling — and it is one of the fastest ways to pick up marks.

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What Is Descriptive Writing?

Descriptive writing uses carefully chosen words and techniques to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. Instead of simply telling the reader what happened, you show them — using the five senses, figurative language, and precise vocabulary.

Telling (weak)	Showing (strong)
The garden was pretty.	Roses climbed the old stone wall, their petals soft as silk, and the air hummed with the lazy drone of bumblebees.
He was cold.	His fingers were numb and his breath hung in the air like tiny ghosts.
The food was delicious.	The warm, buttery pastry crumbled on her tongue, filling her mouth with the rich sweetness of cinnamon and apple.

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The Five Senses