Paper 2 · Descriptive writing: past paper questions
Real questions on paper 2 · descriptive writing
The newest 20 of 40 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0990/21 · May/June 2026 · Q2[40]
Describe the surroundings as you travel out of a city into the countryside. OR Descriptive writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2026 · Q3[40]
Describe the moment you find an object which was lost. OR Narrative writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · May/June 2026 · Q2[40]
Describe a person in a place you wouldn’t expect to see them. Or Descriptive writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · May/June 2026 · Q3[40]
Describe an area where waste or rubbish is dumped. Or Narrative writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2[40]
Write a description of a shop before and after a busy day’s trading. OR Descriptive writing 2
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3[40]
Write a description with the title, ‘A boat ride’. OR Narrative writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q2[40]
Write a description with the title, ‘The shelter’. OR Descriptive writing 2
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3[40]
Describe a time when you had to wait for a delivery. OR Narrative writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2[40]
Describe a tense moment during a competition. OR Descriptive writing 2
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3[40]
Write a description with the title, ‘The artist’. OR Narrative writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · October/November 2024 · Q2[40]
Describe a busy road before and after it rains. OR Descriptive writing 2
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · October/November 2024 · Q3[40]
Describe moving something heavy. OR Narrative writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2[40]
Describe a group of people gathering in a local public place. OR Descriptive Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2024 · Q3[40]
Describe the sun rising over a special place. OR Narrative Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · May/June 2024 · Q2[40]
Write a description with the title, ‘Underwater’. OR Descriptive Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · May/June 2024 · Q3[40]
Describe a piece of furniture that is important to you. OR Narrative Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · October/November 2023 · Q2[40]
Describe an object that has been broken for a long time. OR Descriptive Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/22 · October/November 2023 · Q3[40]
Write a description with the title ‘A special building – inside and outside’. OR Narrative Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2023 · Q2[40]
Describe a shop you remember visiting in the past. OR Descriptive Writing
See it on the paper → - 0990/21 · May/June 2023 · Q3[40]
Describe the experience of seeing an animal. OR Narrative Writing
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Both descriptive writing questions were popular choices for candidates, though Question 2 was much more often selected; examiners awarded a wide range of marks for these responses. Both questions elicited responses describing a wide variety of scenarios which examiners could reward appropriately. A sense of a very specific place, brought to life in vivid ways, was often key to the effectiveness of...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0990/21 Q3 (Cambridge)
Both descriptive writing questions were popular choices for candidates and Examiners awarded a wide range of marks for these responses. Both questions were interpreted in a wide variety of ways which Examiners could reward appropriately. In the first task, there were many detailed, organised and effective descriptions of different kinds of shops. These were both pleasant and unpleasant establishme...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0990/21 Q3 (Cambridge)
Both descriptive writing questions were popular choices for candidates and Examiners awarded a wide range of marks for these responses. Both questions were interpreted in a wide variety of ways which Examiners could reward appropriately. In the first task, there were many detailed, organised and effective descriptions of rooms before and after decoration or renovation. Reactions to the refurbishme...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0990/22 Q3 (Cambridge)
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