Top Tips for AQA GCSE English Language: Paper 1 (Question 5)
- Jul 14
- 5 min read
Paper 1, Question 5 is where students can show off their writing skills, including creativity, control of language and technical accuracy.
It’s worth 40 marks, almost half of the paper, so getting comfortable with this question can make a huge difference to overall grades.
From summer 2026, students will still have a choice between two tasks: one narrative (story opening) and one descriptive (based on an image). Both tasks are designed to test the same skills as before so you'll be assessed on your ability to engage a reader, structure your writing clearly and use language with purpose.
What Does Question 5 Involve?
The exam will give you a narrative prompt and a descriptive prompt so you can choose the one that feels most natural. There’s no rule about which one is ‘better’; the best choice is whichever sparks an idea in the first 30 seconds of reading it.
Narrative Tasks
From 2026, the focus is on crafting just the opening section of a narrative rather than completing an entire story. This means you can spend more time building atmosphere, introducing a character, hinting at conflict or creating intrigue that sets the scene and hooks the reader.
Descriptive Tasks
These include an image or a short scenario, such as “Describe the scene in the photograph.”
You’re not expected to tell a story but need to try and capture the mood, atmosphere and sensory details (what can be seen, heard, or felt) to bring the scene to life.
How Should You Approach Question 5?
1. Decide Quickly
Spend a minute or two deciding which option to tackle. If an image or mood pops into your head, the descriptive task might be easier but, if you can already imagine a character or a strong first line, go with narrative.
2. Plan for 5 Minutes
Keep it simple: just enough to give your writing some direction.
For a narrative:
Hook & Setting
Decide where and when to begin (e.g., a quiet house, a crowded station). Start with a line that hooks the reader: “The train lurched forward and I realised I’d left my bag behind.”
Key Moments
Jot down 3 - 4 bullet points - introduce a character, hint at tension, add a small action and end on a curious note.
Mood & Style
Choose the tone (mysterious, tense, calm) and 2 - 3 techniques, such as a simile, a sensory image and one short, punchy sentence.
For a description:
Choose a Focus
Zoom in on one subject (e.g. a deserted street or lively café). Think of each paragraph as a “snapshot.”
Sensory Images
List 3 - 4 details you can weave in, like “pale light,” “coffee steam” or “distant chatter.”
Mood & Language
Decide on the mood and pick 2 - 3 devices (metaphor, personification, varied sentence lengths).
3. Start with a Hook
A strong first line sets the tone:
Narrative: “The train lurched forward and I realised I’d left my bag behind.”
Descriptive: “The station smelt of rain and old coffee, a strange kind of emptiness clinging to every corner.”
4. Show, Don’t Tell
Instead of “She was nervous,” try “Her hands wouldn’t stay still; they tapped the table in quick, uneven bursts.”
5. Leave Time to Check Your Work
Use the final 5 minutes to re-read and edit your work by double checking punctuation, removing confusing or vague sentences and swapping in stronger words.
Writing Tips
Vary your sentences by mixing short, sharp lines with longer, flowing ones.
Think about structure and try and separate your ideas into clear, focused paragraphs.
Be selective with techniques. A few well-chosen metaphors or similes are better than trying to cram in every language device you know.
Remember technical accuracy because spelling, punctuation and grammar count for 16 of the 40 marks.
Example: Narrative Opening
Prompt: Write the opening to a story about a place that feels deserted.
The shutters rattled once, a hollow sound that seemed too loud in the quiet. Dust drifted through the narrow beams of light, not falling but hanging, as if even gravity had forgotten this place. I stepped across the threshold and the boards beneath my feet murmured faintly, the kind of sound that made me want to hold my breath. At the far end of the room, a single chair leaned against the wall. It felt as though someone had been here moments ago—yet everything carried the stale scent of abandonment.
Why Is This Effective?
“Dust drifted through the narrow beams of light…" creates a strong visual image that builds atmosphere.
“Boards beneath my feet murmured faintly…” includes personification and sensory description to build atmosphere.
The ending includes a sensory contrast, "Moments ago” vs. “stale scent of abandonment," which adds intrigue and unease.
Each sentence introduces one detail, creating a controlled pace and a slow, deliberate rhythm that matches the mood.
Example: Descriptive Opening
Prompt: Describe a street at night when everything feels silent and still.
The street lay beneath a thin glaze of moonlight, every surface coated in silver as though someone had painted the world and then walked away. A single lamppost hummed faintly, its light flickering like a nervous thought. The air was cool, sharp enough to sting my lungs when I breathed in. Somewhere far off, a fox barked - a short, broken sound that seemed to bounce along the empty road. Every window I passed was dark, shuttered... as if the houses were holding their breath.
Why Is This Effective?
“Thin glaze of moonlight… painted the world and then walked away" is a metaphor which creates a visual stillness.
“Light flickering like a nervous thought" uses personification to add a subtle feeling of unease.
“Fox barked - a short, broken sound…” uses sensory description (auditory imagery) to contrast with the silence.
Slow, deliberate pacing mirrors the tense atmosphere.
Final Thoughts on AQA GCSE English Language: Paper 1 (Question 5)
Whether you choose the descriptive or the narrative task, the key is to plan, write with intention and edit your work. A good balance of vivid imagery, careful structure and technical precision will push answers into the top bands.
Unsure How to Start Your GCSE English Language Revision?
You might like my 30 Day English Language Revision Challenge
It's designed for the 2026 AQA spec and includes 30 daily tasks you can complete, in 30 minutes or less, to practise the skills you'll need for Paper 1 and Paper 2, including creative writing prompts.
Found This Useful? You’re In The Right Place.
The EHS Blog contains a variety of useful guides to help you master GCSE English Language and Literature.
Whether you’re revising key texts like Macbeth and An Inspector Calls, tackling tricky language questions or brushing up on your essay skills, there’s plenty more to explore.
Head back to the EHS Blog to keep your revision on track!
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