Why 11+ Creative Writing Matters – And How to Help Your Child Practise at Home

When preparing for the 11+ exam, most parents focus on verbal reasoning, comprehension and maths — and understandably so. But there’s one section that can make or break your child’s result:

Creative writing.

It’s not just about telling stories for fun — creative writing in the 11+ is a highly assessed skill, and in many schools, it can be the final deciding factor.

A dedicated student hones her creative writing skills under the guidance of a mentor, poised with a notebook and pen.

Why Creative Writing Is So Important for 11+ Exams

Many top grammar and independent schools set a creative writing task as part of their entrance assessment. In some areas (particularly in and around London), this writing task can account for up to 40% of the English paper.

Even more significantly, around 1 in 3 schools now use creative writing as a tiebreaker. That means if your child achieves the same scores as another candidate in maths and comprehension, the place may be awarded to the child who can write with greater fluency, imagination and structure.

Yet despite how important this skill is, studies show only 18% of children exceed expectations in independent writing assessments under timed conditions. This isn’t due to a lack of creativity — but often a lack of structure, confidence, or guidance.

What Are Schools Looking For?

In 11+ creative writing exams, your child will be expected to:

• Use ambitious vocabulary naturally

• Write in varied, engaging sentences

• Create realistic characters, dialogue and settings

• Show clear structure — beginning, middle and end

• Write fluently within 25–30 minutes

That’s a tall order — especially under time pressure, and without guidance.

3 Practical Ways to Help Your Child Practise Creative Writing at Home

Little and Often Beats Long and Rare

Instead of trying to write entire stories every time, encourage short, focused exercises. A quick description of a spooky setting or a piece of dialogue between two characters helps build confidence and fluency.

Read Like a Writer

Model texts are incredibly powerful. Share examples from quality children’s books or past exam samples. Discuss what works well — powerful openers, descriptive phrases, or character reactions — and have a go at mimicking the style.

Teach Planning and Timing Skills

Children often freeze because they don’t know how to structure their time. Help them get into the habit of:

• Planning for 5 minutes

• Writing for 20–25 minutes

• Leaving 5 minutes to edit

You can even set a timer to help them build exam stamina.

Want Ready-Made Resources?

If you'd like structured, high-quality support that’s easy to use at home, you might find my 11+ English Study Packs helpful.

Designed by a qualified teacher and 11+ exam specialist, each pack is built around a rich, classic text — such as Oliver Twist, The Secret Garden, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Alice in Wonderland. They're not just worksheets — they’re complete learning units that include:

• Vocabulary tasks

• Reading comprehension

• Creative writing prompts

• Modelled examples

• Step-by-step structure guidance

• 
  

They’re perfect for stretching confident learners or supporting children who need more structure to feel secure in their writing.

Use code FACEBOOK for 10% off any pack.

View the Full Collection

Final Thought

Creative writing doesn't have to be a stumbling block — in fact, with the right support, it can become your child’s secret weapon.

Start small, practise regularly, and build their confidence one step at a time. And if you’d like a helping hand, we’re here to support you every step of the way.