Writing task
Describe a place at midnight. Think about how your setting can create atmosphere.
Time: 25 minutes (as indicated for this published task).
Marks: 15.
Practise this exact question with personalised feedback on your writing.
Understand the task
Describe a location at midnight and use the setting itself to produce a distinctive atmosphere.
- accurate expression
- imaginative control
- structure
- audience awareness
Requirements to keep in mind
Choose ONE option in the writing section; option 2; 15 marks; 25 minutes advised.
Plan your response
- Follow the exact instruction, form and viewpoint in the source PDF.
- Plan a clear beginning and a focused development.
- Use distinctive details rather than general adjectives.
- Allow a few minutes to check accuracy before finishing.
Check your response against the task requirements. Leave time to review sentence clarity, punctuation and spelling.
Original atoply example opening
Written by atoply, not an official school answer or mark scheme. This is an opening only; develop the rest of the response to meet the task requirements.
Reveal example and teaching notes
At midnight the swimming pool was a silent square of blue. The changing rooms stood empty, and light from a single streetlamp trembled on the water. Somewhere beneath the diving board, a loose metal panel tapped against the wall. Each small sound seemed enormous in the stillness. Even the clock above the entrance appeared to be holding its breath.
Learn from the example
- Concrete details build an impression of the subject. Notice how those choices work together rather than reading as a list of general adjectives.
- The viewpoint controls what the reader notices. Choose details and an order that sustain the task's requested perspective and atmosphere.