GCSE English Language Virtual communities Resource booklet - Spring 2022 - Activities and mark scheme guidance

Sep 5, 2026

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Resource booklet for GCSE English Language (Spring 2022) focused on writing assessment. It evaluates the strengths and drawbacks of a generic writing mark scheme, then uses typical features grids for Paper 1 Question 5 to diagnose students’ writing skills and support curriculum development. The booklet covers narrative and descriptive writing, including pacing, argument writing, and Paper 2 Question 5 typical features, with notes guiding practical use of the grids and levels.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Activity one: Writing mark schemes

Paper 1 and Paper 2

Activity two: Paper 1, Question 5 typical features

Activity three: Narrative writing

Activity four: Descriptive writing

Activity five: Descriptive writing, using pace

Activity six: Paper 2, Question 5 typical features

Activity seven: Writing an argument

Notes

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Virtual communities Resource booklet Published: Spring 2022 Contents | Contents | Page | | --- | --- | | Activity one: Writing mark schemes | 4 | | Activity two: Paper 1, Question 5 typical features | 8 | | Activity three: Narrative writing | 10 | | Activity four: Descriptive writing | 12 | | Activity five: Descriptive writing, using pace | 15 | | Activity six: Paper 2, Question 5 typical features | 17 | | Activity seven: Writing an argument | 19 | | Notes | 21 | Activity one Writing mark schemes Paper 1 and Paper 2 What are the strengths and drawbacks of a generic writing mark scheme? Activity two Look at the typical features grids for Paper 1 below. How might these grids help with: • diagnosing students’writing skills • curriculum development? Paper 1 Question 5 : Typical features grids | | Narrative writing | Descriptive writing | | --- | --- | --- | | Level 4 | • Distinctive narrative voice
• Convincing character(s)
• Detailed setting
• Judicious control of pace
• Temporal/spatial shifts used for imaginative effect
• Subtle shifts in mood
• Imaginative sequence of events
• Dialogue enhances characterisation
• Convincing conclusion | • Original imagery
• Highly evocative description
• Impressive vocabulary and phrasing
• Broad, conceptualised ideas
• Subtle detail
• Fluid sequence of images/ideas
• Creates compelling atmosphere
• Crafted style | | Level 3 | • Clear narrative voice
• Develops character(s)
• Establishes setting
• Controls pace of narrative
• Creates specific mood
• Uses temporal and spatial shifts
• Plausible dialogue
• Effective ending | • Effective imagery
• Credible description
• Vocabulary used precisely
• Range of elements described
• Develops concrete/abstract ideas
• Shaped sequence of images/ideas
• Creates specific atmosphere
• Controlled style | | | Narrative writing | Descriptive writing | | --- | --- | --- | | Level 2 | • Emerging narrative voice
• One dimensional character(s)
• Occasional sense of place
• Some implausible events
• Some narrative control
• Mainly chronological structure • Some use of dialogue
• Contrived or abrupt ending | • Contrived imagery
• Description implausible in places
• Ambitious vocabulary used imprecisely
• Mostly concrete ideas (+5 senses)
• Some clumsy linguistic devices
• Some sequence of images/ideas
• Emerging sense of atmosphere • Overly narrative or informative
• Formulaic or literal style | | Level 1 | • Simple narrative voice
• Basic character(s)
• Limited awareness of setting
• Simple series of events
• Basic plotline
• Few narrative features eg dialogue
• Limited scope/control | • Clichéd imagery
• Generic descriptions
• Limited focus on describing
• Limited scope/ideas
• Occasional use of adjectives
• Loose sequence of ideas
• Unrelated details
• Lacks atmosphere
• Limited awareness of style | Activity three: Narrative writing Q5 , Paper 1, June 2019 Gianni Muratore/Alamy Stock Photo

FAQs

What is the purpose of the “typical features grids” for Paper 1 Question 5?

The grids help diagnose students’ writing skills and support curriculum development by showing typical qualities at each level for narrative and descriptive writing.

How does the booklet distinguish narrative writing from descriptive writing in the mark scheme grids?

Narrative focuses on voice, character, setting, control of pace, temporal/spatial shifts, mood, sequence of events, dialogue, and conclusion, while descriptive emphasizes original imagery, evocative description, vocabulary and phrasing, detail, sequence of images/ideas, atmosphere, and crafted style.

Which additional writing aspects are covered beyond general narrative and descriptive writing?

The booklet includes descriptive writing using pace and also covers argument writing, along with Paper 2 Question 5 typical features and related notes.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Đào