SAMPLE TEXT: AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q5: Teacher's Creative Writing Toolkit

This extract is taken from a full exemplar descriptive essay that is based on GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q5. It uses the image as inspiration and explores the daily life of a market fruit vendor. It can be used as a model text to inspire descriptive writing, focusing on sensory detail, structure, and atmosphere.

The complete version of this resource is available from my new TES shop, The Exam Shelf, where you’ll find more English resources.

About the full text resource (available form my new TES shop):

The Whispers at Dawn Teacher’s Toolkit: Narrative Writing (GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q5)

There are eight useful documents in this toolkit, including:
• An adaptable, full Grade 9 exemplar (Whispers at Dawn - written by the Exam Shelf) with annotated commentary and grade breakdown (student-friendly).
• A Grade 4 exemplar (Woven Sapphire - also written by The Exam Shelf) for students to improve using the MAGPI technique.
• Two detailed and adaptable lesson plans mapped to Ofsted’s Intent–Implementation–Impact framework.
• An editable PowerPoint lesson slide deck in a visual storytelling style.
• A printable MAGPI checklist (Metaphor, Adjectives, Grammar variety, Personification, Imagination).

Why teachers find this toolkit useful:
• Saves planning time.
• Provides ready-to-use, classroom-tested exemplars.
• Builds student confidence with AO5 and AO6.
• Scaffolds progress from secure pass to top-band writing.
• The MAGPI technique gives students a straightforward way of upgrading their creative writing.

About me

I created this GCSE English support resource and the MAGPI technique (or framework) as part of my Postgraduate Study in Education. Each resource in my shop has been written by me. I am a teacher and examiner and have created them using research (and personal classroom practice) informed methods. I have found that these methods work well and decided to share them with other educators.