How to answer AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 5

If you’re sitting AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1, Question 5 is the big one—the creative writing task worth 40 marks (half the paper!). From 2026, AQA has introduced some changes that make this section clearer.

This guide explains what Question 5 involves, how it’s marked, what’s new from 2026, and how you can approach it with confidence.

You’ll also find example questions, grade 9 model answers, and practical tips to help you succeed.

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What is AQA English Language Paper 1 Question 5?

Question 5 is your chance to show off your creative writing skills. You’ll choose between:

• Writing a description inspired by an image
• Writing the opening of a story

You don’t have to do both—pick the one that plays to your strengths.

The marking is split as follows:

• Content and organisation (24 marks): Creativity, vocabulary, style, and structure.
• Technical accuracy (16 marks): Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence variety.

What’s new for 2026?

From summer 2026, AQA has updated Question 5:

• Descriptive writing: You can use your imagination—the image is just a starting point.
• Narrative writing: You only need to write the opening of a story. Focus on tension, character, and mood.
• Mark scheme: A new “typical features” column (see page 17 of AQA’s sample mark scheme) shows what examiners expect at each level.

Why the 2026 changes matter:

These changes reduce stress, allow more creativity, and give a clearer idea of what earns marks. They’re good news because the mark scheme has traditionally favoured narrative writing slightly, and this gives all students more flexibility.

English Language Paper 1 Question 5 examples

In AQAs sample assessment for 2026, students are asked to complete an animal-themed creative writing task.

You can choose either to write a description of a zoo or an animal sanctuary—using the image provided for inspiration if you wish—or to write the opening of a story about an encounter with an animal.

The task is worth 40 marks in total—24 for content and organisation, and 16 for technical accuracy.

How to plan English Language Paper 1 Question 5

Timings and strategy

I recommend completing Question 5 first, because it makes up a big chunk of the exam marks—up to 75%! Many students leave it until the end, but by then they’re often tired and find it harder to focus. Tackling this high-value question while you’re fresh allows you to secure lots of marks early and feel more confident before moving on to the other, less demanding questions.

Planning steps

Spend 5 minutes planning to make your writing sharper and more focused:

1. Decide which question option you’re doing: description or narrative.
2. Pick a clear focus—one setting, one or two characters, one mood.
3. Note 4–5 sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).
4. Sketch a quick structure:
   • Descriptive: zoom in, then zoom out.
   • Narrative: start with a hook that grabs attention.

How to get top marks in English Language Paper 1 Question 5

To achieve top marks, it’s important to focus on both what you write and how you write it. Examiners are looking for creativity, clarity, and technical precision—so planning your ideas carefully, choosing strong vocabulary, and structuring your writing effectively can make a big difference.

Overall, you should aim to:

• Be creative and confident in your writing
• Use ambitious vocabulary naturally
• Use linguistic devices, e.g. sensory imagery, metaphor, simile, personification
• Organise ideas into clear paragraphs
• Vary sentence lengths for effect
• Use structural techniques: cyclical openings, contrasts, shifts in focus
• Nail technical accuracy—SPaG marks can make or break your grade

Punctuation

Using ambitious punctuation—like dashes, colons, and semicolons—can make your writing more sophisticated. But if you’re not confident using them, clear, accurate writing is always better than ambitious but incorrect punctuation.

Example:

• Clear and accurate: The tiger paced back and forth in its enclosure. Its eyes glowed in the dim light.
• With ambitious punctuation: The tiger paced back and forth in its enclosure—its eyes glowing in the dim light; every movement silent, yet powerful.

Vocabulary

Ambitious words can make your writing stand out—but if you’re unsure how to spell a word, it’s better to use a simpler, correct word. A fancy word that’s spelt wrong can lose marks, whereas clear, accurate vocabulary will always score higher.

Example:

• Safe and accurate: The tiger’s eyes were sharp and alert.
• Ambitious but risky: The tiger’s eyes were percipient and alert.

AQA English Language Paper 1 Question 5 model answers

Below are partial model answers to Question 5 in AQA’s sample assessment material, designed to show you how you can use language, structure, and technique effectively to achieve top marks.

A full response would be longer, typically around 450–550 words, reflecting the 45 minutes allocated to the question. Remember, every student’s answer will look completely different!

Note: These partial answers were written by the author of this article and have not been provided or approved by AQA.

Paper 1 Question 5 descriptive writing model answer

The gates loomed ahead—green once, now streaked with rust and dust. Beyond them, the air thrummed with life: the chatter of visitors, a bird’s lonely cry, and somewhere, a lion’s low, rumbling roar. Stepping inside was like walking into another world; the smell of damp straw mixed with popcorn made my stomach twist in excitement.

The path snaked between enclosures. To my left, flamingos balanced on spindly legs, feathers flashing coral and pale pink in the sunlight; they moved as if even the wind was too heavy to disturb them. Opposite, a tiger paced behind glass, golden eyes sharp, muscles rolling beneath its striped coat; each step made the ground shiver, silent yet commanding.

Children pressed sticky palms to the barriers, gasping when monkeys swung overhead—squeals and laughter bouncing between the cages. Adults whispered, careful not to break the delicate spell of the park; a strange calm, mixed with excitement, hung over everything.

Why it works:

• Immersive sensory detail
• Ambitious punctuation: dashes, semicolons, colons
• Clear mood and structure

Paper 1 Question 5 narrative writing model answer

The bars were closer than I thought—rust streaked like old tears, and the air smelled sharp with earth and musk. At first, the cage seemed empty…just straw, stone, and silence. Then: two eyes appeared. Amber, unblinking, fixed on me with a patience that made my skin prickle.

I froze. The space between us seemed to stretch, thin and taut; every breath, every heartbeat felt amplified. The animal stepped forward—silent, deliberate, its claws scraping softly against the stone floor. I could feel the weight of it, even before it breathed: a low cloud of warmth and danger.

I wanted to step back, but curiosity held me fast. Those eyes—so bright, so alive—made me question everything. Had I come to see the animal…or had it been waiting, all along, to see me?

Why it works:

• Immediate hook and suspense
• Reflective narrative voice (“Had I come to see the animal…or had it been waiting?”)
• Ambitious punctuation: ellipses, colons, dashes
• Focused on one opening moment, perfect for 2026

How to revise for English Language Paper 1 Question 5

• Practise under timed conditions—45 minutes per task.
• Build a bank of descriptions for common settings such as a zoo, forest, or city street.
• Highlight techniques in model answers: notice sentence variation, ambitious vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Memorise flexible sentence starters—for example: “The silence pressed in…” or “Somewhere in the distance…”
• Get feedback—compare your writing against the mark scheme, and ask your teacher or tutor to review drafts of your work.

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The 2026 changes make English Language Paper 1 Question 5 more approachable. Whether you choose a description or a narrative opening, focus on one strong idea, vivid writing, and technical accuracy—and you’ll be well on your way to achieving top marks.

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FAQs

What is Question 5 on AQA English Language Paper 1?

Question 5 is the creative writing task, worth 40 marks. You choose either to write a description inspired by an image or the opening of a story.

How many marks is English Language Paper 1 Question 5 worth?

Question 5 is worth 40 marks, which is half of the total marks for Paper 1.

How much should I write for English Language Paper 1 Question 5?

You can aim for around 2 sides of A4. However, there is no set word count, and quality matters more than quantity.

How long should I spend on English Language Paper 1 Question 5?

Aim to spend around 45 minutes on Question 5: roughly 5 minutes planning, 35 minutes writing, and 5 minutes checking.

Do I need to write a whole story for Question 5?

No, from 2026, you only need to write the opening of a story.

Do I have to stick to the picture for the description?

No—use the image for inspiration and let your imagination run wild!

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