Descriptive writing in IGCSE English asks you to describe a person, place, or moment in detail so the reader can picture it. This guide gives tips, structure, and advice for descriptive writing for Singapore students taking Cambridge or Edexcel IGCSE English.

What is descriptive writing in IGCSE?

You may be asked to describe a scene (e.g. a market, a beach at dawn), an event (e.g. a storm, a celebration), or a character (e.g. someone you admire). Use sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste where it fits), strong verbs, and varied sentence length so the writing feels vivid and controlled. Plan a clear structure: opening (set the scene), development (build the description with details), and closing (round off the image or mood). Stay within the task and word limit; do not drift into narrative or argument.

Tips for descriptive writing

Show rather than tell: Instead of “It was noisy,” describe the sounds (e.g. “Engines roared and horns blared”). Use specific nouns and adjectives: “A red sports car” is better than “A nice car.” Include the senses: Sight is most common, but sound, smell, touch, and taste can make the description more vivid when they fit. Vary your sentences: Mix short and long sentences for rhythm. Use paragraphs: One idea or aspect per paragraph. Check spelling and punctuation: Leave time to proofread. Practise with past paper questions and timed conditions so you can produce a full, well-structured description in the exam.

How it fits with other writing types

IGCSE English also tests narrative, argumentative, and directed writing. Descriptive writing often overlaps with narrative (e.g. describing a moment within a story). For report writing and notice writing, see our other guides; those use a different format and tone. For writer’s effect, you analyse how the writer uses language; for descriptive writing, you produce the language yourself. In the exam, read the question carefully to see whether you are asked only to describe or to describe as part of a narrative; that will affect how you structure your answer.

Planning and drafting a descriptive piece

Before you write, plan in a few lines: what is the main image or moment? What are two or three key details (sight, sound, smell, etc.)? What is the opening sentence and the closing image? Then draft the opening paragraph to set the scene, the middle to develop the description with specific details, and the close to round off the mood or image. Leave a minute or two to proofread for spelling and punctuation. Singapore students often find that practising with past paper descriptive questions under timed conditions (e.g. 20–25 minutes) helps them get the length and structure right. For more help, consider an IGCSE English tutor who can give feedback on your descriptive writing.

Next steps

Practise descriptive writing with past papers. For one-to-one help, book a free trial with an IGCSE English tutor on Tutopiya. Use the Tutopiya learning platform and Tutopiya login.