How to Describe People, Places, and Events in SPM English

The Difference Between Telling and Showing

Most SPM students tell the reader what happened. A-grade students show it.

Telling: The old man was sad.

Showing: The old man sat alone on the park bench, tracing circles on the armrest with a trembling finger. His eyes, red-rimmed and unfocused, stared at something no one else could see.

Both describe the same person. But the second version earns higher marks because the examiner can picture the old man. That’s what descriptive writing does — it creates a mental image.

The skill of description applies everywhere in SPM English: narrative essays, descriptive essays, and even the descriptive sections of directed writing. Master it, and every essay improves.

How to Describe People

Physical Appearance: Go Beyond “Tall” and “Beautiful”

Instead of generic adjectives, use specific details that make the person unique.

Generic: She was a beautiful girl.

Specific: Her long dark hair, always braided over one shoulder, swayed as she walked. A scatter of freckles ran across her nose, giving her face a perpetual look of curiosity.

Word Bank: Physical Descriptions

Face and expressions:

• weathered, angular, round, gaunt, freckled
• a warm smile, a crooked grin, furrowed brows, piercing gaze
• crow’s feet around the eyes, a dimpled chin

Build and posture:

• broad-shouldered, wiry, stocky, slender, hunched
• walked with a brisk stride, shuffled along, moved with quiet confidence

Distinctive features:

• calloused hands (shows hard work), ink-stained fingers (shows a writer), a scar above the eyebrow

Personality: Show Through Actions, Not Labels

Don’t say “she was kind.” Show kindness through what the person does:

During recess, while everyone rushed to the canteen, Nurul stayed behind to help Ahmad pick up the books he’d dropped. She didn’t say anything — just knelt down and started gathering them.

The reader concludes “she’s kind” without being told. This is far more convincing than a direct label.

Word Bank: Personality Through Action

How to Describe Places

The 5 Senses Approach

Most students describe places using only sight. A-grade descriptions engage at least 3 senses.

Sight only: The market was crowded and colourful.

Multi-sensory: The pasar malam stretched down both sides of the narrow street, tables groaning under pyramids of mangosteens and spiky durians. The sweet rot of overripe fruit mixed with the sharp sizzle of satay dripping fat onto charcoal. Somewhere behind the crowd, a radio crackled out a dangdut tune, barely audible over the bargaining voices.

Word Bank: Places and Settings

Market/street scene:

• bustling, teeming, crammed, shoulder-to-shoulder
• the hiss of woks, the clatter of plastic stools, the honk of motorbikes
• steam rising from pots, fairy lights strung between poles

School:

• the squeak of shoes on linoleum, chalk dust hanging in a beam of sunlight
• peeling paint on corridor walls, the metallic clang of lockers
• the hum of ceiling fans struggling against the afternoon heat

Nature/kampung:

• dew clinging to the lalang grass, mist rolling between hills
• the shrill chorus of cicadas, the distant crow of a rooster
• the smell of woodsmoke and damp earth after rain

Structure: Wide Shot to Close-Up

Describe a place the way a camera would film it:

1. Wide shot — the overall scene: “The fishing village clung to the edge of the river, a handful of wooden houses on stilts overlooking the murky brown water.”
2. Medium shot — zoom in on one area: “On the nearest jetty, a row of fishing boats bobbed gently, their blue hulls faded by years of sun and salt.”
3. Close-up — one specific detail: “A coil of frayed rope lay at the jetty’s edge, its end trailing in the current like a tired snake.”

This structure gives your description order and depth. The examiner follows your “camera” naturally.

How to Describe Events

Before, During, After

The simplest structure for describing an event:

1. Before — build anticipation: “The school hall buzzed with nervous energy. Students clutched their scripts, mouthing lines to themselves.”
2. During — capture the action and emotion: “When Siti stepped onto the stage, the murmuring stopped. She drew a breath so deep her shoulders lifted, then spoke — and her voice filled every corner of the hall.”
3. After — show the impact: “The applause started slowly, then swelled until it shook the windows. Siti’s hands were still trembling, but her face split into a smile so wide it made the audience smile back.”

Action Descriptions: Use Strong Verbs

Weak descriptions rely on adjectives. Strong descriptions use precise verbs.

Word Bank: Events and Actions

Sports/competition:

• lunged, sprinted, swerved, stumbled, leapt, dived
• the whistle shrieked, the crowd roared, the scoreboard flickered

Ceremonies/performances:

• filed in, shuffled to their seats, craned their necks
• the spotlight swept across the stage, the music swelled
• thunderous applause, a standing ovation, hushed silence

Weather/nature events:

• the sky darkened, lightning forked across the horizon
• rain lashed against windows, puddles swallowed the path
• the wind tore at the trees, sending leaves spiralling

Figurative Language: The A-Grade Bonus

Using figurative language naturally shows the examiner you have a strong command of English. Here are three types that work well in SPM:

Similes (comparing using “like” or “as”)

• The old library smelled like a mix of vanilla and dust.
• She was as calm as still water, even before the exam.

Metaphors (saying something IS something else)

• The classroom was an oven in the afternoon.
• Fear was a stone sitting in my stomach.

Personification (giving human qualities to non-human things)

• The wind whispered secrets through the casuarina trees.
• The old clock on the wall groaned every hour.

SPM tip: Use 2-3 figurative language examples per essay. More than that risks sounding forced.

Common Mistakes in Descriptive Writing

Mistake 1: Over-Using “Very” and “Really”

These words are weak. Replace them with stronger alternatives:

• very tired → exhausted
• really happy → elated, overjoyed
• very big → massive, towering

Mistake 2: Using Cliches

Avoid overused phrases that every student writes:

• “crystal clear water” → Try “water so clear you could count the pebbles at the bottom”
• “as white as snow” → Try “pale as morning mist”
• “butterflies in my stomach” → Try “my stomach clenched like a fist”

Mistake 3: Describing Everything Equally

Not every detail deserves equal attention. Focus on 2-3 key details that create the strongest impression. Less is more in descriptive writing.

Putting It All Together: A Practice Exercise

Describe this scene using at least 3 senses and one figurative language device:

Topic: A rainy afternoon at a Malaysian hawker centre.

Example response:

The plastic chairs scraped against wet concrete as customers huddled under the green tarpaulin. Rain drummed on the zinc roof overhead — a relentless percussion that drowned out conversation. At the nearest stall, a woman ladled steaming curry mee into bowls, the broth golden against the white noodles. Its fragrance — coconut milk, lemongrass, and chilli — fought bravely against the damp petrichor of the rain. A toddler at the next table pressed her palms against a puddle, laughing each time the cold water splashed her face. The rain showed no sign of stopping, but nobody seemed to mind. In a hawker centre, the weather is just an excuse to order one more bowl.

Count the senses: sight (golden broth, puddle), sound (rain drumming, chairs scraping), smell (coconut, lemongrass, petrichor), touch (cold water). Figurative language: “relentless percussion” (metaphor), “fought bravely” (personification).

Want to Master Descriptive Writing?

Descriptive writing is one of the highest-scoring skills in SPM English essays. At SPMEnglish.com.my, we practise these techniques with personalised feedback on every essay. WhatsApp us to find out how we can help you write essays that stand out.

Related Resources

• Essay Writing Techniques — Complete guide to SPM essay skills
• Vocabulary Building for SPM — Build the word bank for vivid descriptions
• Extended Writing & Essay Program — Dedicated essay training with feedback
• SPM English Descriptive Essay Tips — More descriptive essay strategies