Communicating imaginatively

    AQA
    GCSE

    Candidates must demonstrate the capacity to craft compelling narratives or descriptions, utilizing structural cohesion and sophisticated vocabulary to engage the reader. Assessment prioritizes the conscious manipulation of narrative voice, pacing, and atmosphere (AO5), alongside the rigorous control of sentence demarcation and punctuation for effect (AO6). High-level responses distinguish themselves through the seamless integration of literary devices and the ability to sustain a convincing register throughout the response, mirroring the craft analyzed in the reading section.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for 'Content' based on the maturity, conviction, and engagement of the narrative or description
    • Credit 'Organisation' for structural craft, including effective paragraphing and discourse markers that guide the reader
    • Assess 'Technical Accuracy' (AO6) on sentence demarcation, punctuation variety, and vocabulary sophistication
    • Reward responses that adapt tone and register specifically for the specified audience and purpose

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for 'Content' based on the maturity, conviction, and engagement of the narrative or description
    • Credit 'Organisation' for structural craft, including effective paragraphing and discourse markers that guide the reader
    • Assess 'Technical Accuracy' (AO6) on sentence demarcation, punctuation variety, and vocabulary sophistication
    • Reward responses that adapt tone and register specifically for the specified audience and purpose

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Allocate 5 minutes for planning; a cyclical structure (ending linking to beginning) often scores highly for organisation
    • 💡Use the 'Drop, Shift, Zoom, Echo' structure to control the pacing of the description or narrative
    • 💡Prioritise 'showing' over 'telling'—describe the sensory details of fear rather than stating 'he was scared'
    • 💡Reserve the final 5 minutes strictly for proofreading, specifically checking for comma splices and homophone errors

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Rushing the narrative arc, resulting in an unrealistic or melodramatic plot ('The exploding helicopter' syndrome)
    • Comma splices and run-on sentences that undermine the control of the writing
    • Overuse of pre-learned 'fancy' vocabulary that feels forced or contextually inappropriate
    • Neglecting paragraphing, leading to dense blocks of text that lack structural cohesion

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Write a description suggested by...
    Write a story about...
    Write a story with the title...
    Write the opening of a story...
    Write a description of...

    Ready to test yourself?

    Practice questions tailored to this topic