Writing Techniques & Mark Scheme

This lesson covers everything you need to know about the writing questions on both papers — Paper 1 Q5 (creative writing) and Paper 2 Q5 (transactional writing). Together, these two questions account for 80 out of 160 marks — exactly 50% of your entire GCSE. Mastering writing technique is not optional; it is essential.

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Paper 1 Q5: Creative Writing (40 marks)

You will be given a choice of two tasks — typically one with a written prompt and one with an image stimulus. You choose ONE.

Task Types

Type	What It Means	Example Prompt
Descriptive writing	Create a vivid picture of a scene, place, person, or moment	"Describe a place that holds special memories for you."
Narrative writing	Tell a story with a plot, characters, and events	"Write a story about a journey that did not go as planned."

Exam Tip: The best responses often blend narrative and descriptive elements. A strong narrative will contain vivid descriptive passages, and a strong description can imply a story through carefully chosen details.

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Descriptive Writing Techniques