How To Get Good Marks In Creative Writing In The Gcse Exam

Writing a creative writing essay is a daunting task at best, but can be positively terrifying when having to be completed within very strict time limits.

Coupled with the nagging doubts that accompany any personal expression, this is indeed the nemesis to be faced on any English paper. Reams have been written about creative writing and char rooms are full of desperate students pleading for help.

However, the good news is - writing creative essays is easy! Yes, I repeat, easy.

Before you fall off your chair in amazement, let me tell you why they are a piece of cake.

For one thing, examiners are sympathetic. They know your battles and they know what you have gone through to pen those 30 or 40 lines. So they are looking to give you marks. I can verify that, having marked hundreds of exam papers. At the least sign of original expression or thought, the ticks appear and the grades go up. That is the secret: let your ideas flow and use your own "voice", even speak your mind (but do stick to the topic- examiners don`t have time to read your whole view of life!) An example: A pupil of mine who found it really difficult to write and had additional needs as well gave profound depth to an essay with one little phrase, " Now I am not a fashionista..." This gave her essay depth and personal perspective and ratcheted up her marks.

Another reason why creative writing essays are easy is that you have the content at your fingertips. It`s part of you and your experience. Don`t try to write a thriller in the mode of a bestseller you don`t have the space or time or the experience. Don`t write about what you saw on a TV programme the night or week before chances are the examiner saw it and he or she groans to see you regurgitating it. If you do these things, your true style and self will not shine through. An examiner can very quickly and clearly see any forced and false writing. Don`t copy others` writing, learn from it and make your version original, which may sound like a paradox, but believe me it is necessary.

A third reason why you should be glad and grateful to be writing a creative piece is that it is easy marks and worth half of Paper 1`s marks. Think about all the writing you have to do on all the questions in Section A, with no guarantee that you are hitting the mark. Compared with the fact that you control the whole of Section B, the creative writing essay should now be looking more and more appealing!

In terms of the control of the creative writing essay, the operative word is control. It is not a completely alien task. You KNOW what a story is and have studied it and been taught about it all your school life: a story has a beginning, middle and end, a story has character, setting and plot. In the few minutes before you start writing, jot down some ideas, in order, and some descri ptive and original phrases to use. Your piece of writing can be simple and unfussy, but if it has a few interesting descri ptions or details and sounds genuine and sincere, the examiner will be on your side and willing you on.

Don`t panic too much about correct spelling and grammar. English spelling can be fiendishly difficult. There are marks for these, but not that many. Don`t let worries about accuracy stop you from letting your thoughts and ideas flow. The examiner wants to enjoy reading your piece of writing and is waiting to be engaged by it. Relax and enjoy the process!