IGCSE Language A

Narrative writing

A narrative composition is a short story - not a summary of a life. In 450 words you need one clear event, one developed character and one controlled shift in mood. Restraint is worth more than spectacle.

How the 40 marks split

Content & structure - 16

Originality, pacing, character development, sense of direction, satisfying shape.

Style & accuracy - 24

Precise vocabulary, varied sentence structure, tense consistency, dialogue punctuation, spelling, grammar.

Five-stage story structure

Exposition (about 20%)

Open in the middle of a moment. Establish character, setting and mood with small, specific detail rather than a life story.

Tip: Start with a line of dialogue, a vivid action or a small sensory detail - never with "Hi, my name is...".

Inciting incident (about 15%)

Something changes. A message arrives, a door opens, a decision is made. The story tilts.

Tip: Make the change small but undeniable. A dropped phone can change a life.

Rising action (about 30%)

Complications stack up. The character commits further and options narrow.

Tip: One or two complications is enough - do not crowd the word count with plot.

Climax (about 15%)

The moment of highest tension. The character makes a decision or realisation.

Tip: Slow time down here. Describe breathing, heartbeat, small movements.

Resolution (about 20%)

Aftermath. Reflect briefly on what has changed. Leave the reader with a thought, not a list of events.

Tip: Avoid endings like "it was all a dream" or "they all lived happily". Leave something unresolved.

Building a believable character

Give each character ONE distinguishing habit - fiddles with a ring, hums a tune, flinches at noise.
Show relationships through small actions, not explanations.
Name only the characters who matter. A crowd is better than five bit-parts.
Let characters want something. A story is someone trying to get something and struggling.

Writing dialogue cleanly

Rules

Dialogue is where candidates most often lose accuracy marks.

New speaker, new line - always.
Use "said" more often than "exclaimed". Said is invisible.
Break dialogue with small actions: "I know." She turned the cup slowly in her hands. "I know you know."
Dialogue should reveal character OR move the story forward. Ideally both.
Contractions ("I'm", "you've") make speech sound real. Avoid in formal narration.

Worked opening - "Write a story that begins with a phone call."

The phone rang three times before Ana picked it up, and even then she didn't speak first. She waited, the way her mother had taught her to wait, until the silence on the other end cracked. "It's me," Pablo said. Three small words. Enough to undo a year of careful forgetting. Ana sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, the old mattress creaking beneath her like a voice that had been holding its breath. Outside, the rain was softening into mist, and the window had gone the colour of tea. "Where are you calling from?" "The station." Of course.

Notice: opens mid-action, one distinguishing habit (waiting), small specific detail (mattress, rain), dialogue doing double duty (revealing past and present).

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IGCSE Language A

Narrative writing

How the 40 marks split

Content & structure - 16

Originality, pacing, character development, sense of direction, satisfying shape.

Style & accuracy - 24

Precise vocabulary, varied sentence structure, tense consistency, dialogue punctuation, spelling, grammar.

Five-stage story structure

Exposition (about 20%)

Open in the middle of a moment. Establish character, setting and mood with small, specific detail rather than a life story.

Tip: Start with a line of dialogue, a vivid action or a small sensory detail - never with "Hi, my name is...".

Inciting incident (about 15%)

Something changes. A message arrives, a door opens, a decision is made. The story tilts.

Tip: Make the change small but undeniable. A dropped phone can change a life.

Rising action (about 30%)

Complications stack up. The character commits further and options narrow.

Tip: One or two complications is enough - do not crowd the word count with plot.

Climax (about 15%)

The moment of highest tension. The character makes a decision or realisation.

Tip: Slow time down here. Describe breathing, heartbeat, small movements.

Resolution (about 20%)

Aftermath. Reflect briefly on what has changed. Leave the reader with a thought, not a list of events.

Tip: Avoid endings like "it was all a dream" or "they all lived happily". Leave something unresolved.

Building a believable character

Give each character ONE distinguishing habit - fiddles with a ring, hums a tune, flinches at noise.
Show relationships through small actions, not explanations.
Name only the characters who matter. A crowd is better than five bit-parts.
Let characters want something. A story is someone trying to get something and struggling.

Writing dialogue cleanly

Rules

Dialogue is where candidates most often lose accuracy marks.

New speaker, new line - always.
Use "said" more often than "exclaimed". Said is invisible.
Break dialogue with small actions: "I know." She turned the cup slowly in her hands. "I know you know."
Dialogue should reveal character OR move the story forward. Ideally both.
Contractions ("I'm", "you've") make speech sound real. Avoid in formal narration.

Worked opening - "Write a story that begins with a phone call."

Notice: opens mid-action, one distinguishing habit (waiting), small specific detail (mattress, rain), dialogue doing double duty (revealing past and present).

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Narrative writing

How the 40 marks split

Five-stage story structure

Building a believable character

Writing dialogue cleanly

Worked opening - "Write a story that begins with a phone call."

Narrative writing

How the 40 marks split

Five-stage story structure

Building a believable character

Writing dialogue cleanly

Worked opening - "Write a story that begins with a phone call."