Picture stimulus
Open the original picture in the source paper before planning your response. It opens in a separate tab so you can keep this task alongside it.
View the original picture (PDF page 3)Writing task
Write a short story or a piece of descriptive writing inspired by the accompanying picture of a sailing ship beneath storm clouds. Create a strong mood or atmosphere through the setting and any characters you introduce.
Use the accompanying image stimulus for this task.
Time: 45 minutes (as indicated for this published task).
Marks: 30.
Practise this exact question with personalised feedback on your writing.
Understand the task
This picture-stimulus sea narrative prompt chiefly tests originality, appropriate structure and precise vocabulary. Use the pictured sailboat and sky for atmospheric writing; control tension through sound and movement.
- originality
- appropriate structure
- precise vocabulary
- spelling and punctuation
Requirements to keep in mind
Writing time: 45 minutes; Marks available: 30; Original sailing-ship photo must be viewed in the linked PDF
Plan your response
- Use the pictured sailboat and sky for atmospheric writing; control tension through sound and movement.
- Plan the response around the task’s specific instructions.
- Use deliberate paragraphing, sentence variety and concrete detail.
- Reserve time for spelling and punctuation checks.
- Compare with the official paper for any accompanying text or picture.
Check your response against the task requirements. Leave time to review sentence clarity, punctuation and spelling.
Short atoply teaching example
Written by atoply, not an official school answer or mark scheme. This short illustration shows selected techniques. It does not set a target length or expected mark for the timed task.
Reveal example and teaching notes
The ship climbed another steep wall of water, its canvas straining like wings against the wind. From the deck, Eleanor could see dark clouds pressing low over the sea and one narrow shaft of sunlight shining beyond the stern.
The timbers creaked beneath her feet. Salt spray struck her face and soaked the rope she was holding. She had never understood how enormous the ocean could feel until there was no land to break its edge.
‘Steady!’ called the captain. Eleanor tightened her grip. The ship fell into a trough and rose again, and the pale light ahead seemed, for a moment, to offer a direction.
Learn from the example
- The example focuses on one situation, keeping the action easy to follow. Notice how a detail, action or decision moves that situation forward.
- Use the task's requirements to plan the development and ending of your own response; an opening alone does not demonstrate a complete story arc.