36 questions · about 25% of the marks we indexed · examined in 9 of 9 sessions.
Questions by year
2026
2026 May/June · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: people
2026 May/June · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: place or scene
2026 May/June · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story including given words
2026 May/June · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story built on a situation
2025
2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: place or scene
2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: titled description
2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story including given words
2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story built on a situation
2025 May/June · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: moment or experience
2025 May/June · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: titled description
2025 May/June · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story built on a situation
2025 May/June · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2024
2024 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: place or scene
2024 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: moment or experience
2024 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story including given words
2024 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2024 May/June · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: titled description
2024 May/June · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: object or creature
2024 May/June · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story built on a situation
2024 May/June · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2023
2023 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: object or creature
2023 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: titled description
2023 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story including given words
2023 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2023 May/June · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: place or scene
2023 May/June · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: titled description
2023 May/June · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story including given words
2023 May/June · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2022
2022 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: object or creature
2022 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: titled description
2022 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story including given words
2022 Oct/Nov · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2022 May/June · Paper 22 · Q210 marksDescriptive: place or scene
2022 May/June · Paper 22 · Q310 marksDescriptive: people
2022 May/June · Paper 22 · Q410 marksNarrative: story with a given title
2022 May/June · Paper 22 · Q510 marksNarrative: story built on a situation
No questions match this filter.
References only, not question text. Open Official paper ↗ where Cambridge publishes the paper,
or see the official Cambridge past-papers page; for other papers, ask your
school. “Paper 42” means Paper 4, variant 2.
Practice questions
Original questions written by HomiLabs in the style of the exam, with answers and mark schemes. They are not
Cambridge past paper questions and have not been reviewed by Cambridge. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1Narrative: story with a given title · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story with the title 'The Key'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a girl clearing her late grandfather's room finds a small brass key taped under a drawer. Development: she searches the house, tries locks; tension with her mother who wants the room emptied quickly. Climax: the key opens a tin box in the garden shed containing letters he wrote to her each birthday but never sent. Resolution: she reads one a year. Possible opening: 'The key was smaller than my little finger and colder than it had any right to be.'
Content ideas: the key can be literal or symbolic (key to a house, a secret, a solution, a new life); build mystery around what it opens; give the character a motive and an emotional stake; limit time span and characters. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q2Narrative: story with a given title · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story with the title 'Missing'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: on the morning of her exam, a girl discovers her younger brother's pet tortoise missing. Development: family search, comic chaos, the clock ticking; neighbours join in. Climax: she must choose between continuing the search and leaving for the exam. Resolution: she goes; returning, she finds the tortoise asleep inside her school shoe box. Light-hearted but tense.
Content ideas: a missing person, pet, object or something abstract (a missing piece of the past, a missing friend after a quarrel); build anxiety through time pressure; credible resolution. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q3Narrative: story with a given title · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story with the title 'Footprints'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a ranger in a desert reserve finds footprints of a child leading away from a camp at dawn. Development: tracking through dunes as the wind begins to erase them; rising heat; radio contact failing. Climax: the prints vanish; she has to read other signs (a dropped sandal, birds circling a well). Resolution: finds the boy sheltering by an old well, who had followed a fox. Alternative: footprints in snow showing someone has been visiting a lonely neighbour.
Content ideas: footprints as evidence, mystery, memory (a parent's footprints in cement), or legacy; use time pressure (wind, tide, snowfall) to create tension; focus on one main character. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q4Narrative: story with a given title · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story with the title 'Borrowed'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a boy borrows his older sister's expensive camera without asking for a school trip. Development: excitement, photographs of the mountains; then the camera slips into a stream. Climax: retrieval, the camera broken; the moment of deciding whether to confess or hide it. Resolution: he confesses and discovers the photos on the memory card survived; his sister prints one. Theme: honesty and trust.
Content ideas: anything borrowed – an object, money, clothes, time, a name, an identity; the tension comes from the risk of losing or returning it; inner conflict and consequences give depth. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q5Narrative: story with a given title · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story with the title 'The Last Train'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: an elderly stationmaster on the final night before a rural line closes for ever. Structure: present-day evening interwoven with brief memories (meeting his wife on the platform, a flood year). Climax: the last train is late; a young passenger arrives who turns out to be the grandson of someone he once helped. Resolution: he lowers the flag for the final time and walks home along the tracks. Sophistication through restrained emotion and symbolism (lamps, timetable, rust).
Content ideas: literal last train of the night (missed, caught, a stranger met) or the last ever service; possibilities for flashback, time pressure, endings and change; avoid over-dramatic accidents unless credibly handled. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q6Descriptive: titled description · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a description with the title 'After the Storm'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a coastal village at dawn after a night storm. Structure by movement of light: grey first light on wreckage; sounds returning (gulls, dripping, a generator); close detail (a boat on its side, seaweed on a doorstep, a child's sandal); people emerging slowly; sun breaking through, steam rising from wet roofs; end on a small sign of normal life (a kettle whistling). Imagery: 'the sea, exhausted, lay flat and sullen'.
Content ideas: any setting (city street, farm, school, beach); contrast the calm with traces of violence; use all five senses; organise by time or by moving viewpoint. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q7Descriptive: titled description · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a description with the title 'The Empty Classroom'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a classroom at the end of term after everyone has left. Details: chairs upturned on desks like sleeping animals; dust in a slant of sunlight; a forgotten jumper; chalk ghosts on the board; the hum of a fan; noises from the corridor fading. Tone: nostalgic, quiet; end with the caretaker switching off the lights.
Content ideas: absence of people suggested through objects; memories implied by traces (graffiti, scuffs, posters); light and sound to create mood. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q8Descriptive: titled description · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a description with the title 'The Night Market'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a night market in a city such as Lahore or Bangkok. Structure: approach from a dark street to the blaze of lights; sounds of sizzling woks, vendors calling, generators; smells of grilled meat, jasmine, diesel; close-ups – a man spinning sugar, a girl choosing bangles, steam over a pot; the crowd as a slow river; closing time – lamps going out one by one, the street returning to darkness.
Content ideas: crowds, light against darkness, food, colour and noise; vary focus between panoramic and close-up; avoid narrating a shopping trip. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q9Descriptive: titled description · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a description with the title 'Midday Heat'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a small town square at noon in June. Heat as a presence: the sky bleached white; shimmer above the road; dogs flat in the shade; shutters half down; a vendor asleep under a cart; the smell of hot tar and over-ripe mangoes; sounds reduced to a fan, a distant radio, cicadas. Slow sentence rhythms to convey lethargy; end as the first breeze or a water-carrier arrives.
Content ideas: physical effects of heat on people, animals, objects; stillness; contrast with brief movement; avoid turning it into a story. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q10Descriptive: titled description · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a description with the title 'The Abandoned Fairground'.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a fairground years after it closed. Contrast imagined past joy with present decay: a carousel's peeling horses frozen mid-gallop; weeds through the dodgem floor; a ticket booth with a faded price list; wind making a swing creak; crows on the big wheel. Use personification and a controlled melancholy tone; end with a single coloured bulb still faintly working, or a child's laughter imagined.
Content ideas: decay, silence, memory, ghostly atmosphere; contrast past and present; sophisticated responses suggest feeling without stating it. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q11Narrative: story including given words · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story that includes the words, '…and that was when the lights went out.'Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a school talent show; the narrator, terrified, is about to sing when the power fails. Development: pitch dark, audience murmuring; a friend shines a phone torch; others join until the hall glows with phone lights; she sings unaccompanied. Resolution: her best performance. The given words placed at the end of the rising tension, midway through.
Content ideas: the words can begin, end or sit in the middle of the story; they should be a turning point, not dropped in randomly; possible genres – mystery, comedy, family drama. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q12Narrative: story including given words · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story that begins with the words, 'The message arrived at exactly midnight.'Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a girl receives a midnight text from an unknown number: 'Look outside.' Tension: dark street, a figure by the gate. Twist: it is her older brother, back unexpectedly from working abroad, planning a surprise for their mother's birthday. Resolution: they decorate the house together before dawn.
Content ideas: the opening sets up mystery; the message could be good or bad news; sustain suspense, then resolve credibly. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q13Narrative: story including given words · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story that includes the sentence, 'I had never seen my grandmother run before.'Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a family visit to grandmother's village; she is slow, stern and frail. Development: the narrator's little cousin wanders toward a canal. Climax: grandmother, seeing it first, drops her stick and runs. Resolution: the child is saved; the narrator sees grandmother differently and learns about her younger life as an athlete or a farm worker.
Content ideas: the sentence implies surprise and urgency – build the grandmother as a character before the moment; reveal something new about her; consider humour (running for a bus) as well as drama. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q14Narrative: story including given words · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story that includes the words, 'It was the wrong suitcase.'Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a student arrives at an airport abroad for a scholarship interview and opens his suitcase in the hotel to find it belongs to an elderly musician. Development: panic – suit and documents gone; tracking the owner through the airline. Climax: meeting the owner, who has his suit and needs her violin for a concert that night. Resolution: both arrive in time; the musician later attends his graduation.
Content ideas: mix-ups create comedy or suspense; reveal character through reaction; a satisfying resolution that links the two owners. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q15Narrative: story including given words · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story that ends with the words, 'Nobody believed me until they saw the photograph.'Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
Show answer
(a) Model plan: a teenage birdwatcher in the mangroves claims to have seen a rare bird thought to have left the area. Development: mocked by classmates and a teacher; she returns at dawn repeatedly; setbacks (rain, a broken phone). Climax: the sighting, the shaking hands, one blurred but clear-enough photo. Ending with the given words after a brief scene of the photo being shared. Ending must follow logically.
Content ideas: because the words end the story, everything must build towards proof; the photo could prove an event, a person, an animal, a kindness; avoid supernatural clichés unless handled originally. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q16Descriptive: place or scene · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe a school playground at the start of the day and at the end of the day.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: morning – quiet, cool air, the caretaker unlocking the gate, the first arrivals in neat uniforms, birds on the wall; gradually noise and colour; afternoon – heat, scattered litter, shouts and running, tired faces, parents and vans at the gate, then emptiness and long shadows. Recurring detail: a neem tree.
Content ideas: changes in light, temperature, sound and energy; people as part of the scene without telling a story. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q17Descriptive: place or scene · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe a wedding hall before the guests arrive and again at the end of the night.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: Part 1 – early afternoon: empty, echoing hall; workers hanging garlands; rows of gold chairs; the smell of fresh flowers and paint; anticipation. Part 2 – after midnight: chairs askew, petals crushed, a forgotten shawl, half-eaten sweets, the stage lights dimmed, cleaners sweeping, a tired child asleep across two chairs. Link the halves with recurring details (the chandelier, the flowers).
Content ideas: 'before and after' requires contrast in mood, light, sound and order; balanced structure; mirror details for cohesion. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q18Descriptive: place or scene · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe a railway platform as a train arrives and after it has left.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: arrival – vibration through the rails, the horn, porters jostling, vendors calling, a rush of people and luggage, steam of tea, heat from the engine; departure – the train shrinking into the distance, dust settling, a dropped ticket, a vendor counting coins, a dog returning to the shade, silence.
Content ideas: sharp contrast between chaos and stillness; sounds and movement; figures observed rather than characters in a plot. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q19Descriptive: place or scene · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe a beach before a storm and immediately afterwards.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: before – heavy stillness, the sea the colour of lead, gulls flying inland, fishermen dragging boats up the sand, wind beginning to lift sand in ribbons; after – washed sky, sand scarred and littered with weed, driftwood and plastic, a boat overturned, the air cold and salt-sharp, the first walkers stepping carefully. Sophisticated use of personification and sentence length to mirror tension and release.
Content ideas: contrast of atmosphere; anticipation versus aftermath; avoid narrating the storm itself at length. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q20Narrative: story built on a situation · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story about a journey that does not go according to plan.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a family drive north for a holiday; the car breaks down on a mountain road; a series of small setbacks; help from a shepherd family who share a meal; the planned destination never reached, but the unplanned night becomes the best memory.
Content ideas: any journey – bus, boat, walk, flight; setbacks should escalate; resolution may be positive or bittersweet. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q21Narrative: story built on a situation · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story that involves a case of mistaken identity.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a shy student is mistaken for a famous young chess player at an airport and is taken to a tournament hotel. Development: he plays along, then is asked to play a demonstration match. Climax: the real player arrives; he confesses. Resolution: the real champion, amused, invites him to play anyway; he loses but gains confidence.
Content ideas: misunderstandings can be comic or serious; keep the situation credible; the character's choices drive the plot. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q22Narrative: story built on a situation · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story where someone discovers something surprising about a neighbour.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a teenager is irritated by the grumpy old man next door who complains about cricket balls. Development: a ball lands in his yard; sent to retrieve it, she sees medals and newspaper cuttings – he once played for the national team. Climax: he offers to coach the street team. Resolution: shifting perceptions.
Content ideas: discovery should change the character's view; plant clues early; a quiet, believable revelation works better than a sensational one. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q23Narrative: story built on a situation · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Write a story in which a character has to choose between loyalty to a friend and telling the truth.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: narrator sees her best friend take an exam paper from the staffroom. Development: an innocent classmate is accused. Inner conflict shown through dialogue and reflection; pressure from the friend. Climax: she speaks to the teacher. Resolution: friendship damaged, then slowly rebuilt when the friend admits she was relieved to be stopped. Ambiguous, mature ending.
Content ideas: moral dilemma at the centre; develop both characters; show consequences; avoid moralising tone. A story needs a credible character, a clear shape (opening, development, climax, resolution) and an ending that feels earned; avoid clichéd 'it was all a dream' endings. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q24Descriptive: object or creature · Core · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe an old object you find in a grandparent's house.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a wooden sewing box. Close sensory detail: worn varnish, a cracked hinge, the smell of camphor and old thread; inside, coloured reels, a silver thimble, buttons from forgotten clothes; how the light catches the brass clasp; the memories it suggests (implied rather than narrated). End with the box closed gently.
Content ideas: texture, colour, smell, sound; history implied by wear; move from outside to inside or from general to detail. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q25Descriptive: object or creature · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe a camel resting at the end of a long day's journey across the desert.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: the camel folding its long legs, dust rising; the rough coat, patched and sun-bleached; long-lashed, half-closed eyes; the slow, sideways chewing; sounds of grumbling and breathing; the evening light turning the sand orange; the bells on its harness falling silent; the smell of dung and hot leather.
Content ideas: physical appearance, movement, sounds, setting; convey tiredness and dignity; avoid a story about the journey. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q26Descriptive: object or creature · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe a bicycle that has been left unused in a garden shed for many years.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: dim shed, light through gaps in planks; the bicycle tangled in cobwebs; flat tyres sagging, rust blooming on the chain, a faded basket, a bell that gives a strangled ring; ghost of the former owner suggested (a name scratched on the frame); spiders, damp, smell of oil. Mood: neglect and memory; sophisticated imagery and controlled pace.
Content ideas: decay and time; the object as a symbol of a past life; sensory precision. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q27Descriptive: people · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe the people waiting at a busy bus station on a very hot afternoon.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: a panorama, then individual figures: a mother fanning a baby with a newspaper; a student asleep on his backpack; an old man with a radio held to his ear; vendors weaving between benches; a businessman checking his watch; shared reactions as a bus arrives. Heat details unify the piece.
Content ideas: appearance, gestures, expressions, interactions; avoid a plot; group and individual contrast. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q28Descriptive: people · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe the crowd at a cricket match in the final over of a close game.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: the crowd as one creature breathing in; individuals – a boy on his father's shoulders, an elderly fan praying, a group with painted faces, a vendor who has stopped selling; sounds rising and falling with each ball; silence before the last delivery; the eruption at the end described through movement and noise, not the result of the match.
Content ideas: collective emotion and individual detail; tension conveyed through physical reactions; vary sentence length for rhythm. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q29Descriptive: moment or experience · Standard · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe the moment just before you dive into very cold water.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: standing on a rock above a mountain pool; toes curled on the edge, goosebumps, wind on wet skin; the water clear green and bottomless; friends' voices distant; heart racing, breath held; time stretching; the final lean forward – end at the moment of leaving the rock.
Content ideas: slow down a few seconds; inner sensations and outer details; heightened senses; a precise ending point. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Q30Descriptive: moment or experience · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 40 marks
(a)Describe the moments while you wait for your exam results to appear on a screen.Write about 350 to 450 words. Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing (exam total 40).[40]
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(a) Model plan: the loading circle turning; the room's details suddenly sharp (a fan, a clock, a sibling's breathing); physical symptoms of nerves; memories of particular exam moments flashing past; family hovering; the screen flickering – end before revealing the result.
Content ideas: tension through detail and pace; inner thoughts woven with sensory description; resist turning it into a story about the results. A description should focus on atmosphere and sensory detail, not plot; avoid a list of things seen. Content and structure (16): Level 6 (15–16) compelling, consistently well-developed and complex; Level 5 (12–14) effective, well-developed, secure structure; Level 4 (9–11) relevant, some development, clear structure; Level 3 (6–8) straightforward, some details, mostly organised; Level 2 (3–5) simple, brief or repetitive; Level 1 (1–2) little relevant content. Style and accuracy (24): Level 6 (21–24) precise, well-chosen vocabulary and varied sentences for deliberate effect, almost error-free; Level 5 (17–20) wide vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors; Level 4 (13–16) some range, mostly accurate; Level 3 (9–12) plain but clear, errors in complex structures; Level 2 (5–8) limited vocabulary, frequent errors; Level 1 (1–4) errors impede meaning. Exam total 40; on this site the task is scored out of 30 (multiply the exam total by 0.75).
Similar questions
Questions that test the same subtopic in different years, grouped so you can work on one skill at a time.
References only: find each question in its paper (official link where available, otherwise through your school).
Narrative: story with a given title7 questions · 7/9 sessions
