Cambridge IGCSE · 0500

First Language English

Directed writing and composition — Paper 2

Name: ____________________Date: October 14, 2026

1.
A school is considering replacing printed notices with a mobile app. One student argues that alerts are faster and reduce paper; another warns that not every family has reliable internet and notifications are easily ignored. Write the opening of a letter to the principal that evaluates both views and states your position.
[4 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Uses an appropriate formal letter voice and addresses the principal.
- Develops the speed or environmental advantage rather than merely repeating it.
- Develops the access or attention concern with a plausible consequence.
- States a clear, reasoned position or practical compromise.
Examiner tip: Transform the source ideas for your audience; evaluation requires judgement, not summary alone.
2.
Write the opening of a descriptive composition entitled ‘After the Crowd Had Gone’. Establish a clear place and atmosphere without explaining the earlier event directly.
[4 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a specific setting through selected sensory detail.
- Creates a consistent atmosphere appropriate to the title.
- Suggests the absent crowd indirectly through traces or contrast.
- Uses controlled vocabulary and sentence structure for deliberate effect.
Examiner tip: Choose a few precise details and organise them; description is stronger than a catalogue of adjectives.
3.
A magazine invites readers to submit articles on ‘A Skill Every Teenager Should Learn’. Write the opening paragraphs of your article, establishing your chosen skill and your viewpoint.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies a specific, clearly named skill rather than a vague category.
- Establishes a clear personal viewpoint on why this skill matters.
- Uses a register and tone appropriate to a magazine article aimed at teenage readers.
Examiner tip: An article voice is more personal and engaging than a formal letter, but still organised around a clear line of argument.
4.
Write the opening of a speech to be given to your school, persuading students to take part in a new recycling scheme.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Opens with a technique designed to capture a listening audience's attention, such as a question or striking statement.
- Addresses the audience directly, appropriate to a spoken speech.
- States the scheme being proposed and one clear reason to support it.
Examiner tip: A speech is heard, not read — favour direct address, rhetorical questions and clear signposting over dense written prose.
5.
Write the opening of a narrative composition that begins with the line: ‘By the time I noticed the door was open, it was already too late.’
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Continues directly and plausibly from the given opening line.
- Establishes a clear narrative voice and immediate sense of tension or unease.
- Uses narrative techniques such as pacing or implication rather than explaining events directly.
Examiner tip: A strong narrative opening raises a question in the reader's mind that makes them want to continue reading.
6.
Write a short formal report to a youth club committee recommending one change to improve attendance at weekly meetings.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Uses an appropriate formal report structure, such as a clear heading and organised points.
- States one specific, practical recommendation rather than a vague suggestion.
- Supports the recommendation with a plausible reason linked to improving attendance.
Examiner tip: A report is organised and impersonal in tone, structured around clear points rather than a flowing personal narrative.
7.
Continue this composition opening in a consistent voice: ‘The old house had been empty for years, yet tonight, for the first time, a light flickered in the upstairs window.’
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Maintains the same tense and narrative voice established in the opening line.
- Builds on the mystery or tension already created, rather than resolving it immediately.
- Uses descriptive or sensory detail consistent with the eerie tone of the opening.
Examiner tip: Match the tense, person and tone of the given opening exactly before adding your own ideas.
8.
Write the opening of a letter to a local newspaper arguing that your town needs more cycle lanes. State your position clearly and give one supporting reason.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Clearly states a position in favour of more cycle lanes.
- Develops one supporting reason with some specific detail, rather than a bare assertion.
- Uses a tone and structure appropriate for a persuasive letter intended for publication.
Examiner tip: A persuasive letter to a newspaper should sound confident and public-facing, not like a private note to a friend.
9.
Write the opening of a formal letter of complaint to a company about a faulty product you purchased, stating what went wrong.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Identifies the product and states clearly what the fault or problem was.
- Uses a formal, controlled tone appropriate for a complaint, avoiding an overly emotional or aggressive register.
Examiner tip: A formal complaint is most effective when it states the problem factually and calmly, saving any specific request for later in the letter.
10.
Write the opening of a discursive essay on the question: ‘Should students be allowed to use mobile phones in school?’ Introduce both sides of the debate.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Introduces the topic in a balanced, even-handed way, without immediately revealing a one-sided personal opinion.
- Signals that both sides of the argument will be considered, using appropriate discursive language (e.g. ‘on one hand... on the other hand’).
Examiner tip: A discursive essay opening should sound balanced and exploratory, saving a strong personal conclusion for later in the essay.
11.
Write the opening of an informative article giving beginners advice on how to start growing vegetables at home.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a clear, helpful, informative tone suitable for a how-to guide.
- Introduces the topic in a way that is encouraging and accessible to a genuine beginner.
Examiner tip: Informative writing for beginners should avoid jargon and assume no prior knowledge of the topic.
12.
Write a diary entry in the voice of a character who has just moved to a new country and is feeling both excited and anxious.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a convincing, consistent first-person voice for the character.
- Conveys both excitement and anxiety, rather than only one of the two emotions.
Examiner tip: A diary entry should sound like private, honest reflection, with mixed or conflicting feelings expressed naturally.
13.
Write a short dialogue exchange between two characters who disagree about whether to report a friend's mistake to a teacher.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Gives each character a distinct, consistent viewpoint on the disagreement.
- Uses natural-sounding dialogue, correctly punctuated, that reveals the characters' differing attitudes.
Examiner tip: Effective dialogue reveals character through what is said and how, not through the narrator explaining each person's opinion directly.
14.
Write the opening of an opinion column arguing that public libraries are more important today than ever before.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- States a clear, confident opinion early in the piece.
- Uses a compelling hook or example to draw the reader into the argument.
Examiner tip: An opinion column should state its position confidently from the start, unlike a discursive essay, which deliberately withholds a firm opinion until later.
15.
Write the opening of a leaflet encouraging local residents to take part in a neighbourhood clean-up day.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Uses an engaging, persuasive opening appropriate for a leaflet aimed at the general public.
- Clearly states the purpose of the event and gives a reason to take part.
Examiner tip: Leaflet writing is typically concise and punchy, using short sentences or sub-headings to grab attention quickly.
16.
Write the opening of a review of a film you have recently watched, giving your first impression.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a clear personal viewpoint or first impression of the film.
- Uses a tone appropriate for a review, balancing personal voice with critical judgement.
Examiner tip: A review opening should hook the reader with a clear impression, saving detailed justification for the body of the review.
17.
Write the opening of an eyewitness account describing a dramatic event you witnessed (real or imagined), such as a minor accident in a busy street.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes the writer as a credible, present witness to the event.
- Uses specific, concrete sensory detail to make the account feel immediate and believable.
Examiner tip: An eyewitness account should feel immediate and specific, as if the writer is recalling exactly what they personally saw and heard.
18.
Write a short public announcement to be read aloud at a train station, informing passengers of a significant delay and apologising for the inconvenience.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Clearly states the key information: that there is a delay.
- Includes an appropriate apology and tone of professional reassurance suitable for a public announcement.
Examiner tip: A public announcement must be clear and concise, since listeners only hear it once and cannot re-read it.
19.
Write the opening of a formal letter applying for a part-time weekend job at a local shop, introducing yourself and your interest in the role.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Introduces the writer clearly and states the specific position being applied for.
- Uses a formal, professional tone appropriate for a job application.
Examiner tip: A job application letter should be formal and specific, naming the exact role rather than writing generally about wanting a job.
20.
Write the opening of a blog post sharing your experience of trying a new hobby for the first time.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a personal, engaging and conversational blog voice.
- Introduces the hobby and gives an honest first impression of trying it.
Examiner tip: Blog writing is typically informal and personal, written as if speaking directly and honestly to an interested reader.
21.
Write the opening of promotional copy for a new café, designed to make it sound appealing to potential customers.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Uses vivid, appealing language designed to attract potential customers.
- Highlights a specific, appealing feature of the café rather than only vague general praise.
Examiner tip: Promotional writing should sound enthusiastic and specific, giving a concrete reason to visit rather than empty praise.
22.
Write the opening of a tribute speech celebrating the achievements of a retiring teacher at your school.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a warm, respectful and appreciative tone suitable for a tribute.
- Refers to a specific quality or achievement of the teacher, rather than only generic praise.
Examiner tip: A tribute speech is most moving when it uses specific, personal details rather than only broad, generic compliments.
23.
Write the opening of a formal letter to a local council requesting that a new pedestrian crossing be installed near a school.
[2 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Clearly states the specific request: a new pedestrian crossing near the school.
- Gives a clear, relevant reason supporting the request, such as safety for schoolchildren.
Examiner tip: A formal request letter should state exactly what is being asked for early on, then justify it with relevant reasons.
24.
Write the opening paragraphs of a short story that begins with a character discovering an old, locked box in their grandmother's attic.
[3 marks] · no calculator
Marking points
- Establishes a clear setting and atmosphere appropriate to the discovery.
- Creates intrigue about the box's contents without revealing them, encouraging the reader to want to continue.
- Uses narrative techniques (such as sensory detail or pacing) rather than simply stating facts about the box.
Examiner tip: A mysterious object is most effective as a hook when its contents are withheld, giving the reader a question they want answered.