Descriptive Essays
Free Topic ideas and Essay Plans
Target Exam Papers: A LEVEL, IGCSE, GCSE, and O Level
-
Excel in exams by improving your descriptive writing skills
-
Formats and Guidelines: Learn the secrets of crafting evocative descriptions with expert formats and guidelines.
-
Downloadable PDFs: Full essays can be downloaded PDF (With English Essays Pack)
-
Write a descriptive piece called The Queue. In your writing, create a sense of mood and
atmosphere to help your reader imagine the situation.
Setting: The setting is a bustling metropolitan city in the present day. The main location is a crowded post office, where people from all walks of life gather for their postal needs.
Main Character: The main character is Anna, a 30-year-old freelance writer. She's patient, observant, and finds inspiration in mundane everyday situations. She's in the queue to send a package to a loved one.
Theme: The central theme of the story is human connection and diversity found in ordinary places like a queue, and how it influences Anna's perception of the world around her.
Tone: The tone should be contemplative and observational, reflecting Anna's patient and observant nature. It should blend a sense of mundanity with subtle hints of extraordinary details, akin to finding beauty in the ordinary.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and steady, mirroring the progression of the queue and the time Anna spends observing and reflecting.
Optional: The story should be around 400 words, focusing on Anna's experience in the queue, with subtle hints of the outside world and her inner thoughts.
Cambridge A level May/June 2018
Write a descriptive piece called The River. In your writing, focus on colours, sound and movement
to help your reader imagine the scene.
Setting: The setting is the serene, untouched banks of the River Avon in the countryside of England during the early 19th century. Surrounded by dense woods, sprawling meadows, and punctuated with the occasional rustic homestead, the river is a lifeline and a place of serene beauty.
Main Character: The main character is Thomas, a 40-year-old poet and naturalist, who finds solace and inspiration in the tranquility of the river and its surroundings. Thomas is introspective, sensitive, and has a profound connection with nature.
Theme: The theme revolves around the tranquility, beauty, and the ever-changing yet constant nature of the river, and how it influences and inspires the main character's thoughts and poetry.
Tone: The tone should be peaceful, reflective, and filled with a sense of wonder. It should echo Thomas's deep respect for nature and his sensitivity to its subtlest nuances.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and rhythmic, mirroring the languid flow of the river and the peaceful pace of life around it.
Optional: The story should be between 600-900 words, focusing on a single day by the river as experienced by Thomas.
Cambridge A level October/November 2018
Write a descriptive piece called The Ruins, about the remains of an ancient site. In your writing,
create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is an ancient archaeological site in Greece, with the ruins of a once majestic temple standing amidst a rugged landscape. The time is the present day, during the late afternoon as the setting sun casts long shadows across the ruins.
Main Character: The main character is Thomas, a 45-year-old archaeologist with a passion for ancient civilizations. He is inquisitive, reflective, and feels a deep connection with the past. His main motivation is to unearth the stories hidden within these ancient stones.
Theme: The central theme is the passage of time and the hidden stories that lie within the ruins. This theme should be woven throughout the essay through descriptions of the ruins, Thomas's reflections, and the atmosphere of the setting.
Tone: The tone should be reverent and introspective, reflecting Thomas's awe and respect for the ancient civilization and the remnants it left behind. It should maintain an air of mystery and intrigue appropriate to the setting and the character's exploration.
Pacing: The pace should be slow and measured, mirroring the timeless nature of the ruins and the deliberate, thoughtful manner of Thomas's exploration. There should be moments of tension when new discoveries are made, followed by release as they are reflected upon.
Optional: The word count should be around 400 words, focusing on descriptive language and imagery to create a vivid picture of the setting and the character's interaction with it.
Cambridge A level February/March 2018
Write a descriptive piece called Top of the World, about being at the top of a mountain. In your writing,
focus on the sights and sounds to help your reader imagine the scene.
Setting: The setting is the majestic peak of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, on a clear day during climbing season.
Main Character: Our protagonist is Alex, a 35-year-old mountaineer and adventure enthusiast who has spent the last several years training for this moment. Alex is determined, resilient, and deeply in awe of the natural world.
Theme: The central theme of the story is the awe-inspiring power and beauty of nature, and the personal accomplishment of reaching a long-sought-after goal.
Tone: The tone should be inspiring and reverent, reflecting the awe and humility one feels when faced with the majesty of nature in its rawest form.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and deliberate, mirroring the painstaking ascent and allowing the reader to fully absorb the sensory details of the scene.
Optional: The essay should be approximately 400 words, focusing on creating a vivid picture of the scene through the use of descriptive language and sensory detail.
Cambridge A level October/November 2021
Write a descriptive piece called Waiting. In your writing, create a sense of atmosphere, and focus
on describing the feelings of the characters to help your reader imagine the situation.
Setting: The setting is a small, rustic hospital in a quaint town in the countryside, in the early hours of a winter morning. There's a snowstorm outside, and the hospital is quiet except for the occasional footfalls of the night staff.
Main Character: The main character is John, a 28-year-old farmer. He's a man of few words, strong-willed, and deeply in love with his wife, who is currently in labor. His main motivation is his deep concern for his wife and their unborn child.
Theme: The central theme of this piece is anticipation mixed with anxiety. This theme should be developed by describing John's thoughts, feelings, and actions while he waits for news from the delivery room.
Tone: The tone should be reflective and slightly tense, reflecting John's internal emotional state. The quiet, rural setting should be described in a way that heightens the sense of isolation and anticipation.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow, mirroring the passage of time as John waits. Moments of heightened tension (e.g., when a nurse enters or exits the delivery room) can punctuate this slow rhythm.
Optional: The story should be approximately 400 words and use vivid, descriptive language to bring the scene to life.
Cambridge A level February/March 2017
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each) about a market square: the first
while the market is in progress; and the second on the same day after the market has closed. In
your writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Outline:
Piece 1: Market in Progress
I. Introduction
A. Morning awakening of the market square
B. Brief description of the vibrant atmosphere
II. Main Body
A. Detailed description of various stalls, their products, and stall owners
B. Involvement of different types of people: children, elderly patrons, tourists
C. Highlight the rich sensory experiences: sights, sounds, smells
III. Conclusion
A. Emphasize the market as the city's heartbeat
B. Reflection on the rhythm of everyday life
---
Piece 2: Market After Close
I. Introduction
A. Transition from bustling market to peaceful silence
B. Brief description of the post-market atmosphere
II. Main Body
A. Description of the physical changes in the market square: empty stalls, remnants of the day's business
B. Shift in the sensory experiences: sights, sounds, smells
C. Description of the softening evening light and the shadows it casts
III. Conclusion
A. Reflection on the change in the square's atmosphere
B. Personification of the square: resting and recharging for the next day
C. Final reflection on the square as a reflection of the city's ebb and flow.
Cambridge A level October/November 2020
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each) about an art gallery: the first before
opening time on the first day of a major exhibition; and the second at peak time during the first
day. In your writing, focus on the colour, sound and movement in the gallery.
Setting: The setting is a modern, upscale art gallery in the heart of a bustling city. The time is present day.
Main Character: Our narrator is Alex, a 40-year-old curator of the gallery. Alex is passionate about art, meticulous, and enjoys the order and tranquillity of the gallery.
Theme: The theme centres around the stark contrast between tranquillity and chaos, solitude and sociability, order and spontaneity, as experienced in the gallery at different times.
Tone: The tone of the first piece should be calm and serene, while the second piece should convey the excitement, energy, and slight chaos of a peak time crowd.
Pacing: The first piece should have a slow, languid pace to mirror the quiet morning hours. The second piece should have a faster, more frantic pace to convey the energy of the crowd.
Optional: Each piece should be 300-450 words long and maintain a clear contrast in atmosphere and mood.
Cambridge A level February/March 2018
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about a brand-new
stadium built for a national sporting event; and the second about the same stadium, disused and
abandoned, ten years later. In your writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The story is set in a large, modern sports stadium in a bustling city. It was built for a major national event and was a hub of excitement and activity. Ten years later, the stadium is disused and stands as a monument to past glory.
Main Character: John, a 50-year-old sports journalist who covered the inaugural event at the stadium, and has since chronicled its rise and fall. He is nostalgic, deeply passionate about sports, and has a keen eye for details.
Theme: The story focuses on the transient nature of glory and the passage of time, using the stadium as a symbol.
Tone: The tone should be reflective and somewhat melancholic, highlighting the contrast between the stadium's past vibrancy and its current state of disuse.
Pacing: The story should begin energetically, capturing the excitement and anticipation of the new stadium. As the narrative moves forward, the pace should slow down, reflecting the stadium's decline and abandonment.
Optional: Each piece should be between 300-450 words, focusing on the stark contrast between the stadium's bustling past and its eerie present.
Cambridge A level May/June 2019
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about a lake which is
frozen over in midwinter; and the second about the same lake, in the middle of summer. In your
writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is a serene and idyllic lake nestled within a dense forest. It experiences dramatic seasonal changes, transforming from a frozen wonderland in winter to a vibrant oasis in summer.
Main Character: Our protagonist is Sam, a 28-year-old nature photographer and outdoors enthusiast. Sam is curious, introspective, and has a profound appreciation for the changes nature undergoes throughout the year.
Theme: The central theme of the story is the cyclical nature of seasons and the transformative power of time on landscapes.
Tone: The tone should be reflective and observant, mirroring Sam's deep connection to and understanding of the natural world.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and contemplative, matching the gradual, inevitable progression of the seasons.
Optional: Each essay should be approximately 400 words, focusing on creating a vivid picture of the scene through the use of descriptive language and sensory detail.
Cambridge A level October/November 2020
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about a large train station
at rush hour; and the second about the same station in the middle of the night. In your writing,
create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is a grand and sprawling train station in a bustling city, featuring wide platforms and intricate architectural details. The time is the present, with two contrasting times of the day - the rush hour in the morning, and the serene silence in the middle of the night.
Main Character: The main character is Jane, a 32-year-old journalist who frequently uses the station to commute to work. She's observant, introspective, and loves to people-watch. Her main motivation is her love for capturing moments and stories around her.
Theme: The central theme is the contrast between the frenetic energy of rush hour and the peaceful stillness of late-night hours in the same place. This should be developed through detailed descriptions of the sights, sounds, and atmospheres of these two distinctly different times.
Tone: The tone should be dynamic and descriptive for the rush hour scene, filled with a sense of urgency and life. In contrast, the tone should shift to a peaceful, almost meditative state for the late-night scene, reflecting the tranquillity of the setting.
Pacing: The pacing for the rush hour scene should be fast, reflecting the hurried movement of the commuters. For the late-night scene, the pacing should slow down considerably to match the calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Optional: Each part should be approximately 400 words, totaling 800 words.
Cambridge A level May/June 2019
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about an athlete just
before taking part in an important race; the second about the same athlete just after finishing the
race. In your writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is a bustling, world-class athletics stadium in the present day, filled with thousands of spectators. The first description takes place just before a major 100-meter sprint event, and the second right after the race has concluded.
Main Character: The main character is James, a 27-year-old professional athlete competing in his first international event. James is dedicated, disciplined, and thrives under pressure. He's driven by his passion for the sport and his desire to make his mark on the international stage.
Theme: The theme revolves around the anticipation, adrenaline, and exhaustion experienced by James before and after the race, along with his internal emotional journey.
Tone: The tone for the first part should be intense, filled with anticipation and nervous energy. For the second part, the tone should be a mixture of relief, exhaustion, and pride, reflecting James's feelings after the race.
Pacing: The pacing for the first part should be fast, reflecting James's high adrenaline and anticipation. For the second part, the pacing should slow down, mirroring his exhaustion and relief after the race.
Optional: The story should be between 600-900 words, divided equally between the two contrasting scenarios.
Cambridge A level February/March 2020
Write two contrasting diary entries (300–450 words each) about a public event: the first by an
important politician attending this event; and the second by the politician’s bodyguard. In your
writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place to help your reader imagine the scene.
Outline: Diary Entry 1: Politician's Perspective
I. Introduction
A. Setting: City square filled with a vibrant crowd
B. Feelings of anticipation, hope, and responsibility
II. The Rally Begins
A. Description of the square adorned with banners, flags, and campaign posters
B. The sun shining brightly, adding to the atmosphere
C. Sensory details: Excitement in the air, chants of the politician's name
III. Balancing Promises and Realities
A. Speech as a tightrope walk
B. Crowd's reactions: Cheers and thoughtful silence
C. Reminder of responsibility and trust placed in the politician
IV. Wave of Optimism
A. Conclusion of the speech and stepping down from the stage
B. Applause ringing in the politician's ears
C. Feeling honored, motivated, and hopeful for the journey ahead
---
Outline: Diary Entry 2: Bodyguard's Perspective
I. Introduction
A. Setting: Public rally in a crowded city square
B. Feeling of high pressure and potential threats
II. The Square's Atmosphere
A. Description of vibrant colors, banners, flags, and posters
B. The sun intensifying the tension
C. Nervousness and aggression among the crowd
III. Constant Vigilance
A. Surveillance of the crowd for anomalies and potential risks
B. Awareness of potential hostile acts or attacks
C. Nerve-wracking vigilance during the politician's speech
IV. Sense of Relief
A. Conclusion of the speech and departure from the square
B. Feeling thankful for successfully securing the event
C. Transition from the celebratory spirit to the hum of normal life
Cambridge A level October/November 2019
Descriptive Essays
Target Exam Papers: A LEVEL, IGCSE, GCSE, and O Level students
-
Comprehensive Resources: Our platform offers a wide range of resources to enhance your descriptive writing skills:
-
Formats and Guidelines: Learn the secrets of crafting evocative descriptions with expertly curated formats and guidelines.
-
Downloadable PDFs: Access a variety of downloadable PDFs to support your descriptive writing journey.
-
Exciting Essay Topics: Discover diverse and thrilling essay topic
-
-
-
Achieve Excellence: Excel in exams by improving your descriptive writing skills
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Write a descriptive piece called The Queue. In your writing, create a sense of mood and
atmosphere to help your reader imagine the situation.
Setting: The setting is a bustling metropolitan city in the present day. The main location is a crowded post office, where people from all walks of life gather for their postal needs.
Main Character: The main character is Anna, a 30-year-old freelance writer. She's patient, observant, and finds inspiration in mundane everyday situations. She's in the queue to send a package to a loved one.
Theme: The central theme of the story is human connection and diversity found in ordinary places like a queue, and how it influences Anna's perception of the world around her.
Tone: The tone should be contemplative and observational, reflecting Anna's patient and observant nature. It should blend a sense of mundanity with subtle hints of extraordinary details, akin to finding beauty in the ordinary.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and steady, mirroring the progression of the queue and the time Anna spends observing and reflecting.
Optional: The story should be around 400 words, focusing on Anna's experience in the queue, with subtle hints of the outside world and her inner thoughts.
Cambridge A level May/June 2018
Write a descriptive piece called The River. In your writing, focus on colours, sound and movement
to help your reader imagine the scene.
Setting: The setting is the serene, untouched banks of the River Avon in the countryside of England during the early 19th century. Surrounded by dense woods, sprawling meadows, and punctuated with the occasional rustic homestead, the river is a lifeline and a place of serene beauty.
Main Character: The main character is Thomas, a 40-year-old poet and naturalist, who finds solace and inspiration in the tranquility of the river and its surroundings. Thomas is introspective, sensitive, and has a profound connection with nature.
Theme: The theme revolves around the tranquility, beauty, and the ever-changing yet constant nature of the river, and how it influences and inspires the main character's thoughts and poetry.
Tone: The tone should be peaceful, reflective, and filled with a sense of wonder. It should echo Thomas's deep respect for nature and his sensitivity to its subtlest nuances.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and rhythmic, mirroring the languid flow of the river and the peaceful pace of life around it.
Optional: The story should be between 600-900 words, focusing on a single day by the river as experienced by Thomas.
Cambridge A level October/November 2018
Write a descriptive piece called The Ruins, about the remains of an ancient site. In your writing,
create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is an ancient archaeological site in Greece, with the ruins of a once majestic temple standing amidst a rugged landscape. The time is the present day, during the late afternoon as the setting sun casts long shadows across the ruins.
Main Character: The main character is Thomas, a 45-year-old archaeologist with a passion for ancient civilizations. He is inquisitive, reflective, and feels a deep connection with the past. His main motivation is to unearth the stories hidden within these ancient stones.
Theme: The central theme is the passage of time and the hidden stories that lie within the ruins. This theme should be woven throughout the essay through descriptions of the ruins, Thomas's reflections, and the atmosphere of the setting.
Tone: The tone should be reverent and introspective, reflecting Thomas's awe and respect for the ancient civilization and the remnants it left behind. It should maintain an air of mystery and intrigue appropriate to the setting and the character's exploration.
Pacing: The pace should be slow and measured, mirroring the timeless nature of the ruins and the deliberate, thoughtful manner of Thomas's exploration. There should be moments of tension when new discoveries are made, followed by release as they are reflected upon.
Optional: The word count should be around 400 words, focusing on descriptive language and imagery to create a vivid picture of the setting and the character's interaction with it.
Cambridge A level February/March 2018
Write a descriptive piece called Top of the World, about being at the top of a mountain. In your writing,
focus on the sights and sounds to help your reader imagine the scene.
Setting: The setting is the majestic peak of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, on a clear day during climbing season.
Main Character: Our protagonist is Alex, a 35-year-old mountaineer and adventure enthusiast who has spent the last several years training for this moment. Alex is determined, resilient, and deeply in awe of the natural world.
Theme: The central theme of the story is the awe-inspiring power and beauty of nature, and the personal accomplishment of reaching a long-sought-after goal.
Tone: The tone should be inspiring and reverent, reflecting the awe and humility one feels when faced with the majesty of nature in its rawest form.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and deliberate, mirroring the painstaking ascent and allowing the reader to fully absorb the sensory details of the scene.
Optional: The essay should be approximately 400 words, focusing on creating a vivid picture of the scene through the use of descriptive language and sensory detail.
Cambridge A level October/November 2021
Write a descriptive piece called Waiting. In your writing, create a sense of atmosphere, and focus
on describing the feelings of the characters to help your reader imagine the situation.
Setting: The setting is a small, rustic hospital in a quaint town in the countryside, in the early hours of a winter morning. There's a snowstorm outside, and the hospital is quiet except for the occasional footfalls of the night staff.
Main Character: The main character is John, a 28-year-old farmer. He's a man of few words, strong-willed, and deeply in love with his wife, who is currently in labor. His main motivation is his deep concern for his wife and their unborn child.
Theme: The central theme of this piece is anticipation mixed with anxiety. This theme should be developed by describing John's thoughts, feelings, and actions while he waits for news from the delivery room.
Tone: The tone should be reflective and slightly tense, reflecting John's internal emotional state. The quiet, rural setting should be described in a way that heightens the sense of isolation and anticipation.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow, mirroring the passage of time as John waits. Moments of heightened tension (e.g., when a nurse enters or exits the delivery room) can punctuate this slow rhythm.
Optional: The story should be approximately 400 words and use vivid, descriptive language to bring the scene to life.
Cambridge A level February/March 2017
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each) about a market square: the first
while the market is in progress; and the second on the same day after the market has closed. In
your writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Outline:
Piece 1: Market in Progress
I. Introduction
A. Morning awakening of the market square
B. Brief description of the vibrant atmosphere
II. Main Body
A. Detailed description of various stalls, their products, and stall owners
B. Involvement of different types of people: children, elderly patrons, tourists
C. Highlight the rich sensory experiences: sights, sounds, smells
III. Conclusion
A. Emphasize the market as the city's heartbeat
B. Reflection on the rhythm of everyday life
---
Piece 2: Market After Close
I. Introduction
A. Transition from bustling market to peaceful silence
B. Brief description of the post-market atmosphere
II. Main Body
A. Description of the physical changes in the market square: empty stalls, remnants of the day's business
B. Shift in the sensory experiences: sights, sounds, smells
C. Description of the softening evening light and the shadows it casts
III. Conclusion
A. Reflection on the change in the square's atmosphere
B. Personification of the square: resting and recharging for the next day
C. Final reflection on the square as a reflection of the city's ebb and flow.
Cambridge A level October/November 2020
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each) about an art gallery: the first before
opening time on the first day of a major exhibition; and the second at peak time during the first
day. In your writing, focus on the colour, sound and movement in the gallery.
Setting: The setting is a modern, upscale art gallery in the heart of a bustling city. The time is present day.
Main Character: Our narrator is Alex, a 40-year-old curator of the gallery. Alex is passionate about art, meticulous, and enjoys the order and tranquillity of the gallery.
Theme: The theme centres around the stark contrast between tranquillity and chaos, solitude and sociability, order and spontaneity, as experienced in the gallery at different times.
Tone: The tone of the first piece should be calm and serene, while the second piece should convey the excitement, energy, and slight chaos of a peak time crowd.
Pacing: The first piece should have a slow, languid pace to mirror the quiet morning hours. The second piece should have a faster, more frantic pace to convey the energy of the crowd.
Optional: Each piece should be 300-450 words long and maintain a clear contrast in atmosphere and mood.
Cambridge A level February/March 2018
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about a brand-new
stadium built for a national sporting event; and the second about the same stadium, disused and
abandoned, ten years later. In your writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The story is set in a large, modern sports stadium in a bustling city. It was built for a major national event and was a hub of excitement and activity. Ten years later, the stadium is disused and stands as a monument to past glory.
Main Character: John, a 50-year-old sports journalist who covered the inaugural event at the stadium, and has since chronicled its rise and fall. He is nostalgic, deeply passionate about sports, and has a keen eye for details.
Theme: The story focuses on the transient nature of glory and the passage of time, using the stadium as a symbol.
Tone: The tone should be reflective and somewhat melancholic, highlighting the contrast between the stadium's past vibrancy and its current state of disuse.
Pacing: The story should begin energetically, capturing the excitement and anticipation of the new stadium. As the narrative moves forward, the pace should slow down, reflecting the stadium's decline and abandonment.
Optional: Each piece should be between 300-450 words, focusing on the stark contrast between the stadium's bustling past and its eerie present.
Cambridge A level May/June 2019
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about a lake which is
frozen over in midwinter; and the second about the same lake, in the middle of summer. In your
writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is a serene and idyllic lake nestled within a dense forest. It experiences dramatic seasonal changes, transforming from a frozen wonderland in winter to a vibrant oasis in summer.
Main Character: Our protagonist is Sam, a 28-year-old nature photographer and outdoors enthusiast. Sam is curious, introspective, and has a profound appreciation for the changes nature undergoes throughout the year.
Theme: The central theme of the story is the cyclical nature of seasons and the transformative power of time on landscapes.
Tone: The tone should be reflective and observant, mirroring Sam's deep connection to and understanding of the natural world.
Pacing: The pacing should be slow and contemplative, matching the gradual, inevitable progression of the seasons.
Optional: Each essay should be approximately 400 words, focusing on creating a vivid picture of the scene through the use of descriptive language and sensory detail.
Cambridge A level October/November 2020
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about a large train station
at rush hour; and the second about the same station in the middle of the night. In your writing,
create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is a grand and sprawling train station in a bustling city, featuring wide platforms and intricate architectural details. The time is the present, with two contrasting times of the day - the rush hour in the morning, and the serene silence in the middle of the night.
Main Character: The main character is Jane, a 32-year-old journalist who frequently uses the station to commute to work. She's observant, introspective, and loves to people-watch. Her main motivation is her love for capturing moments and stories around her.
Theme: The central theme is the contrast between the frenetic energy of rush hour and the peaceful stillness of late-night hours in the same place. This should be developed through detailed descriptions of the sights, sounds, and atmospheres of these two distinctly different times.
Tone: The tone should be dynamic and descriptive for the rush hour scene, filled with a sense of urgency and life. In contrast, the tone should shift to a peaceful, almost meditative state for the late-night scene, reflecting the tranquillity of the setting.
Pacing: The pacing for the rush hour scene should be fast, reflecting the hurried movement of the commuters. For the late-night scene, the pacing should slow down considerably to match the calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Optional: Each part should be approximately 400 words, totaling 800 words.
Cambridge A level May/June 2019
Write two contrasting descriptive pieces (300–450 words each): the first about an athlete just
before taking part in an important race; the second about the same athlete just after finishing the
race. In your writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place.
Setting: The setting is a bustling, world-class athletics stadium in the present day, filled with thousands of spectators. The first description takes place just before a major 100-meter sprint event, and the second right after the race has concluded.
Main Character: The main character is James, a 27-year-old professional athlete competing in his first international event. James is dedicated, disciplined, and thrives under pressure. He's driven by his passion for the sport and his desire to make his mark on the international stage.
Theme: The theme revolves around the anticipation, adrenaline, and exhaustion experienced by James before and after the race, along with his internal emotional journey.
Tone: The tone for the first part should be intense, filled with anticipation and nervous energy. For the second part, the tone should be a mixture of relief, exhaustion, and pride, reflecting James's feelings after the race.
Pacing: The pacing for the first part should be fast, reflecting James's high adrenaline and anticipation. For the second part, the pacing should slow down, mirroring his exhaustion and relief after the race.
Optional: The story should be between 600-900 words, divided equally between the two contrasting scenarios.
Cambridge A level February/March 2020
Write two contrasting diary entries (300–450 words each) about a public event: the first by an
important politician attending this event; and the second by the politician’s bodyguard. In your
writing, create a sense of atmosphere and place to help your reader imagine the scene.
Outline: Diary Entry 1: Politician's Perspective
I. Introduction
A. Setting: City square filled with a vibrant crowd
B. Feelings of anticipation, hope, and responsibility
II. The Rally Begins
A. Description of the square adorned with banners, flags, and campaign posters
B. The sun shining brightly, adding to the atmosphere
C. Sensory details: Excitement in the air, chants of the politician's name
III. Balancing Promises and Realities
A. Speech as a tightrope walk
B. Crowd's reactions: Cheers and thoughtful silence
C. Reminder of responsibility and trust placed in the politician
IV. Wave of Optimism
A. Conclusion of the speech and stepping down from the stage
B. Applause ringing in the politician's ears
C. Feeling honored, motivated, and hopeful for the journey ahead
---
Outline: Diary Entry 2: Bodyguard's Perspective
I. Introduction
A. Setting: Public rally in a crowded city square
B. Feeling of high pressure and potential threats
II. The Square's Atmosphere
A. Description of vibrant colors, banners, flags, and posters
B. The sun intensifying the tension
C. Nervousness and aggression among the crowd
III. Constant Vigilance
A. Surveillance of the crowd for anomalies and potential risks
B. Awareness of potential hostile acts or attacks
C. Nerve-wracking vigilance during the politician's speech
IV. Sense of Relief
A. Conclusion of the speech and departure from the square
B. Feeling thankful for successfully securing the event
C. Transition from the celebratory spirit to the hum of normal life
Cambridge A level October/November 2019
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