11plus creative writing tips

11+ creative writing guide with 50 example topics and prompts

by Hayley | Nov 17, 2022 | Exams , Writing | 0 comments

The 11+ exam is a school entrance exam taken in the academic year that a child in the UK turns eleven.

These exams are highly competitive, with multiple students battling for each school place awarded.

The 11 plus exam isn’t ‘one thing’, it varies in its structure and composition across the country. A creative writing task is included in nearly all of the 11 plus exams, and parents are often confused about what’s being tested.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the plot of your child’s writing task is important. It is not.

The real aim of the 11+ creative writing task is to showcase your child’s writing skills and techniques.

And that’s why preparation is so important.

This guide begins by answering all the FAQs that parents have about the 11+ creative writing task.

At the end of the article I give my best tips & strategies for preparing your child for the 11+ creative writing task , along with 50 fiction and non-fiction creative writing prompts from past papers you can use to help your child prepare. You’ll also want to check out my 11+ reading list , because great readers turn into great writers.

Do all 11+ exams include a writing task?

Not every 11+ exam includes a short story component, but many do. Usually 3 to 5 different prompts are given for the child to choose between and they are not always ‘creative’ (fiction) pieces. One or more non-fiction options might be given for children who prefer writing non-fiction to fiction.

Timings and marking vary from test to test. For example, the Kent 11+ Test gives students 10 minutes for planning followed by 30 minutes for writing. The Medway 11+ Test gives 60 minutes for writing with ‘space allowed’ on the answer booklet for planning.

Tasks vary too. In the Kent Test a handful of stimuli are given, whereas 11+ students in Essex are asked to produce two individually set paragraphs. The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CCSE) includes 2 creative writing paragraphs inside a 60-minute English exam.

Throughout the UK each 11+ exam has a different set of timings and papers based around the same themes. Before launching into any exam preparation it is essential to know the content and timing of your child’s particular writing task.

However varied and different these writing tasks might seem, there is one key element that binds them.

The mark scheme.

Although we can lean on previous examples to assess how likely a short story or a non-fiction tasks will be set, it would be naïve to rely completely on the content of past papers. Contemporary 11+ exams are designed to be ‘tutor-proof’ – meaning that the exam boards like to be unpredictable.

In my online writing club for kids , we teach a different task each week (following a spiral learning structure based on 10 set tasks). One task per week is perfected as the student moves through the programme of content, and one-to-one expert feedback ensures progression. This equips our writing club members to ‘write effectively for a range of purposes’ as stated in the English schools’ teacher assessment framework.

This approach ensures that students approaching a highly competitive entrance exam will be confident of the mark scheme (and able to meet its demands) for any task set.

Will my child have a choice of prompts to write from or do they have to respond to a single prompt, without a choice?

This varies. In the Kent Test there are usually 5 options given. The purpose is to gather a writing sample from each child in case of a headteacher appeal. A range of options should allow every child to showcase what they can do.

In Essex, two prescriptive paragraphs are set as part of an hour-long English paper that includes comprehension and vocabulary work. In Essex, there is no option to choose the subject matter.

The Medway Test just offers a single prompt for a whole hour of writing. Sometimes it is a creative piece. Recently it was a marketing leaflet.

The framework for teaching writing in English schools demands that in order to ‘exceed expectations’ or better, achieve ‘greater depth’, students need to be confident writing for a multitude of different purposes.

In what circumstances is a child’s creative writing task assessed?

In Essex (east of the UK) the two prescriptive writing tasks are found inside the English exam paper. They are integral to the exam and are assessed as part of this.

In Medway (east Kent in the South East) the writing task is marked and given a raw score. This is then adjusted for age and double counted. Thus, the paper is crucial to a pass.

In the west of the county of Kent there is a different system. The Kent Test has a writing task that is only marked in appeal cases. If a child dips below the passmark their school is allowed to put together a ‘headteacher’s appeal’. At this point – before the score is communicated to the parent (and probably under cover of darkness) the writing sample is pulled out of a drawer and assessed.

I’ve been running 11+ tutor clubs for years. Usually about 1% of my students passed at headteacher’s appeal.

Since starting the writing club, however, the number of students passing at appeal has gone up considerably. In recent years it’s been more like 5% of students passing on the strength of their writing sample.

What are the examiners looking for when they’re marking a student’s creative writing?

In England, the government has set out a framework for marking creative writing. There are specific ‘pupil can’ statements to assess whether a student is ‘working towards the expected standard,’ ‘working at the expected standard’ or ‘working at greater depth’.

Members of the headteacher panel assessing the writing task are given a considerable number of samples to assess at one time. These expert teachers have a clear understanding of the framework for marking, but will not be considering or discussing every detail of the writing sample as you might expect.

Schools are provided with a report after the samples have been assessed. This is very brief indeed. Often it will simply say ‘lack of precise vocabulary’ or ‘confused paragraphing.’

So there is no mark scheme as such. They won’t be totting up your child’s score to see if they have reached a given target. They are on the panel because of their experience, and they have a short time to make an instant judgement.

Does handwriting matter?

Handwriting is assessed in primary schools. Thus it is an element of the assessment framework the panel uses as a basis for their decision.

If the exam is very soon, then don’t worry if your child is not producing immaculate, cursive handwriting. The focus should simply be on making it well-formed and legible. Every element of the assessment framework does not need to be met and legible writing will allow the panel to read the content with ease.

Improve presentation quickly by offering a smooth rollerball pen instead of a pencil. Focus on fixing individual letters and praising your child for any hint of effort. The two samples below are from the same boy a few months apart. Small changes have transformed the look and feel:

Sample 1: First piece of work when joining the writing club

Sample 2: This is the same boy’s improved presentation and content

How long should the short story be.

First, it is not a short story as such—it is a writing sample. Your child needs to showcase their skills but there are no extra marks for finishing (or marks deducted for a half-finished piece).

For a half hour task, you should prepare your child to produce up to 4 paragraphs of beautifully crafted work. Correct spelling and proper English grammar is just the beginning. Each paragraph should have a different purpose to showcase the breadth and depth of their ability. A longer – 60 minute – task might have 5 paragraphs but rushing is to be discouraged. Considered and interesting paragraphs are so valuable, a shorter piece would be scored more highly than a rushed and dull longer piece.

I speak from experience. A while ago now I was a marker for Key Stage 2 English SATs Papers (taken in Year 6 at 11 years old). Hundreds of scripts were deposited on my doorstep each morning by DHL. There was so much work for me to get through that I came to dread long, rambling creative pieces. Some children can write pages and pages of repetitive nothingness. Ever since then, I have looked for crafted quality and am wary of children judging their own success by the number of lines competed.

Take a look at the piece of writing below. It’s an excellent example of a well-crafted piece.

Each paragraph is short, but the writer is skilful.

He used rich and precisely chosen vocabulary, he’s broken the text into natural paragraphs, and in the second paragraph he is beginning to vary his sentence openings. There is a sense of control to the sentences – the sentence structure varies with shorter and longer examples to manage tension. It is exciting to read, with a clear awareness of his audience. Punctuation is accurate and appropriate.

11+ creative writing example story

How important is it to revise for a creative writing task.

It is important.

Every student should go into their 11+ writing task with a clear paragraph plan secured. As each paragraph has a separate purpose – to showcase a specific skill – the plan should reflect this. Built into the plan is a means of flexing it, to alter the order of the paragraphs if the task demands it. There’s no point having a Beginning – Middle – End approach, as there’s nothing useful there to guide the student to the mark scheme.

Beyond this, my own students have created 3 – 5 stories that fit the same tight plan. However, the setting, mood and action are all completely different. This way a bank of rich vocabulary has already been explored and a technique or two of their own that fits the piece beautifully. These can be drawn upon on the day to boost confidence and give a greater sense of depth and consideration to their timed sample.

Preparation, rather than revision in its classic form, is the best approach. Over time, even weeks or months before the exam itself, contrasting stories are written, improved upon, typed up and then tweaked further as better ideas come to mind. Each of these meets the demands of the mark scheme (paragraphing, varied sentence openings, rich vocabulary choices, considered imagery, punctuation to enhance meaning, development of mood etc).

To ensure your child can write confidently at and above the level expected of them, drop them into my weekly weekly online writing club for the 11+ age group . The club marking will transform their writing, and quickly.

What is the relationship between the English paper and the creative writing task?

Writing is usually marked separately from any comprehension or grammar exercises in your child’s particular 11+ exam. Each exam board (by area/school) adapts the arrangement to suit their needs. Some have a separate writing test, others build it in as an element of their English paper (usually alongside a comprehension, punctuation and spelling exercise).

Although there is no creative writing task in the ISEB Common Pre-test, those who are not offered an immediate place at their chosen English public school are often invited back to complete a writing task at a later date. Our ISEB Common Pre-test students join the writing club in the months before the exam, first to tidy up the detail and second to extend the content.

What if my child has a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, ASD)?

Most exam boards pride themselves on their inclusivity. They will expect you to have a formal report from a qualified professional at the point of registration for the test. This needs to be in place and the recommendations will be considered by a panel. If your child needs extra arrangements on the day they may be offered (it isn’t always the case). More importantly, if they drop below a pass on one or more papers you will have a strong case for appeal.

Children with a specific learning difficulty often struggle with low confidence in their work and low self-esteem. The preparations set out above, and a kids writing club membership will allow them to go into the exam feeling positive and empowered. If they don’t achieve a pass at first, the writing sample will add weight to their appeal.

Tips and strategies for writing a high-scoring creative writing paper

• Read widely for pleasure. Read aloud to your child if they are reluctant.
• Create a strong paragraph plan where each paragraph has a distinct purpose.
• Using the list of example questions below, discuss how each could be written in the form of your paragraph plan.
• Write 3-5 stories with contrasting settings and action – each one must follow your paragraph plan. Try to include examples of literary devices and figurative language (metaphor, simile) but avoid clichés.
• Tidy up your presentation. Write with a good rollerball pen on A4 lined paper with a printed margin. Cross out with a single horizontal line and banish doodling or scribbles.
• Join the writing club for a 20-minute Zoom task per week with no finishing off or homework. An expert English teacher will mark the work personally on video every Friday and your child’s writing will be quickly transformed.

Pressed for time? Here’s a paragraph plan to follow.

At Griffin Teaching we have an online writing club for students preparing for the 11 plus creative writing task . We’ve seen first-hand what a difference just one or two months of weekly practice can make.

That said, we know that a lot of people reading this page are up against a hard deadline with an 11+ exam date fast approaching.

If that’s you (or your child), what you need is a paragraph plan.

Here’s one tried-and-true paragraph plan that we teach in our clubs. Use this as you work your way through some of the example prompts below.

11+ creative writing paragraph plan

Paragraph 1—description.

Imagine standing in the location and describe what is above the main character, what is below their feet, what is to their left and right, and what is in the distance. Try to integrate frontend adverbials into this paragraph (frontend adverbials are words or phrases used at the beginning of a sentence to describe what follows—e.g. When the fog lifted, he saw… )

Paragraph 2—Conversation

Create two characters who have different roles (e.g. site manager and student, dog walker and lost man) and write a short dialogue between them. Use what we call the “sandwich layout,” where the first person says something and you describe what they are doing while they are saying it. Add in further descriptions (perhaps of the person’s clothing or expression) before starting a new line where the second character gives a simple answer and you provide details about what the second character is doing as they speak.

Paragraph 3—Change the mood

Write three to four sentences that change the mood of the writing sample from light to gloomy or foreboding. You could write about a change in the weather or a change in the lighting of the scene. Another approach is to mention how a character reacts to the change in mood, for example by pulling their coat collar up to their ears.

Paragraph 4—Shock your reader

A classic approach is to have your character die unexpectedly in the final sentence. Or maybe the ceiling falls?

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—fictional prompts

• The day the storm came
• The day the weather changed
• The snowstorm
• The rainy day
• A sunny day out
• A foggy (or misty) day
• A day trip to remember
• The first day
• The day everything changed
• The mountain
• The hillside
• The old house
• The balloon
• The old man
• The accident
• The unfamiliar sound
• A weekend away
• Moving house
• A family celebration
• An event you remember from when you were young
• An animal attack
• The school playground at night
• The lift pinged and the door opened. I could not believe what was inside…
• “Run!” he shouted as he thundered across the sand…
• It was getting late as I dug in my pocket for the key to the door. “Hurry up!” she shouted from inside.
• I know our back garden very well, but I was surprised how different it looked at midnight…
• The red button on the wall has a sign on it saying, ‘DO NOT TOUCH.’ My little sister leant forward and hit it hard with her hand. What happened next?
• Digging down into the soft earth, the spade hit something metal…
• Write a story which features the stopping of time.
• Write a story which features an unusual method of transport.
• The cry in the woods
• Write a story which features an escape

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—non-fiction prompts

• Write a thank you letter for a present you didn’t want.
• You are about to interview someone for a job. Write a list of questions you would like to ask the applicant.
• Write a letter to complain about the uniform at your school.
• Write a leaflet to advertise your home town.
• Write a thank you letter for a holiday you didn’t enjoy.
• Write a letter of complaint to the vet after an unfortunate incident in the waiting room.
• Write a set of instructions explaining how to make toast.
• Describe the room you are in.
• Describe a person who is important to you.
• Describe your pet or an animal you know well.

Mastering Creative Writing 11 Plus: Essential Strategies & Examples

Struggling with preparing your child for the 11 Plus creative writing exam? Fear not. This definitive guide offers proven strategies, vital skills insight, and inspiring examples to ensure young writers are primed for success. No fluff, just actionable advice for mastering the creative writing 11 plus exam .

Key Takeaways

• The 11 Plus creative writing exam assesses a wide range of skills including story structure, vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to engage and evoke emotions in the reader, forming a significant part of the 11 Plus English exam.
• Skills crucial for success in the exam include a strong vocabulary and grammar, well-planned and structured writing, the use of sensory details and literary devices , as well as crafting memorable characters and incorporating various types of writing tasks.
• Preparation for the 11 Plus creative writing exam should involve understanding test requirements, regular practice, receiving feedback, employing time management strategies during the exam, and utilizing resources like books, worksheets, and personalized tuition.

Understanding the 11 Plus Creative Writing Exam

The 11 Plus creative writing exam is designed to evaluate a student’s ability to produce engaging and well-structured written work.

It focuses on their narrative and language skills, assessing their:

• Punctuation
• Complex sentence structure

Examiners look for evidence of planning, creativity, and an extensive vocabulary as the backbone of a well-crafted story.

So, what does this mean for your child? It means that the creative writing exam is more than just a test of writing ability. It’s an assessment of how well they can craft a story, how vividly they can describe a scene or character, and how effectively they can engage a reader with their writing.

But don’t worry, in the coming sections, we’ll break down the skills your child needs to excel in the 11 Plus creative writing exam.

Importance of Creative Writing in 11 Plus

The creative writing task is indeed a substantial component of the 11 Plus English exam, accounting for 50% of the total marks. Its significance lies in its ability to assess students’ overall language skills, including their knack for evoking emotions through their writing.

The 11 Plus creative writing exam evaluates key writing skills such as:

• Character creation
• Use of descriptive language

Examiners look for effective planning, creativity, fluency, sound grammar, and a strong vocabulary – all attributes of great writers.

Common Types of 11 Plus Creative Writing Tasks

The 11 Plus creative writing exam, also known as the creative writing test, can be quite diverse in its requirements, and preparing for creative writing exams encompasses various types of writing tasks, notably descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and expository.

Narrative tasks require storytelling with a clear beginning, middle, and end, while descriptive tasks focus on painting a vivid picture of a scene or character.

Persuasive writing challenges the student to convince the reader of a particular point of view, and expository writing aims to explain or inform about a topic.

Students may also be asked to continue a provided storyline or craft a piece based on a visual prompt. Each of these types of tasks calls for different writing techniques and skills, which we’ll explore later in this post.

Developing Key Skills for 11 Plus Creative Writing

Now that we understand what the 11 Plus creative writing exam entails, let’s delve into the key child’s writing skills your child needs to develop to excel in this exam. Having an extensive and engaging vocabulary along with a well-planned structure in writing is critical for success.

Moreover, students should practice creative writing regularly by exploring a wide range of topics. This helps to improve their adaptability and proficiency in different writing scenarios. But, what does this regular practice look like? And what specific skills should your child focus on?

Let’s delve deeper.

Enhancing Vocabulary and Grammar

A key area to focus on is vocabulary and grammar. Utilizing a wide array of adjectives, nouns, and adverbs can help students avoid monotonous descriptions and create more engaging narratives. Incorporating even a few complex words can significantly showcase a student’s command of advanced vocabulary.

Developing strong grammar skills, particularly in comma usage and character dialogue formatting, is crucial for enhancing the quality of creative writing.

Regular practice with grammar and punctuation is essential for students to write fluently and competently during the 11 Plus creative writing tasks.

Building Strong Story Structures

Another key skill to master in story writing is building strong story structures. A creative writing piece should be structured with a classic story arc comprising a beginning, middle, and end.

The beginning of a story should introduce the main character, and their environment, and potentially set forth a goal to generate interest. An effective middle of the story should present goals for the characters and introduce problems or conflicts they need to navigate or solve.

Essentially, when planning a story, ensure there is a clear and engaging plot with a defined beginning, a well-developed middle, and a satisfying end.

Mastering Punctuation and Spelling

Punctuation and spelling may seem like basic components of writing, but mastering them is essential for clarity and accuracy in creative writing. Precise use of punctuation, including the correct use of quotation marks, commas, and full stops, is necessary for clarity in writing.

Students should familiarize themselves with the following:

• The correct use of capital letters
• Punctuation to end sentences
• Using commas correctly in long sentences
• Formatting character dialogue properly
• Ensuring complicated words are spelled correctly

These skills are critical to maintaining accuracy in creative writing.

Effective Creative Writing Techniques

In addition to mastering the basics of writing, students need to employ effective creative writing techniques.

These techniques should utilize sensory details to create vivid descriptions, allowing readers to:

• See the story environment
• Hear the sounds in the story
• Smell the scents in the story
• Feel the textures and sensations in the story
• Taste the flavors in the story

Successful creative writing captures a reader’s attention by showcasing the writer’s creativity, imagination, and fluent writing style. Mastering these creative writing techniques is a common factor among great writers, which is also essential for excelling in 11 Plus creative writing tasks. Let’s delve into these techniques.

Engaging the Reader with Sensory Details

Engaging the reader with sensory details is a powerful tool in creative writing. Effective sensory details should consist of specific, descriptive words that appeal to the senses beyond sight, allowing readers to visualize the story.

It’s important to include these details in a way that is relevant to the plot and characters and to balance them with other elements to avoid over-describing.

Sensory details not only bring scenes to life but also provide insight into characters’ personalities and internal conflicts, contributing to a more immersive and believable world.

To write imaginatively about sensory experiences, writers should draw on their real-life observations and memories, imagining themselves in their characters’ situations.

Crafting Memorable Characters

Crafting memorable characters is another effective technique. Fictional characters with a mix of motivations and goals, such as those seen in Harry Potter, are more engaging and drive the narrative effectively.

A detailed backstory for significant characters informs their decisions, enhances credibility, and adds depth, even if not fully disclosed to the reader. Secondary characters, like sidekicks or foils, are crucial as they highlight the main character’s traits and contribute to story dynamics.

The choice of narrative perspective, whether it is the first person or third person, shapes how a character is perceived and what information about them is revealed. Introducing conflict tests characters’ resolves reveals their weaknesses, and propels the narrative while adding character depth.

Incorporating Literary Devices

Incorporating literary devices like metaphors, similes, and alliteration can enhance a student’s writing style. However, they should be prioritized for story enhancement rather than just inclusion.

The purpose of using similes and metaphors in creative writing is to enhance clarity, ensuring that they contribute to the reader’s understanding rather than confusing. Transforming a descriptive simile into a concrete and relatable comparison can distinguish a student’s work.

Preparing for the 11 Plus Creative Writing Exam

Preparing for the 11 Plus creative writing exam involves:

• Understanding the test format
• Honing writing skills
• Regular practice on various creative writing topics
• Guidance from parents, teachers, or tuition, especially when formal school support is not sufficient.

Refresher courses before the exam can recap key concepts and exam techniques, and provide mock exams as homework to boost confidence on the exam day.

Preparation should include:

• Focusing on the resolution of storylines and the emotions of characters to ensure a compelling ending
• Attention to detail in grammar, punctuation, and use of tenses forms the backbone of a well-written creative piece
• Proofreading is paramount in creative writing to prevent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and tense usage

Regular Practice and Feedback

Regular practice and feedback are crucial for improving creative writing skills. Utilizing the technique of writing about daily activities or travels consistently can substantially improve the creative writing skills required for the 11 Plus exams.

Enrolling in creative writing courses or taking creative writing lessons can also be beneficial in honing these skills. In addition, following creative writing tips can further enhance one’s writing abilities.

Establishing a routine practice schedule that involves writing exercises and checking off criteria sought by examiners aids in pinpointing areas that need enhancement.

Parents can support their child’s 11 Plus exam preparation by helping their child prepare through:

• Encouraging reading
• Expanding vocabulary
• Using practice papers
• Providing targeted feedback to address weaknesses.

Mock tests serve as an indispensable tool for students to familiarize themselves with the 11 Plus exam structure and to take advantage of learning opportunities from their mistakes before facing the actual examination.

Utilizing Resources and Support

In addition to regular practice and feedback, utilizing resources like books, worksheets, and personalized tuition can enhance exam preparation for 11 Plus creative writing.

Books such as ‘11+ Essentials Creative Writing Examples’ and ‘Bond 11+: English Focus on Writing’ are specifically recommended for students preparing for the 11 Plus creative writing exam.

Apart from books, creative writing worksheets and personalized tuition can be beneficial in enhancing exam preparation . Personalized tuition offers individualized attention and can provide targeted feedback to help students improve their writing skills.

Time Management and Proofreading

Effective time management and proofreading are vital for presenting a polished and error-free final piece in the creative writing exam. Pupils typically have under an hour to draft, write, and review their work during the 11 Plus creative writing task, with the exam often lasting between 30-45 minutes.

Effective time management is critical and requires strategic planning to ensure that all parts of the writing process are completed within the limited time frame. Proofreading is a vital step in the creative writing process, allowing students to present a polished and error-free final piece.

During proofreading, students should focus on correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes, and ensuring proper use of capital letters and quotation marks.

Real-life Examples and Success Stories

Seeing success can be an excellent motivator. Let’s take a look at some real-life examples and success stories. One student’s journey began with average marks in creative writing but grew to consistently attain top marks in the 11 Plus creative writing section due to regular practice and feedback.

Another student’s passion for reading a variety of genres played a crucial role in their creative writing development, enabling them to write compelling and diverse content.

A strong correlation was noted between frequent writing practice and a student’s subsequent improvement in creative writing scores for the 11 Plus, showcasing how creative writing tested their abilities.

Targeted and personalized feedback given to a student contributed significantly to the enhancement of their creative writing skills. Successful creative writing submissions often featured dynamic openings that captivated readers’ attention and imaginative endings that left a lasting impression.

In conclusion, the 11 Plus creative writing exam is a comprehensive test of a student’s narrative and language skills. It assesses their ability to craft engaging and well-structured stories and to use a range of writing techniques effectively.

From enhancing vocabulary and grammar to building strong story structures and incorporating literary devices, there are many skills that students need to master to excel in the exam.

With regular practice, feedback, the right resources, and effective time management, students can develop these skills and excel in the 11 Plus creative writing exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the 11 Plus creative writing exam, students’ narrative and language skills are assessed, including crafting engaging and well-structured stories, and the use of grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and writing techniques.

The exam includes various types of writing tasks, such as descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and expository writing, as well as continuing a provided storyline or crafting a piece based on a visual prompt. Prepare for a diverse range of writing challenges.

To enhance their vocabulary and grammar for the exam, students should engage in regular practice, read diverse texts, and incorporate a variety of adjectives, nouns, and adverbs in their writing. This will help them improve their language skills and perform better in the exam.

Students can use books, creative writing worksheets, personalized tuition, and seek regular practice and feedback from teachers or tutors to prepare for the exam. These resources can be highly beneficial in achieving success.

Effective time management is crucial for completing all writing tasks within the exam time frame while proofreading ensures a polished and error-free final piece by correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

How To Prepare For 11 Plus (11+) Creative Writing — A Complete Guide

A creative writing exam is always a daunting prospect for 11 Plus students. Writing creatively under pressure, with strict time constraints and an unfamiliar prompt , is a significant challenge. However, it doesn’t have to be. With the right guidance and plenty of practice, students can develop their creative writing skills, learning to showcase their creativity and originality whilst also hitting every key part of a mark scheme .

Creative writing is a key component of some 11 Plus exams, which are used to determine entry to some of the UK's most prestigious independent and grammar schools . A creative writing test is designed to evaluate students' writing skills, including their ability to structure a narrative, create vivid characters and settings, and use descriptive language effectively to convey their ideas.

In this blog post, we will explore how to effectively prepare your child for an 11+ creative writing exam. We’ll give you plenty of practical tips and strategies, as well explaining how we can improve your child’s writing skills to the best of their ability.

The Exam Coach delivers the best online learning experience for children studying to sit the 11+ in the UK. If you have a child about to take the 11 Plus, please read on to discover more about how we can work with you to ensure your child’s success.

Contents 

What is creative writing, how is creative writing tested in the 11 plus exams, what does your child need to succeed in 11 plus creative writing, how can you prepare your child, how can we prepare your child, creative writing courses - what we cover, bonus resources, 👨🏻‍💻 free 11+ practice papers and tuition updates 👩🏾‍💻.

We’ll send you a new English and maths practice paper every week as well as our 11+ workshop schedule. We always run at least two classes a week. Sign up below for the first paper straight to your inbox today! ✉️

We respect your privacy.

Thank you! Please check your email inbox and confirm your free subscription to our email newsletter.

Creative writing is the practice of using English to express an imaginative and original idea , story or concept. It involves using words to create narratives, descriptions, characters, and worlds based on a given prompt. Unlike academic or persuasive writing, which is usually focused on conveying information and facts, creative writing is more concerned with evoking emotions, entertaining the reader and showing a perfect grasp of written English.

Creative writing skills are tested by most independent schools and some grammars as part of their entry exams, including:

The Kent Test

The Sutton Second Stage Exam

Tiffin/Tiffin Girls’ Stage Two Exams

Most independent schools’ exams

Creative writing tasks can take many forms in an 11 plus exam, but students must always follow a given prompt when writing. They may be asked to write about a given topic or given an extract/ image to help spark their creativity. The writing task is always timed and students are usually given between 20–40 minutes to plan, write and check their work . Writing must be completed by hand, unless your child has special permission to use a computer.

Creative writing questions usually fall into three categories:

1. Story writing

Asks you to write a story or description of a given topic or image prompt.

You must answer the exact question you are given, using deep description.

E.G - Describe going on a safari.

2. Continuing a story

Asks you to continue writing from the end of a given extract.

You must continue exactly from the end of the extract, while keeping the style and key elements consistent.

E.G - Continue the given extract.

3. Diary entries

Asks you to write a diary entry on a given topic.

You must begin with “Dear diary,” and the date, describing a day relating to the given prompt.

E.G - Write a diary entry describing your birthday.

When answering the question, students must ensure they are working towards hitting all areas of the mark scheme. This mark scheme differs slightly depending on the school and question given, however, mostly they look for the same skills.

In assessing a student's creative writing skills, examiners typically look for the following:

1. Purpose and organisation

Fully answering the given question.

Using paragraphs to for a beginning, middle, end.

Including full descriptions throughout.

2. Language

Using varied and interesting vocabulary.

Using and sticking to the correct tenses.

Including character speech.

Using various writer’s tricks correctly (such as metaphors, alliteration and similes).

Varying sentence length and styles.

Starting sentences with different words.

Using the correct format (E.G - diary entry).

4. Spelling, punctuation and grammar

Using a range of simple and complex punctuation (E.G - commas, exclamation marks and semicolons).

Using accurate spelling throughout.

Writing in properly formed sentences with few mistakes.

Students must write and work aiming to hit all elements of this mark scheme in order to score highly in a creative writing task.

Check out an example creative writing mark scheme below.

To succeed at an 11 Plus creative writing task, students need a range of skills, including:

1. Imagination and creativity

One of the most important skills for creative writing is the ability to come up with an original idea which fully answers the given question and uses imaginative language. Your child must be able to read any given prompt and be able to come up with at least a few ideas that they could write about in an exam situation.

In the clip below, tutor Katherine discusses using creativity and your imagination when creating characters for a creative writing piece.

2. Vocabulary knowledge

A strong, wide and complex vocabulary is something examiners will be looking for. Your child must be able to demonstrate this in their writing, using tricky words and phrases in context. The more words your child knows and understands, the more likely they’ll be able to use them in their writing task.

3. Spelling, punctuation and grammar

Good writing requires a strong grasp of English spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG). Make sure your child understands the basic rules of grammar and punctuation, so that they can avoid making small mistakes in their writing. Encourage them to practice their writing skills by creating stories or writing letters as often as possible. Practice makes perfect.

Watch the video below for help on using semicolons from top tutor James!

4. Understanding and use of writers’ tricks

Examiners are looking for students to be able to recognise, understand and use literary techniques such as metaphors, similes, personification, and the five senses. These help deepen a description and should be showcased in a writing exam.

5. Adaptability

Students need to be able to approach an unseen question with confidence and a plan. They might be asked to write in a specific format or about a specific topic. Your child should be able to adapt their writing style and tone to fit the task at hand.

6. Planning and organisation

Students must effectively plan and organise their writing. At The Exam Coach, we encourage all students to quickly plan out their writing before they start, using notes or an outline to help structure their ideas. This can then be referred back to as they write.

7. Editing and revision

Similarly, good writing requires some editing and revising. Students must practice rereading and checking their own work, making revisions as needed to improve the overall quality of their writing (specifically with their spelling, punctuation and grammar).

8. Time management

One of the biggest challenges of the 11 Plus. Students are usually given between 20–40 minutes to plan, writing and check their answer. Therefore, it's essential for students to develop effective strategies to maximize their speed and efficiency.

By developing all of these skills, students can approach an 11+ creative writing question with confidence and increase their chances of success. Not sure how to improve your child’s skills in these areas? Read on…

Preparing for an 11+ creative writing exam can be a challenge for both you and your child. Parents can play a crucial role in supporting their child's education and helping them develop the skills they need to succeed, but sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin…

Firstly, parents should encourage their child to use as many practice papers as they can to develop their skills. Practice papers can help students familiarize themselves with the format and style of a writing exam, as well as giving them an idea of what to expect. Practice papers give students experience working through exam style questions, meaning they won’t be surprised by anything on exam day.

Working through practice papers with your child can also be beneficial, as this allows you to identify areas of weakness and provide targeted feedback and guidance.

Parents can also help their child develop their creative writing skills by encouraging them to read. Reading widely and regularly exposes children to a variety of texts and genres and helps them build their creativity, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. Parents can support their child's reading by providing them with a range of age-appropriate books, magazines, and newspapers, and encouraging them to read for pleasure and information. Make sure your child is reading daily in order to develop these skills.

Finally, parents can help their child expand their vocabulary by exposing them to a range of words in daily life. Try to encourage your child to be inquisitive (meaning having or showing an interest in learning things ) and to always ask you or other adults if they ever use words your child does not understand. Hearing and learning new words will allow your child to eventually use them in their speech and writing.

Playing word games, using flashcards, and creative a vocabulary list/book can all be effective strategies for developing a child’s vocabulary. By creating a language-rich environment at home, parents can help their child develop the linguistic skills they need to succeed in an 11+ creative writing exam and beyond.

At The Exam Coach, we are 11 Plus exam experts, focusing on our specialisms:

11+ Creative Writing

11+ Persuasive Writing

11+ Comprehension

11+ Verbal Reasoning

To help students master these subjects, we offer the following services:

5-Day Courses

Weekly Workshops

Practice Papers

Our Vocabulary Podcast

👨‍💻 5-Day courses 👩‍💻

Our full 5-day 11+ courses focus on teaching the key concepts and exam techniques for each of the 11+ disciplines we specialise in:

These courses help students develop the critical foundation needed for each of their 11 Plus exams — for example, understanding effective exam technique and the mark scheme. We provide clear explanations, give students easy-to-remember exam techniques and show worked examples. Our courses are designed to ensure that students master the skills they need in order to achieve their full potential in their 11 Plus.

Types of courses currently offered:

📝 Creative Writing

Suitable for the following exam boards: Kent Test, Sutton Stage 2 and independent/school written exams.

📝 Persuasive Writing

🤔 Verbal Reasoning

Suitable for the following exam boards: GL Assessment, CEM, CAT4, ISEB Common Pre-Test, Kent Test and Sutton SET.

📚 English Comprehension (Multiple Choice Style)

Suitable for the following exam boards: GL Assessment, CEM, ISEB Common Pre-Test, Kent Test and Sutton SET.

📚 English Comprehension (Written Answer Style)

Suitable for the following exam boards: Independent or school written exams.

5x 90-minutes of expert 11+ tuition by an experienced tutor/teacher over 5 days.

Interactive video and microphone access via Zoom.

Detailed class notes, worksheets and other resources for each session.

Key concept explanations and demonstrations.

Exam style question practice and walkthrough.

Competitive class tests.

Self-assessed and marked testing.

Full walkthroughs of answers.

Fun examples and stories.

Detailed and effective exam preparation in chosen 11+ area.

Exam and memory technique explanations.

Model answer explanations (where applicable).

Homework set after each session.

Detailed essay/homework marking and feedback after each session.

When they take place:

Weekends during school term time.

School holidays.

How to register:

📚 Weekly Workshops 📚

In our 11 Plus weekly workshops , your tutor will share some background information about themselves and our workshops with new students. This is followed by 40 minutes of teaching time. Weekly workshops usually run twice a week, usually on weekday evenings . The dates and times of these workshops change each week to ensure everyone can benefit from them.

The content within each workshop varies between 11+ creative writing, comprehension, verbal reasoning or English vocabulary . These classes are a great way to experience our tuition and let your child learn something new before booking one of our courses. Weekly tuition allows us to regularly top up your child’s knowledge during the year prior to their exams.

Each weekly tuition workshop is standalone, meaning your child does not need to have attended any previous sessions to join one. Class notes are sent out 24 hours after each workshop to help students recap what they have learnt.

Types of taster workshop:

Tricky Vocabulary Workout

Verbal Reasoning Synonyms/Antonyms

Comprehension

Creative Writing

45 minutes.

Introduction to The Exam Coach.

Competitive class testing.

Self-assessed testing.

Walkthrough answers.

Class notes.

At least once a week (date and time announced on Mondays via our email newsletter ).

📝 11 Plus Practice Papers 📝

We have plenty of practice papers available for various 11+ exam boards to help your child prepare. We provide papers for CEM, GL, ISEB, Kent, Sutton, and Independent School exams.

We send out one free English or maths paper every Friday via our email newsletter. These papers are free in order to help support your child’s 11 Plus preparation consistently throughout the year.

🎙️ Our Vocabulary Podcast 🎙️

Our 11+ Daily Vocab Show podcast is available on our website and all major streaming platforms. In each episode, we teach children a new word, expanding their vocabulary one word at a time.

Every podcast episode focuses on one tricky piece of vocabulary, ensuring that your child’s vocabulary is built up slowly, fully understanding each word.

All podcast episodes can be found using the links below:

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Music

Listen to the first episode, featuring the word ‘siege’, by clicking the image below. 🏰

In our creative writing course, we teach students the creative writing exam techniques and thought processes our students have used successfully in the past. Students then practise these skills on exam style questions, looking at model answers and working through prompts. By the end of the course, students will be completing creative writing questions confidently, efficiently and accurately.

In the five sessions, we focus on:

Creative writing basics (part 1)

Creative writing basics (part 2)

Types of creative writing

Features of creative writing

Mark schemes and our recommended creative writing system

All our courses are delivered by The Exam Coach’s team of tutors. All of our tutors have:

Passed competitive exams such as the 11 Plus.

Attended a Russell Group University within the last 5-10 years.

Received two weeks of training to deliver expertly within our online workshop format.

Taught our 11 Plus exam preparation curriculum on a regular basis within the last two years.

KEY CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS COVERED

1. Understanding and answering the question. Students will be taught how to understand and answer different types of creative writing question, ensuring they give the examiner exactly what will be rewarded highly in the exam. Mark schemes and model answers will be studied.

Check out the clip below! Tutor Katherine breaks a paragraph from a model answer for the question ‘ Write a diary entry describing a day aboard a pirate ship’.

2. Planning and timing. Leaving enough time for planning, writing and checking is key for a creative writing task but difficult to master for the 11+! We will teach students how to effectively do this.

3. The basics of creative writing. Students will take an in depth look at the basics of storytelling and description, including character, setting, plot, beginnings and endings. Students will be given a variety of prompts, allowing them to use their new knowledge and skills to craft their own sentences and passages of writing.

4. Complex creative writing. Moving on from the basics, students will then be taught how to master the more complex parts of storytelling and description, including narration, tenses, sentence variation and complex punctuation.

5. Types of creative writing. We will explain how to identify and answer the different types of creative writing question that could come up in the 11+ exam. We will look at model answers for story writing, continuous writing, diary entries and image-based writing.

Take a look at the clip below where tutor James talk through the three main types of creative writing question.

6. Vocabulary expansion. 11+ creative writing tests a student’s knowledge of both creative writing and complex English vocabulary. As part of this course, we will focus on expanding your child’s vocabulary, to ensure they can showcase their knowledge of the English language in their creative writing exam. We will work through some complex synonyms and antonyms for more common words, as well as identifying the meanings of tricky words in our model answers.

7. Writer’s tools and literary devices. Students will be taught the key literary devices (or writer’s tricks) they will need for their creative writing exam. They will be taught how and when to use devices such as metaphors, alliteration, similes, personification and onomatopoeia, as well as how to come up with their own examples of these in an exam situation. Students will be provided with easy ways to remember these techniques under exam conditions.

In the clip below, tutor James explains what a metaphor is and how students can use them in their exam.

COURSE RESOURCES

Worksheets, model answers, homework and class notes are sent out before the start of the course. These can either be printed or viewed digitally. For all workshops, students receive:

A worksheet to complete in the workshop.

One or two new model answers per workshop.

Class notes to help consolidate learning and give students an opportunity to recap some of what was covered in the workshop.

A homework task.

HOMEWORK AND MARKING

A 25-minute writing task is set for all students after each workshop. They complete this task after the workshop has finished and then send it to us via email ([email protected]). Each piece of homework is then individually marked and reviewed by one of our tutors (usually within 2 working days). For each homework submission, parents receive:

An annotated copy of the homework, marking highlights and areas for improvement.

A 5-minute-long voice note from the tutor to your child, celebrating successes, correcting any mistakes and highlighting areas for improvement. Importantly, our tutors will show your child how they could have improved, as opposed to just where their writing was weaker.

Got any questions about our courses? Fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch!

Thanks for reading this far! Click the links below to access some of our free 11+ resources. We hope you find them useful.

All Free 11 Plus Exam Practice Papers and Answers

Free 11 Plus English and Verbal Reasoning Taster Sessions

11 Plus English Vocabulary Podcast

11 Plus Exam Help: A Detailed 18 Point Guide

11 Plus Exam Syllabus — GL, CEM, Kent, Sutton SET, ISEB, CAT4 & Independent

11 Plus Tricky Vocabulary List 2023

11 Plus Recommended Reading List

11 Plus Creative and Persuasive Writing: Student Model Answers and Feedback

11 Plus Independent Schools’ Entrance Exams Explained

The Exam Coach's Guide to the ISEB Common Pre-Test

The Best 11 Plus Online Tuition - The Exam Coach Way

Thank you! You will receive a confirmation email very soon. Please confirm your subscription.

If your child has gained value from The Exam Coach, please leave us a review on Google. Your reviews allow us to keep our business alive and kicking. If you could spare a moment of your time, we would be enormously grateful. Click the stars below to begin. Thank you.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Ten 11+ & 13+ Creative Writing Tips For Excellent Exam Stories

When my students get the hang of these techniques, it makes an enormous difference to their creative writing – but it takes practice.

M y advice for 11 plus stories in this article applies just as well to 8 plus, 13 plus or GCSE … in fact, although I have written with 11 plus creative writing in mind, my suggestions should be relevant at any level.

I’ve been teaching these things to young people for many years, and I hope you also find them useful. Please write a comment if you do!

The creative writing materials offered by 11 Plus Lifeline teach students to use all the techniques explained on this page.

Every writing paper has full example answers, as well as detailed step-by-step discussions, marking guidelines and story-planning advice. Papers are structured to help students develop high-level skills – and just as importantly, to enjoy themselves!

Click on the infographic to view a zoomable version in a new tab:

Share this Image On Your Site

1 – before you write, daydream.

If you can see your story’s world in your head, you will be able to describe it powerfully.

If you can’t, your descriptions risk being superficial and your writing uninteresting.

After a little daydream, your next step is to turn it into a simple plan:

THE STORY PLANNING PROCESS

1) the main event.

The first thing to write in your plan is the main event in your story (see point 2 , below). Keep this simple for now.

2) Your Main Character

Next, jot down a few notes about your main character (see point 3 ). What is interesting about them? Try to imagine them sitting in the place next to you. See them clearly in your mind. Who are they, really?

3) Getting There

Now note down some ideas for how you will get to the main event. Make this simple too: don’t write more than a couple of lines.

4) … And Getting Out Of There!

Finally, write a few thoughts about what will happen after the event: why does it matter, and – above all else – how does it affect your characters?

The reason I suggest this order of planning is that when you only have a short time to write, there are two important things which will hold your story together: the main event (what it is about ) and your central character (who gives us a reason to care ).

Everything else should be very simple, allowing you to focus on describing beautifully.

In fact, you can probably guess what the next of my 11 plus tips is …

2 – Keep things simple! In an 11 plus exam story, choose  one main plot event & bring it to life.

If there are too many things happening, your descriptive skills may get lost.

What’s more, once there are lots of dramatic events in a story, many students struggle to write about all of them properly.

Look at this example:

As they walked through the forest a tree fell and nearly crushed them. That was close , thought Claudia. Then they sat down to scrutinise the map.

It’s good to describe the small details of life – and especially with an interesting verb like “scrutinise”.

But if you forget to fully describe big events, such as a tree almost killing your characters, the effect is very peculiar. It implies that a near-death experience is no more interesting than reading a map!

Either give dramatic events their due importance, by describing them powerfully and giving a clear sense of your characters’ reactions, or steer clear of them altogether.

This is often a problem in exam stories with too much action, or with too many plot events in general.

It’s best to structure your story around one main event, which isn’t too extreme. Spend the rest of your time building up to it and showing its after-effects.

3 – Focus on one character

Just as it’s best to focus your writing around one main event, it makes sense to have one core character.

You probably won’t have time to make more than one person interesting and believable in a thirty minute writing exam. If you try, you’re at risk of coming unstuck.

(If you feel really confident, you might manage to develop two characters: a brother and sister, for example. But in the exam itself, ask yourself: Is it worth the risk? )

Make your main character really interesting, and only refer to others in passing.

4 – Put a little dialogue in … but don’t write a play script!

“Because writing dialogue is easier than thinking,” he said.

“That makes sense,” I said, “because otherwise I can’t explain why we’ve been chatting pointlessly for two full pages.”

Dialogue is excellent in an exam piece, and you should aim to include some in every story. However, there are risks, demonstrated by the example above!

Don’t let your story turn into a play script.

Use a little dialogue in 11+ creative writing, but focus on your descriptions of the setting, characters and events.

When you do write conversations, don’t stop describing. Avoid repeating “I said”, “she said”, “Mum answered”, and so on.

Instead, add little details which help the reader to imagine the scene as the characters talk.

Describe how people move around between saying things, the expressions on their faces, and so on:

“Because writing dialogue is easier than thinking,” he replied, a hint of a smile twitching like a worm at the edge of his mouth.

A quick note about paragraphing:

Examiners are likely to expect that a new speaker begins on a new line, if somebody else has already spoken in the paragraph.

This doesn’t happen in every book you’ll read, but it’s a convention – a normal way of doing things – which you are supposed to know about.

Look at this way of writing the example at the top, and think about where a sentence should begin a new line :

“Why are we still talking?” I said. “Because writing dialogue is easier than thinking,” he said. “That makes sense,” I said, “because otherwise I can’t explain why we’ve already been talking for two full pages.”

Now check the original again, to see whether you were right!

And now for the advertising break. Time to run away and make a cup of tea …

RSL Creative Writing is the children’s writing course from RSL Educational, written by Robert Lomax.

It’s perfect for Key Stages 2 and 3 and for 11+ exam preparation, at home or in the classroom. It’s also ideal for anybody aged 9 or above who enjoys writing and wants to do it better.

Click on the covers to learn more and view sample pages from the books:

RSL Creative Writing: Book 1

Rsl creative writing: book 2, rsl creative writing: book 3, the rsl creative writing collection (£40.47), 5 – short stories don’t need an introduction.

Robert was 33. He lived in a small flat with his cat and his wife. One day, he decided to go for a walk to the shops. The shops weren’t very far away: it took about ten minutes to get there. It was a cloudy day. It was the middle of February and it was a bit cold but not cold enough for a scarf. The road was in need of some repairs. He was wearing a blue jumper and black shoes and some fairly old jeans.

You don’t need to introduce your story as though it is a 300 page novel!

The reader doesn’t have to know everything about the main character, and especially not at the start. This way you waste a paragraph, when you might only have time for four or five in your whole story.

Anything that really matters about your characters can be mentioned along the way. In creative writing for 11 plus exams, everything else can be left out.

Get into the main business of your story from the very first line.

6 – Show, don’t tell … Whether you’re writing an 11 plus story, or whether you’re a famous novelist!

In real life, we can’t see what is in other people’s minds.

We have to work it out from what they do – and sometimes from what they say, although this can be very misleading!

For this reason, other people’s creative writing is often most interesting when we have to work out what characters are thinking and feeling.

This makes the characters seem like real people whose thoughts we can’t immediately know.

It also helps to get us – the readers – involved in the story by making us do some thinking for ourselves!

You might initially want to write this:

Simon looked up. He was angry.

But this is much more interesting to read:

As Simon looked up I could see his jaw muscles flexing.

Have a go at re-writing the following paragraph to make it more interesting . You can change things around as much as you like.

I admit: this is the sort of thing which you will sometimes read in a book. It isn’t necessarily  always bad writing, in itself.

However, it is a missed opportunity to bring a character to life. In a time-limited 11-plus exam story, you need to take advantage of such moments.

The rule is:

Where possible,  show me  what a character is feeling … don’t  tell me .

Have a look at my way of re-writing the paragraph above:

All Anna’s thoughts have gone.

Instead, there are some strong clues which steer you towards a particular idea about what she thinks and how she feels: but you still have to decide for yourself.

This forces you to imagine Anna clearly in your own mind.

How does my answer compare to your approach?

7 – Use a range of senses throughout your story

This is good writing. The trees may be “green” (which is a bit dull), but they are “swaying”, which is an effective detail and more than makes up for it.

The simile in the second sentence (“like wisps of cigar smoke”) is vivid and well planned.

The sandwich bag is “crumpled”, and “bag of bacon” is a nice moment of alliteration to emphasise this robust, commonplace item of food.

But imagine a story which continues in the same way, all the way through.

Everything is visual: a sight image.

For the reader, it is like being in a world without the ability to hear, smell, touch or taste.

Furthermore, the narrator seems to be looking around constantly, noticing everything. Is this normal behaviour?

It’s an unrealistic way of seeing the world, and after a while it becomes exhausting to read.

For a student, there are two simple but very useful lessons:

1) Always think about the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell).

2) Sometimes avoid the most obvious sense when describing a thing (see point 8 below).

These tips are easy to apply in your creative writing for 11+, but they make a huge difference.

What’s more, unlike a clumsy simile (see point 9 ), a sensory description rarely ends up  harming  your writing. It can be effective or ineffective, but that’s another matter!

Take the example above:

“The trees were green and swaying”  could become:  “The trunks were groaning, and overhead I heard the dull rustle of a thousand fresh leaves slapping against one another.”

There’s nothing startlingly original here, but because it is a slightly less obvious way of describing trees, it creates a much more powerful atmosphere.

If you want a metaphor as well, try turning  “dull rustle”  into  “distant applause” , which makes the leaves seem like a mass of enthusiastic people.

Similarly,  “I looked at the bag of bacon sandwiches crumpled on the seat next to me”  takes on more life like this:

I smelt something like old sick; then I remembered the bag of bacon sandwiches crumpled on the seat next to me.

Notice how easily similes (“like old sick”) and metaphors happen, almost by themselves, when you focus on describing with a range of senses .

This is one of my most important 11 plus writing tips.

8 – Sometimes describe things using a less obvious sense

Using a range of senses, as I discussed in point 7 , is really, really important.

But how can you come up with surprising, powerful descriptions – descriptions to make the marker stop ticking your work for a second, raise their eyebrows and smile?

Imagine that you are just about to write the following sentence:

It was a cold morning.

But you stop yourself, think for a second, and write this:

I could hear the crackle of thawing ice on car windscreens.

This is much more interesting. Rather than using the sense of touch (a “cold” feeling), you are using a sound: “the crackle of thawing ice”.

There’s a good chance that the reader will think:  “Yes! I never considered it before, but you really do hear a sound when ice thaws quickly.”

This version also tells you much more about the weather:

The reader can work out that the night has been exceptionally cold, but also that the temperature is now rising quickly.

The thought process to produce descriptions like this is much simpler than it seems:

1) Think of the sense which is most obvious to describe the thing you are writing about.

3) Think of the second most obvious sense.

4) Ban that too!

5) From the three remaining senses, pick the one which is most useful.

6) Ask yourself how the thing would sound, feel, smell or taste – whichever three of these you have left (you’ve almost certainly banned sight!).

7) Write about it.

9 – Use similes and metaphors carefully in your creative writing

Similes and metaphors are useful (and can be impressive), but they have to make things clearer for the reader, not create confusion.

“She won the sprint like a racing car” asks more questions than it answers.

Was she noisy? Was she travelling at 150 miles per hour?

On the other hand, “She ducked her head and slipped across the line as cleanly as a racing car” helps me to picture the event exactly as intended.

Here’s another simile for speed, which I’ve seen a great many times (you’d hardly believe how many) in 11-plus stories:

Donald wrote like a cheetah.

Does this mean that Donald wrote savagely and meaninglessly, like a wild animal with a pencil jammed between its claws ?

Or perhaps that he wrote largely about the themes of hunting and sleeping ?

My guess is that Donald wrote quickly , but I’m not sure … because if that’s all you meant, WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST SAY IT?

This sort of thing is not really the fault of a young writer, who after all is (hopefully!) doing their best.

It is the fault of those dastardly teachers who advise children to include, for example, “at least one metaphor and two similes” in each story.

The result of this, for most children, is a succession of poorly chosen descriptive tricks, which add nothing.

Indeed, we’ve seen how these things can end up making a story comical for all the wrong reasons!

The right approach to creative writing doesn’t start with the need to include a simile: it starts with the need to describe effectively .

To me, this means allowing the reader to imagine the situation fully, and helping them care what happens.

Let’s play around with the image of Donald writing “like a cheetah”.

What happens if we just get rid of the simile?

Donald wrote quickly.

OK, but it doesn’t tell us much: did he write quickly because he wanted to finish his story before  Newsnight , or because he was really excited by his work?

Let’s say that it was the first reason: he wanted to get his work out of the way. Perhaps he was feeling annoyed, given that it might interrupt his favourite TV show.

When somebody is writing rapidly while annoyed, what might this look like?

I imagine Donald’s arm wiggling as the pen moves — especially the elbow. The movement is fast and constant because he is worried about getting the work finished, and because in his irritation he doesn’t much care about its quality.

So I ask myself: What moves to and fro constantly, performing a task in an unimaginative way?

And the first thing I think of is a machine in a factory:

Donald hunched over the page, his arm jerking to and fro with the quick, regular movements of a factory robot.

This sentence by itself would go some way to making your story the best in the exam room.

I hope I’ve persuaded you that with a well-organised thought process, a good simile isn’t too difficult to write!

Because children have been taught to work in this way, a story will often contain the required two similes, a metaphor, a personification, even an interesting alliteration …

… but everything in between is lifeless.

What students need is a different sort of checklist, to help them make the rest of their writing interesting .

I hope this article will give you some ideas!

10 – Stephanie was writing a beautiful story in the 11-plus exam hall. Or was she …?

Suspense is good if it’s appropriate to the story, but don’t jack-knife it in clumsily!

“It was a calm, sunny day. Or was it?” doesn’t really make me curious.

It makes me think that you’re trying to pester me into being excited, rather than persuading me to feel that way through your excellent writing.

If you write in a way that builds suspense by making me interested in the characters and events in the story – while keeping some important information hidden from me, just out of sight – this will speak for itself.

However, not every piece of creative writing needs it!

If you found these story writing tips useful or if you have a question, please leave a comment below! I’d love to have your feedback. (Tick the “Receive email updates” box to receive an email when I reply.)

For the most comprehensive range of resources to help with preparation for the 11+ exam,  you might like to try 11 Plus Lifeline (with a money-back guarantee in the first month). Every practice paper has full example solutions, with a detailed discussion and explanation for every question – like being taught by an excellent private tutor. There’s lots of material to help develop creative, high-scoring exam stories!

According to Tutorful, it’s “ the gold standard for independent and grammar school 11-plus preparation ”.

Watch Your First Video Now

Watch your first free 11-plus video straight away. Videos 2 & 3 will reach you by email within a few days.

At the same time, you’ll receive 121 Pages of award-winning RSL practice material, with step-by-step solutions – for free!

I'll also send you some useful information about RSL Educational resources and more advice for exam preparation. You’ll be able to unsubscribe from my emails any time you like.

WATCH VIDEO

89 Comments

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me here. I’ll do my best to help you out!

Hi, I’m preparing my son for 11+. His story ideas are good but he needs to add more details/depth. How can I encourage that? Thanks

That’s a very difficult question to answer, because there is so much that I could say! Many of my suggestions are in the article above. The sample at http://digioh.com/em/27284/164929/84za5s4g4u may offer more ideas. If this is useful, then 11 Plus Lifeline offers many further resources.

What’s the syllabus of creative writing for 11plus. I understand there is no definitive one, it varies with target school as well, but still I’d like to know the min types of writing children should be knowing end of year 6 e.g. story writing, descriptive writing, poetry writing, persuasive writing, diary, reconnect, fiction, non fiction writing, script writing, book/film review, blog writing etc. Really confused with the list of categories and subcategories under each. I just need a good structure with every details. Please help with a detailed table of contents.

Hi Jay. I’m afraid I don’t have such a list – because there isn’t one. Schools can set anything that they like! However, I think getting children used to responding to a range of formats is more important than covering everything. The most common formats are probably: 1) A story based on a title or topic 2) A continuation of a passage (usually the passage already used as a comprehension text) 3) A story based on a picture

You provide excellent tips that we can use to guide our children. Done in a very simple but effective way. Even more – as times are hard and money is tight your generosity shows you truly do wish to help children and not just make money out of them. Thank you

Thank you Alison. I’m glad you found the article useful. Robert

Thank you ever so much for your very useful tips. Would you have some advice (or a sample essay) on writing a descriptive essay based on a given image?

Hi Aparna, There is some relevant content in 11 Plus Lifeline. For more along these lines, keep an eye on the website in the autumn …

Hi Robert, I found the article above very helpful. My daughter is in year 5 and we have just started our 11 plus journey. She seems to be struggling air with creative writing. She has such great ideas and an amazing imaginative mind, however she struggles to express this on paper as compared to her peers also studying for the 11 plus. How can I help her become a better writer?

Speaking as she writes might help: perhaps she will write more fluently if she just thinks of it as a way to record her verbal ideas.

My RSL Creative Writing books might help her to develop her ideas.

What is a good range for the word count for a “continue the story” creative writing task at 10+? I see suggestions of 4-5 paragraphs, but paragraphs vary hugely in length. My son is only writing around 150 words, and I fear this is taking “quality not quantity” to the extreme!

It really depends! Sometimes you’ll be given an 8-10 line answer space, in which case that would be appropriate. On the other hand, if you have 30-40 minutes, you should be pitching for 1 to 1.5 pages. Robert

Thank you so much! Very informative

I’m glad to help!

how much your fees for creative writing, and how many lesson? please let me know [email protected]

Hello Hemang. I’m afraid I don’t work as a tutor these days. However, you might be interested in my creative writing books at https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/rsl-creative-writing . These will take your child through their skills step by step, much as I would if I was teaching them. Good luck! Robert

Hi Sir! Sir, you suggestions are greatly useful. Sir, can you assist me on how to incorporate Strong Verbs in my writings as I do not know many and I struggle on account of it ?

There’s no easy answer, but the best starting point is to look for specific ways of describing things. For instance, instead of “he talked”, you might say “he muttered”, for example. You’ll learn more verbs if you look out for them as you read things, and perhaps note interesting ones down in a book. Good luck!

Dear Robert Hope you are doing well , my son is in year 5 and he is going to set for 11 plus exam for very highly competitive grammar schools , he need help for is creative writing . I advice that you are the best , I’m seeking help from you ,please . Yours sincerely Saha Mcewan

Hello. Have a look at 11 Plus Lifeline , perhaps, and my RSL Creative Writing books. I do intend to release some new things for creative writing in the future: watch this space!

Hi Robert. These are great tips. My question is how to come with effective descriptions that vary. When I do descriptive writing, I describe with only the five senses and often run out of ideas. Also, how can we write in a way that will make a clear image in the readers mind. Thanks for the time

Hi Yatharth! My video at https://youtu.be/LKnvrad6jpw is all about this, so why not have a look at that? If that’s useful, look at https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/product/rsl-creative-writing-1

I completely agree with your article, and as a teacher who prepares children for GCSE and the 11 tests, I employ a lot of the ‘strategies’ you mention. What children need ultimately is time to read, digest and above all enjoy stories and poems and then to talk about what they’ve read and in some ( or maybe a lot of cases) relate the themes and ideas etc in what they have read to their own lives. This I feel, can give a greater sense of ‘reality’ to what they can eventually write; and then we as teachers (and parents) can model how to write ‘good’ creative stories (and include all the SPAG) which can go a long way to ensuring children actually begin to feel that they themselves can be imaginative and write great stories.

Thank you for taking the time to comment, Molly. I very much agree with you.

What children need ultimately is time to read, digest and above all enjoy stories and poems and then to talk about what they’ve read and in some ( or maybe a lot of cases) relate the themes and ideas etc in what they have read to their own lives.

The only thing I’d add to this is that it works both ways: reading informs writing, but the very best way to develop critical reading skills is to become more sophisticated as a writer!

Hi Robert,l am a Creative Writing teacher for 8+ Do you think 6+ can be taught Creative Writing that will yield excellent result? I asked this question from my experience of teaching Creative Writing,I observe that more 6+ struggle with understanding and implementing Creative Writing stages than 8+ Also,I teach Creative Writing easily because I believe I have the skills to teach it but how can I come up with a special syllabus to teach my colleagues how to teach Creative Writing in the class that will be result oriented.

Hello Soremi.

I would not think too much about results, if by that you mean percentage scores, when children are 6 or so and developing their writing. I would focus on their enjoyment and on encouraging them to explore their imagination, creating interestingly described characters and environments. It’s a different situation in 11+ exams, where children must demonstrate certain skills and perform well in comparison with their peers.

However, it is very important to encourage the development of accurate and clear English from an early stage. Creative writing is a good opportunity to uncover and address problems.

I found this very useful and straightforward, and also very funny… The tips will take me flying in my writing!

Thanks Lily-Grace. The work you sent for me to look at this week was very impressive: you’re already flying!

Thanks Robert this description is very helpful

I’m very glad it’s useful. Thanks for commenting!

Hola me gustaria hacer unas infografias mas dinamicas

Thank you for the topic

It’s a pleasure. I hope the advice helps.

I thought that this was a brilliant summary. Thank you very much. Engaging and thoughtful. Very much appreciated.

I’m delighted to hear it. Thank you!

I found your creative writing tips very insightful, a real shame for us it was right at the end of our 11+/13+ preparation.

Thank you Sara. I hope they made some difference, even at a late stage.

Very useful tips! I like the way you have broken down the advice into bite-sized chunks! Thanks Robert

I’m glad you found them helpful! Thanks for commenting.

Great tips, thanks Robert. Do you have tips on non fictional writing as well? E.g. how a child can do a stellar job when asked to write a suggestion letter to the council. My child struggles with writing on everyday things that she deems uninteresting like describing everday things but is flying when writing on imaginary topics. Thanks in advance.

Hi Tolu. I have some resources for less creative subject matter in 11 Plus Lifeline .

I think the best way to add interest to potentially unexciting things, like letters, is with examples. “I think you should do more to reduce bullying, because it discourages children from studying” is not interesting. “Last week, a boy trudged towards me across the playground, clenching and unclenching his fists, with the dead-eyed look of meaningless aggression that I’ve come to know so well. This is happening too often in our school!” is much more impressive.

Thanks for these tips . Would you suggest any topics for DS to practice .

There are a great many writing topics with fully explained example answers in 11 Plus Lifeline . I might add a blog post with some suggested topics in the coming months. Robert

These SPECTACULAR tips helped me a lot when I was planning and writing a story. I think that these AMAZING tips will help me a lot when I am doing the exam. THANKS Robert!!!!

Thanks Raon! I hope you’ll share the link. Good luck in your exam. Robert

Thanks for the tips to improve the writing skill for the content writers and the students.

Thank you Nihal – I’m glad my advice is useful.

What can I Say?

My son is about to take the 11 + and part of the material is creative writing,

Can you recommend any good material please?

The key is reading and I don’t think he reads as much as he should do

Please advise

Hi Fazal. I would of course recommend my own creative writing material in 11 Plus Lifeline . There’s a free sample here .

Reading is certainly important, but it won’t do any magic without good writing practice alongside it.

If your son isn’t keen on reading, trying to push him to read more may not work. However, you can help to improve the quality of the reading he does do, by discussing it whenever possible in a way that encourages him to think about it in more depth. You can also introduce new vocabulary into your conversations, and so on.

Also, the reading list here may help him to find books that he does want to read!

Hi, my son 11, is really struggling with creative writing, the main problem being he can’t think of anything to write about. he’s a clever boy but more into science and computers. He thinks he can’t do it and I’m worried he’s going to freeze in the exam. how can i get him to access his imagination and not panic. Thanks

Practice is certainly the main thing. If he can start to “access his imagination” (a nice phrase) without exam pressure, he is more likely to be able to do so in the test.

When you say that he can’t think of anything to write about, you’re describing a problem that I can relate to. However, it should not be a big concern at 11+, for the simple reason that the best stories tend to be about very little! If he can construct a simple plot, focused on one event – even something very ordinary and apparently dull – then he has what he needs. From that point, all his effort should be focused on describing well, so that the story creates atmosphere and has a believable main character.

The real problem at 11+ is when children have too many creative ideas. They construct complex, overwhelming plots, about which it is impossible to write well – or even plausibly – in the time available.

Hi Robert Have you got any tips for the CSSE style quick 10 mins Continuous Writing tasks please. These have included instructions, descriptions and this year the exam paper included a picture to write about- what’s happening- story /description?

Many thanks for your help.

This is very difficult to answer in a brief comment. I do have some specially designed resources for these CSSE writing tasks in 11 Plus Lifeline , if that is of interest.

If writing creatively, keep the plot to an absolute minimum. Imagine that you are describing a ten second scene from a movie – not writing the plot for a whole film. Focus on effective use of the senses, in particular – very much as I outline in this article. Don’t waste any space introducing your writing.

If describing a picture, the same applies. Focus on details from it, and try to find a logical structure. For example, a character might move around the image, finding things; or you might imagine the scene changing over a period of time.

For instructions, try to visualise the activity as precisely as you can, then use words to convey your thoughts exactly. This will lead to good vocabulary. Rather than saying “Screw the lightbulb into the socket”, say something like this: “Steadying the socket with your spare hand, twist the bulb gently in a clockwise direction until you encounter resistance.” This doesn’t come from trying to be fancy: it comes from very clearly imagining the action before I write.

There is a great deal more to be said, but I hope these pointers are useful.

Great tips and advice here. I have 4 boys, all at different levels of education. This has helped me to help them. Thanks!

That makes me very happy. Good luck to your sons!

Anybody who found this useful might like to read more of my creative advice at https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/creative-writing-less-is-more .

This article is very helpful. Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time to say so!

I found this very helpful, thank you

Hello Good Afternoon and thank you very much for my help. I am a young child preparing the eleven plus. I don’t necessarily have any questions i just don’t have any questions. Good luck on your educative journey.

Good luck to you, Lukas! Well done for taking the initiative and researching your exams.

I am a 8 years old child and I am doing your 11+ RSL comprehension, do you have any tips that might help me improve my writing? Thank you for your help!

Hi Kate! I’d like to help, but I’m not sure how to. You’ve written this under an article about improving your writing, and you’re working on a book that also helps with this. I don’t know what tips to add here. If you could be more specific, perhaps I’ll be able to say something. Good luck with your work! Robert

Hi Robert! I really like your tips and they did improve my daughter’s writing! Thank you so much!

I’m so glad! Well done to her.

Hi Richard, Does cursive or printed handwriting affect the writing score a 11+ level? Thanks in advance.

No, it shouldn’t make any difference. All that matters is that the writing should be easy to read, and that the student can write reasonably quickly.

Hi there, I am doing 13+, My tutor says that I should not use metaphors or similes, but I think I should. Do you have any advice for me on descriptive writing? And can you explain what a metaphor is?

I think you are probably misinterpreting your tutor. A good simile or metaphor, in the right place, is a good thing, but I would guess that your tutor is concerned that you are over-using these things and that this is distracting you from simply writing well. An alternative is that you haven’t quite understood how to use them effectively. A misjudged simile can look odd: using no simile (or metaphor) is better than using a bad one!

For a good explanation of what a metaphor is, see https://www.grammarly.com/blog/metaphor/ .

Hi, I’m currently helping a student prepare for entrance exams, and I just wondered if you could help me with a question. He was struggling with the timed element of creative writing and wanted to know if he DID run out of time, what would a marker prefer? To just leave the piece unfinished, or to quickly make an ending for the story, even if it meant it was quite an abrupt ending that didn’t necessarily do the story justice?

I think it depends on the marker. I’d prefer an unfinished piece to one with something actively bad in it, like a bad ending. However, can they leave an unfinished ending that nonetheless has something final about it: for instance, zoom out and describe the trees swaying in the distance, or the waves, so that there’s a sense of the world rolling on, despite the events in the story? If this is done well, it might even appear that they intended to finish this way.

great work, keep it up.

Amazing website! The content is wonderful. Highly informative indeed.

That’s brilliant to hear. Thank you!

Do you have to pay to get your work marked?

Yes, that’s right. Most people do it via an 11 Plus Lifeline Platinum subscription .

My daughter is not good at creative writing and I am apprehensive as she writes her pre-tests on 11th November . How do I help her with the following formats?

1) A story based on a title or topic 2) A continuation of a passage (usually the passage already used as a comprehension text) 3) A story based on a picture

Hello! I cover all these things in my RSL Creative Writing books – see https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/rsl-creative-writing You will also find creative writing videos covering these things at https://go.easy11plus.org/VIDEOLIST Good luck! Robert

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

• T&C’s

Help your child succeed in their 11 Plus exams

The 11 plus guide - free advice and help for the 11 plus exams.

The 11 Plus Guide – FREE advice and help for the 11 Plus exams.

• 11 Plus Exam Papers & Books
• 11 Plus Exam Preparation
• 11 Plus Subjects
• Independent & Private Schools
• Grammar School Test Areas
• 11 Plus Forum
• Numerical Reasoning
• What do Maths tests include?
• Maths preparation mistakes
• Most common Maths mistakes
• Early years Maths preparation
• Year five Maths preparation
• CEM Numerical reasoning
• GL 11 Plus Maths
• School written Maths papers
• Maths- KS2 Syllabus topic guide
• Independent School Maths
• How to prepare for Engish
• English preparation mistakes
• Common English exam mistakes
• Gauging English performance level
• Early years English preparation
• Year five English preparation
• GL 11 Plus English
• CEM 11 Plus English
• School written English papers
• Key topics from the KS2 English Syllabus
• How to prepare for VR
• GL style tests
• CEM style tests
• Independent School VR
• VR preparation mistakes
• Most common VR mistakes
• Pressure and VR
• VR preparation in years three and four
• VR specific year four work
• VR preparation in year five
• How to prepare for Non-Verbal Reasoning
• GL Non-Verbal Reasoning
• CEM Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Independent School NVR
• Preparation mistakes NVR
• Exam mistakes NVR
• Pressure and Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Year three NVR preparation
• Year four NVR preparation
• Year five NVR preparation
• Classic Books Vocabulary
• How Children Develop Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Development Plan
• 11 Plus Vocabulary Books and Reviews
• 11 Plus Vocabulary Development
• 11 Plus Vocabulary List
• Commonly Misspelt Words – 11 Plus
• Homophones for the 11 Plus
• KS2 Statutory Spelling Words
• When to double letters in spelling
• 11 Plus Creative Writing – Example Topics and Tasks

11 Plus Creative Writing – Example Topics and Tasks

Schools can of course ask anything so these example tasks shouldn’t be used as stock answers.

Pupils will however find that developing a full description bank of characters, emotions, action, the natural world and the built environment etc will help them to deliver effective and creative descriptions on the day.

Using those description banks within these sample stories will help them to develop their work further and enable them to embed their thoughts so they can deliver properly on the day.

Remember if you are going to tackle any of these sample writing topics and tasks you should always plan to revisit your work a few days after you have done it. As part of the process children who often re-write their work to improve it find they make better progress.

Good resources to help with creative writing are rare. If you need help then we do recommend this creative writing preparation course . Since we started recommending it we have had very good feedback from our users, whether they have used it to prepare for an 11 Plus exam or an Independent entry test.

11 Plus creative writing example topics list

The following topics and tasks have come up in either in grammar school or independent school 11 plus writing tests:

Core themes for creative writing topics and tasks:

Many stories have core themes or emotions or feelings within them. When developing your descriptions banks these are useful areas to think about:

Animals – Typically describe your pet or your favourite animal or an animal you are frightened of. Be prepared to be use literary devices like personification or exaggeration or even simple similes to bring your description to life.

Emotions and feelings – Stories often include a requirement to describe emotion like fear, or joy or what it feels like to be lost or alone. They could easily ask you to describe enjoyment through a title like My brilliant day. Sometimes the titles may overtly lead you in a very clear direction. Lost ! and Alone! Are two previous examples that have come up.

Activities you enjoy doing – This is chance to describe the activity itself ( whatever you like from mountaineering to gardening and everything in between) plus how it makes you feel. Again your development of description banks should have helped you.

The natural world – Could be hills or mountains, rivers or streams or lightning or the rain or the feeling of sunshine or how a meadow looks or a field of wheat. Children who cover the natural world in their descriptions development work always find it useful.

The built environment – Think houses or offices blocks or cottages or castles.  Roads and bridges, churches and sheds.  Developing some thoughts about how to describe the built environment is always useful.

Story Titles:

Story titles can be long or short.  Here are some examples of story titles which have come up in both Grammar School and Independent School tests.

• The Day Trip
• The Broken Window
• The Abandoned House
• The Voice in the Darkness
• Write a story with Alone as the title, where you suddenly realise that you are on your own.  It may be a true or entirely made up, but it should include your thoughts and feelings as well as what happened.
• Write a story (true or made up) about a visit you make to some relations of your own.
• Write a letter to a cousin inviting him to stay with you. You should try and interest him in some of the varied and unusual activities he can take part in.
• Describe a situation which you have experienced which might also be called A Magical Moment, showing what your thoughts and feelings are.
• Write a clear description of an animal you know well.  Make sure you describe what it does and how it behaves as well as what it looks like.
• I prefer Winter to Spring.
• The door and what was behind it.
• The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman.
• Ash on an old man’s sleeve.
• Write a story that begins with the words – I had been waiting for such a long time for this to happen.
• Write a description of someone you admire.  (You may choose someone you actually know, or someone you have never met.  Describe them and explain why you admire them).

Recommended

Forum Feature

The 11 plus forum - answers to common questions about the 11 plus exam, favourites links, independent school past papers.

11 Plus Exam Format by Region

Preparation Options

Pages of Interest

Top ten tips, 11 plus guided courses, which books to use, 11 plus mock exams.

11 Plus Guide Copyright © 2024

Site Managed by Matt Porter

Looking for expert tutors for your child's 11+ exam? With personalised lessons and fun, interactive sessions, look no further!

Enrol your child in our weekly 11+ revision classes where they'll benefit from small groups and individualised learning in all sections of the exam.

• UCAS Guide Home >
• 11+ articles

11 Plus Creative Writing: Exam Preparation Guide: Examples, Topics and Tips

What is the 11 plus creative writing exam.

In the 11 Plus Creative Writing exam you will be given one or a few prompts – an imaginary scenario & around 30-50 mins to write about it. 

Table of Contents

The 11 Plus Creative Writing exam is all about writing with creativity & flair – while also maintaining correct grammar, structure, character development  & language use. It may sound like a huge task but our 11+ creative writing checklist can help make the process much smoother.  As a tutor, it might feel tricky to “teach” a skill that seems so abstract, but this assessment is used to evaluate a student’s ability to write imaginatively & effectively. It typically involves crafting stories, descriptions, or other pieces of creative writing based on prompts or themes. 

The 11 Plus Creative Writing component is also a great opportunity for your child’s target school to gain insight into their personality & creativity,  offering a glimpse of your child’s imagination & unique voice through their writing. 

Important Considerations:

Check School Requirements: It is worth noting the main 11 Plus exam boards, such as GL Assessment & the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB), don’t include creative writing tasks in their standard tests. If a school does have a creative writing component, it’s usually set by the school itself. Please check with your target schools for this information.

What Are Examiners Looking For?

Key Elements of the Creative Writing Exam:

• Imaginative Writing: Students are often given a prompt or a theme to inspire their writing. This could be a scenario, a picture, or a set of words that they need to turn into a plot. 
• Structure & Organisation: The exam evaluates how well students organise their paragraphs, develop their plot & maintain a coherent narrative throughout their piece. The writing should have a clear beginning, middle & end, with smooth transitions between paragraphs & ideas. 
• Language & Style: Creativity is important, but so is the use of rich & varied language. Students are assessed on their accuracy & consistency with grammar – varied sentences & interesting punctuation, vocabulary, sentence structure & overall writing style. Remember to include literary devices!  Ensure to match the style of writing that is being assessed. Ensure fiction stories that captivate & engage the reader with interesting scenarios, characters, or settings. Think about adding some conversation to your story. What kind of effect could it have? Maybe it adds a touch of humour, or maybe it creates tension  & keeps the reader on edge. Use dialogue to bring your characters  & their emotions to life! 
• Character & Setting Development: This helps the reader create a vibrant picture in their mind

11 Plus Creative Writing Resources: A Goldmine for Success

Unlock your full potential in 11 Plus creative writing with this all-in-one guide! Dive into a treasure trove of resources—must-read books, interactive online courses, sample papers, &more. Whether you’re aiming to sharpen your writing skills, spark new creative ideas, or boost your exam performance, these tools will set you on the path to success.

11 Plus Creative Writing Examples & 11 Plus Creative Writing Samples

Here are some exam-style fiction creative writing prompts along with a short introduction to get you started. 

The Enchanted Diary

Imagine stumbling upon an old, dusty diary hidden in your attic. But there’s a twist—anything you write in it springs to life! Pen a story about the thrilling adventure this new power brings and the obstacles you face.

“Ella’s heart raced as she brushed aside the cobwebs, revealing the leather-bound diary. The golden patterns on its cover seemed to pulse under the faint light, as if alive with secrets. Unable to resist, she opened it to the first blank page. With a grin, she wrote: “A dragon lands in my backyard.”

The following morning, a thunderous roar shook the neighbourhood. Ella darted to her window—and there it was. A dragon, with shimmering emerald scales and eyes brimming with ancient wisdom, perched on her garden fence. That day, she soared through the skies on its back, exploring realms hidden beyond the clouds. But with every magical encounter came a new challenge—one that tested her courage & wisdom. As dusk fell, the dragon bid her a tearful farewell, reminding Ella that even the most wondrous adventures must eventually come to an end. Closing the diary, she realised that with great magic came even greater responsibility.”

The Whispering Wall

A new wall appears in your town, rumoured to whisper secrets to those who listen closely. Describe your experience with the wall and the life-altering secret it shares with you.

“The unveiling of the Whispering Wall stirred both wonder and doubt across town. Wrapped in ivy and aged beyond its years, the wall seemed more like a relic than something new. Intrigued by the mysterious tales, Ellie found herself standing before it one moonlit night, pressing her ear to the cold stone.

At first, only silence. But then, like a soft breeze, a whisper emerged. It spoke of a treasure hidden beneath the town, a secret buried for centuries. Fueled by curiosity, Ellie embarked on a quest, following cryptic clues whispered by the wall. With her friends by her side, they unearthed an ancient chamber & a chest of coins, along with letters from the town’s founders. In that moment, Ellie realised the wall had given her more than a treasure; it had revealed the forgotten heart of her town’s history.”

The Mysterious Lighthouse

You and a friend decide to explore an abandoned lighthouse on a remote island. Write about the eerie discoveries you make & the thrilling adventure that follows.

“Mia and Liam had always been captivated by the abandoned lighthouse towering over the windswept island. On a crisp autumn day, curiosity got the better of them, and they ventured inside. Dusty maps lined the walls, and faded photographs of shipwrecks whispered of untold stories.

At the top, they stumbled upon an old, weathered journal detailing strange lights at sea and mysterious disappearances. One cryptic entry mentioned a hidden room accessible only by pulling a disguised lever on the bookshelf. With bated breath, they searched—and found the lever. A trap door creaked open, leading them into a hidden chamber filled with maritime relics and a glowing compass. The compass pointed to an uncharted area of the island, sparking a treasure hunt that led them to a long-lost shipwreck. Inside, they found an ancient map and a message in a bottle; a thrilling connection to the island’s forgotten past.”

11+ Creative Writing Topics 

It is important to remember you will not only be asked to write fiction stories – some exams also test non-fiction writing skills, below are a few prompts inspired by past papers to help you practise both styles. 

Letter Writing

• Draft a letter to your future self ten years from now
• Draft a letter from a character in a fantasy world to their best friend, explaining their latest adventure.
• Draft a letter from an explorer in the 19th century to a family member, detailing their discoveries & experiences.

Diary Entry

• Write a diary entry from the perspective of a young inventor who has just created their first successful invention. 
• Imagine you are living through a historic event (e.g., the first moon landing) & write a diary entry about your feelings & observations.
• Write a diary entry from the viewpoint of someone who has discovered a hidden talent or special ability.
• Write a short story set during the reign of a famous historical figure ( Cleopatra, Napoleon) & describe a significant event from their era.
• Describe a day in the life of a child living in ancient Greece, focusing on their daily activities. 
• Imagine you are a journalist reporting on a key moment in history & write an article covering the event.
• Write an informative piece about an endangered animal, including details about its habitat, diet & efforts to protect it.
• Create a report on a famous scientific discovery (e.g., the theory of relativity)  & explain its impact on the world.
• Compose an article about the importance of recycling & how it helps the environment.
• Write an argument for or against the use of technology in the classroom, presenting both sides of the debate.
• Argue for the importance of preserving historical landmarks & explain why they should be protected.
• Compose a persuasive essay on whether students should have longer break time or more classroom time.

11 Plus Creative Writing Titles & Questions

“The Forgotten Island”

“The Secret of the Ancient Tree”

“A Day with the Time Traveler”

“The Mysterious Lantern in the Attic”

“The Adventure of the Enchanted Map”

“The Whispering Shadows”

“The Magic Key to Another World”

“The Last Dragon’s Quest”

“The Hidden Village in the Clouds”

“The Legend of the Midnight Fountain”

“The Unexpected Gift from the Stars”

“The Haunted Music Box”

“The Diary of a Future Explorer”

“The Lost City Beneath the Ocean”

“The Portal in the Old Library”

“The Day Animals Started Talking”

“The Mysterious Invention”

“The Magical Library Book”

“The Enchanted Garden”

“The Great Adventure of the Tiny Hero”

These titles are designed to spark creativity & encourage students to explore a variety of imaginative scenarios  & storytelling techniques.

11 Plus Creative Writing Past Papers 

As the creative writing section of the 11+ exam is not a formal part of the assessments written by the respective exam boards, you may find less content in terms of creative writing past papers . However, you can use the examples above as prompts to practise your 11 plus creative writing skills. When you have finished your writing (make sure you give yourself a time limit of about 20 minutes), you can check your writing with this checklist below. This includes the most important elements that schools will be looking for.

• Connectives – The atmosphere was different here and, for a moment , she thought she was floating.
• Openers – With a grumble , the door slowly spun on its axis.
• Punctuation – “She’s … missing ! ”
• Vocabulary – There was a sign etched into the wood above the door.
• Five senses – They’d barely walked a few steps when they were plunged into darkness .
• Figurative language – Her face was ghostly pale .

11 Plus Creative Writing Marking Scheme

Nailing the marking scheme is a game-changer for 11 Plus success! Examiners are on the lookout for a mix of creativity, well-structured narratives, rich vocabulary, & technical precision. Understanding what elevates a response—like clever plot twists & advanced language—gives students the power to truly impress. By knowing the key criteria, students can strategically focus on areas that will make their writing standout.

The 11 Plus Creative Writing Marking Scheme is typically split into different levels, each assessing how well your child performs in areas like content, organisation & SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, & Grammar). At the top mark bands, writing shines with imaginative vocabulary, sophisticated structure, &a flawless use of literary devices. Conversely, at the lower levels, you’ll see frequent SPaG errors, weak structure, & minimal effort. This system helps pinpoint where students excel & where they need improvement, making it a powerful tool for growth!

11 Plus Creative Writing Books

Diving into the right books is key to unlocking a young writer’s potential. These resources don’t just improve vocabulary , they push kids to think creatively & explore fresh storytelling techniques. With the right book, a student’s descriptive language becomes vibrant, helping them flourish in the creative writing section.

Suggested Books:

“11+ Creative Writing Workbook” – Perfect for honing creativity through targeted exercises & real examples.

“11+ English Practice Book” – Includes both creative &non-fiction writing practice.

Bond Books:

“Bond 11+ English Assessment Papers” – A solid choice for building both comprehension & writing under exam conditions.

“Bond No Nonsense English” – A structured guide to improving overall writing ability with engaging exercises.

11 Plus Creative Writing Course

Need a tailored approach to writing? Enrol in specialised 11 plus courses that offer personal feedback, custom writing prompts, and a supportive learning environment. These programs not only sharpen storytelling but also boost a student’s ability to craft engaging essays—a key skill for acing the 11 Plus online .

5 Tips to Ace the 11 Plus Creative Writing Exam

Familiarise yourself with exam formats.

Every school’s exam format can be a little different, so it’s important to know what to expect. Look up past papers or ask your child’s target school about their specific creative writing tasks. Some might ask for short stories, while others may want descriptive writing or even a persuasive piece. Understanding the format in advance will help your child feel more confident & prepared when the big day comes!

Practise Regularly

As with most things, practice makes perfect! Encourage your child to write regularly — whether it’s short stories, character descriptions, or even diary entries. The more they write, the easier it will become to express their ideas clearly & creatively. Plus, practising with different prompts will help them think on their feet during the actual exam.

Develop Your Vocabulary

A rich vocabulary can make a huge difference in creative writing. Help your child build their word bank by reading widely  & encouraging them to jot down interesting words they come across. Not only will this make their writing more vivid, but it’ll also show examiners that they can use language effectively to convey mood, setting & character emotions.

Pay Attention to Structure

A good story needs a solid structure. Remind your child to plan out their writing before they start, even if it’s just a rough outline. This will ensure their story has a clear beginning, middle & end, with well-developed characters & a smooth narrative flow. Taking the time to map out their ideas will also help them stay on track & avoid getting lost in the details.

Proofread Meticulously

It’s easy to overlook small errors when you’re focused on the bigger picture, but proofreading is key! Encourage your child to always set aside a few minutes at the end to read through their work carefully. Checking for spelling, punctuation & grammar mistakes can make a big difference in the final quality of their piece. A well-polished story shows attention to detail, which examiners will definitely appreciate.

By following these tips, your child can approach the 11 Plus Creative Writing exam with confidence & creativity, ready to showcase their skills!

Read voraciously 

Arguably the most important tip! Developing a love for reading can help your child excel by developing strong writing skills, critical thinking & a vivid imagination. Immersing your child in a wide variety of genres; fiction, non-fiction, poetry,  and more; will expand their vocabulary, introduce them to diverse writing styles & expose them to new ideas & perspectives.

This love for reading helps children intuitively grasp how stories are structured, understand character development, and recognise the nuances of tone and style. Moreover, reading non-fiction can improve their ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively, a key skill in essay writing and comprehension tasks. The more your child reads, the more they’ll draw from an extensive mental library when crafting their own stories or answering non-fiction prompts. Ultimately, fostering a deep love for reading will give them the confidence and creativity to excel in all areas of the 11 Plus exam and beyond.

General tips and informative articles on 11 Plus:

• 11 Plus for Parents
• 11 Plus Creative Writing
• 11 Plus English
• 11 Plus Non Verbal Reasoning
• 11 Plus Maths
• 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning
• 11 Plus Comprehension Tips
• 11 Plus Reading List
• What Is 11 Plus Exam
• 11 Plus Maths Questions

Still got a question? Leave a comment

Leave a comment, cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Latest 11+ related blogs:

11+ > 11+ articles

11 Plus English Exam Preparation Guide: Papers, Questions & Tips11 Plus English Exam Preparation Guide: Papers, Questions and Tips11 Plus English Exam Preparation Guide: Papers, Questions & Tips

11 plus reading list 2024 – recommended books for success, 11 plus for parents – top 10 working tips, 11 plus for parents: the ultimate guide, related links.

• 11+ Weekly Classes
• 11 Plus Tutoring | 11+ Tutors

Enrol your child in out weekly 11+ classes where they'll benefit from small groups and individualised learning.

Let's get acquainted ? What is your name?

Nice to meet you, {{name}} what is your preferred e-mail address, nice to meet you, {{name}} what is your preferred phone number, what is your preferred phone number, just to check, what are you interested in, when should we call you.

It would be great to have a 15m chat to discuss a personalised plan and answer any questions

What time works best for you? (UK Time)

Pick a time-slot that works best for you ?

How many hours of 1-1 tutoring are you looking for?

My whatsapp number is..., for our safeguarding policy, please confirm....

Please provide the mobile number of a guardian/parent

Which online course are you interested in?

What is your query, you can apply for a bursary by clicking this link, sure, what is your query, thank you for your response. we will aim to get back to you within 12-24 hours., lock in a 2 hour 1-1 tutoring lesson now.

If you're ready and keen to get started click the button below to book your first 2 hour 1-1 tutoring lesson with us. Connect with a tutor from a university of your choice in minutes. (Use FAST5 to get 5% Off!)