Paper Code: 0500 

Duration: 2 hours 

Total Marks: 80 

• Section A: Directed Writing – 40 marks 

• Section B: Composition – 40 marks 

SECTION A: Directed Writing (40 marks) 

What You Do: 

You are given two texts (Text A and Text B) in the insert. You then write a speech, letter,  article, or similar task based on them. 

Example Task:  

Write a speech to young people about attitudes to owning and keeping books. 

• Evaluate the ideas, attitudes, and opinions in the texts 

• Give your own views, based on the texts 

What the Question Requires:

• Understanding and evaluating both texts (Text A and Text B) 

• Selecting relevant points 

• Using your own words 

• Adapting to a specific form and audience (here, a speech to young people) 

Skills Tested: 

• Reading comprehension 

• Summary and inference 

• Tone and register 

• Structuring a speech 

• Argument and evaluation 

How to Structure Your Answer: 

Intro (brief): 

• Hook to engage young people 

• Purpose of your speech (e.g., “Today I want to talk to you about how we treat books…”) 

Body Paragraphs: 

• Use points from both texts (blend or alternate) 

• Group ideas logically (e.g., Why books are important, Why people no longer keep them, What we should do) 

• Use your own words to summarise, evaluate, and comment 

• Add your own opinion to support or challenge the ideas in the texts 

Conclusion: 

• Sum up your view 

• Strong closing statement or call to action 

Word Count: 250–350 words

Marking Breakdown: 

• Content (15 marks): Accuracy, relevance, evaluation of ideas 

• Language (25 marks): Structure, style, tone, clarity, vocabulary 

Tips: 

• Avoid lifting text directly from the insert — paraphrase. 

• Think about tone — it must match the task (e.g., persuasive and passionate for a speech). 

• Address both bullet points in the question. 

• Use linking words (however, moreover, on the other hand). 

SECTION B: Composition (40 marks) 

What You Do: 

Choose ONE question from a list of descriptive or narrative writing prompts. Choices from your paper: 

Descriptive Writing 

1. Write a description of a dramatic landscape. 

2. Write a description with the title, “A moment of frustration.” 

Narrative Writing 

3. Write a story that includes the words, “… I could not escape from the noise …”

4. Write a story with the title, “Reaching new heights.”

What the Question Requires: 

• A well-structured narrative or vivid description 

• Engaging language, tone, and imagery 

• A clear beginning, middle, and end (especially for narratives)

• Strong vocabulary and sentence variety 

Skills Tested: 

• Creative writing (imagination or observation) 

• Language control (description, dialogue, tone) 

• Organisation and fluency 

• Grammar and spelling accuracy 

How to Structure Each Type: 

Descriptive Writing: 

• No plot needed — focus on sensory details and atmosphere

• Use figurative language: simile, metaphor, personification

• Organise ideas logically: zoom in/out, move through space 

Narrative Writing: 

• Set up a clear conflict or situation 

• Show character emotion, tension, and action 

• End with impact — twist, resolution, or a cliffhanger 

Word Count: 350–450 words 

Marking Breakdown: 

• Content and Structure (16 marks): Coherence, creativity, engagement

• Style and Accuracy (24 marks): Sentence control, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar 

Tips: 

• Don’t try to write too much — quality > quantity. 

• Use sensory language and show, not tell. 

• Use paragraphing to structure your ideas clearly. 

Suggested Time Management: 

• Section A (Speech..) ~ 1 hour 

• Section 2 (Story or Description) ~ 1 hour 

Final Advice: 

• Practise writing in both speech and story formats. 

• Build a bank of descriptive vocabulary and sentence starters.

• Plan before writing: outline your structure in 2 minutes. 

• Stick to the word count range — going way over = less editing time

Common Mistakes Students Make in Paper  2 (and How to Avoid Them) 

Section A: Directed Writing 

1. Copying from the Texts 

• Mistake: Lifting whole phrases or sentences directly from the insert.

• Fix: Always paraphrase into your own words. Use synonyms, restructure sentences, and avoid relying on original phrasing unless it’s a key term (like a title or quote). 

2. Ignoring One of the Texts 

• Mistake: Basing your answer only on Text A or Text B, not both.

• Fix: Use information from both texts, and show that you’ve understood and evaluated ideas across both. 

3. Not Evaluating Ideas 

• Mistake: Just summarising what the texts say without adding any analysis or personal opinion. 

• Fix: Engage with the texts. Ask yourself: Do I agree? Is there bias? What is missing? Add your own supported views. 

4. Writing the Wrong Format 

• Mistake: Writing an essay when the task is a speech, article, or letter.

• Fix: Match the tone and structure of the task: 

• Speech: conversational, persuasive, use of direct address (“you”)

• Article: structured, informative, lively tone 

• Letter: appropriate greeting and closing, formal/informal tone depending on the task

  
  

5. Going Off-Topic 

• Mistake: Including unrelated ideas or examples just to meet the word count.

• Fix: Keep your points directly linked to the texts and the task prompt. Stay focused and clear. 

Section B: Composition (Descriptive/Narrative) 

1. Writing a Narrative for a Descriptive Prompt 

• Mistake: Turning a description (like a place or moment) into a full story with plot and characters. 

• Fix: For descriptive writing, focus on imagery, atmosphere, and the senses — not events or dialogue. 

2. Weak Endings in Narrative 

• Mistake: Ending stories too abruptly or with a cliché (“… and then I woke up.”).

• Fix: Plan your ending in advance. It should resolve the conflict or leave an impact  (twist, reflection, or emotion). 

3. Flat or Unstructured Paragraphs 

• Mistake: Long, unbroken paragraphs or erratic topic jumping. 

• Fix: Use paragraphing to guide your reader. Each paragraph should have a clear focus. 

4. Overcomplicated Vocabulary 

• Mistake: Using “big words” incorrectly just to sound sophisticated.

• Fix: Aim for clarity and accuracy. Use ambitious vocabulary only if you’re confident it fits naturally. 

5. Repetition and Redundancy 

• Mistake: Repeating the same ideas or descriptions with different words.

• Fix: Every sentence should add something new. Cut repetition and revise for conciseness. 

6. Writing Too Much or Too Little 

• Mistake: Writing only 200 words or going way past 600. 

• Fix: Stick to the recommended range: 

o Section A: 250–350 words 

o Section B: 350–450 words 

This ensures your response is developed but focused.

Written by Mara Vicu

Edited by Quinn Luong