11+ creative writing
9 min read ยท updated 2026-10-13
Not every 11+ includes a written task, but many of the most competitive ones do, and it is often the part children practise least. A short, well-planned piece with vivid detail and accurate punctuation beats a long, rushed story every time.
Which tests include writing
- โ Kent Test: a 40-minute writing exercise including 10 minutes' planning. It is not marked, but the headteacher assessment panel may use it
- โ Essex (CSSE): the English paper includes written tasks alongside comprehension
- โ Tiffin School and Tiffin Girls': Stage Two English is a written paper
- โ Sutton: the second-stage tests at the Sutton grammar schools include written English
- โ Many independent schools set a creative writing task, often a story opening, a description or a letter
What markers reward
Mark schemes vary by test, but they reward the same things: a clear structure with a beginning, middle and end; vocabulary chosen for effect rather than to show off; varied sentence types; and accurate spelling, punctuation and paragraphing. Writing that is controlled and finished scores higher than writing that is ambitious and unfinished.
A five-minute plan
Before writing a word, jot down five lines:
- โ Who: one main character, with one detail that makes them real
- โ Where and when: a setting the reader can see, hear and feel
- โ Problem: what goes wrong or changes
- โ Turning point: the moment of decision or discovery
- โ Ending: how the problem resolves, ideally echoing the opening
Original example openings
Strong openings drop the reader into a moment instead of explaining. These were written for this guide; use them as models, not to memorise:
- โ Description: 'The market woke before the town did. Crates scraped on cobbles, a kettle shrieked behind a stall, and the air already smelt of oranges and wet cardboard.'
- โ Action: 'Maya had exactly eleven seconds to decide, and she had already wasted three of them staring at the door.'
- โ Dialogue: '"Don't open it," Grandad said, without looking up from his crossword. Which, of course, was exactly why I did.'
- โ Mystery: 'Every morning for a year, the same blue envelope had been waiting on the doormat. Today, for the first time, it had my name on it.'
Common mistakes
- โ Starting with 'One day' or waking up from a dream
- โ Too many characters for the time available
- โ Listing adjectives instead of choosing one precise one
- โ No paragraphs, or a paragraph for every sentence
- โ Running out of time before the ending
A four-week practice plan
- โ Week 1: one opening a day, three sentences long, using a different technique each time
- โ Week 2: planning drills: five minutes of planning for each of five different prompts
- โ Week 3: two full timed pieces, then improve one paragraph from each
- โ Week 4: timed pieces under test conditions and a final proofreading checklist
FAQs
Is creative writing in the 11+?๏ผ
In some areas and schools: Kent, Essex (CSSE), Tiffin's Stage Two, Sutton's second stage and many independent schools include writing. GL tests in many other areas do not.
Is the Kent Test writing marked?๏ผ
No, but it may be used by the headteacher assessment panel, so it still matters.
How long should an 11+ story be?๏ผ
Whatever can be planned, written and checked in the time: usually a few well-built paragraphs. Quality beats length.
Should my child memorise a story?๏ผ
No. Learn techniques and openings that adapt to any prompt; a memorised story rarely fits the question.
How can I help at home?๏ผ
Read widely together, talk about how authors open chapters, and set short timed writing with one specific target each time.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-13.
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