As a parent, you want your child to excel in their education and achieve their full potential. The 11 Plus exam is a highly competitive entrance exam that assesses a student’s academic ability in Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal Reasoning. However, the creative writing section is often overlooked, and yet it’s a significant part of the exam. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with useful tips to help your child excel in 11 Plus creative writing, and recommend two excellent resources that can assist in their preparation.
Why is Creative Writing Important in 11 Plus?
The creative writing section of the 11 Plus exam aims to test a student’s ability to express themselves creatively and coherently. It’s a significant factor in determining whether a student secures a place in a grammar school or not. Many students and parents focus on maths, English and verbal reasoning, forgetting that creative writing can make a significant difference in the overall exam score.
The Marking Scheme
It is essential to understand the marking scheme for creative writing before beginning to prepare for the 11 Plus exam. The creative writing test is marked based on the following criteria:
- Composition and Content
- Vocabulary, Punctuation and Spelling
- Structure and Paragraphing
- Organisation
- Characterisation and Setting
- Creativity
Understanding these criteria can help students to structure their essays and focus on the areas that need improvement.
Reading and Writing
Reading and writing are critical skills that need to be nurtured from an early age. Encouraging students to read widely and often helps to develop their vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking skills. Reading also helps students to develop a sense of structure, pacing, and characterisation in their writing. A great way to improve writing skills is to encourage students to write regularly, exploring different genres, formats and styles.
Tips for 11 Plus Creative Writing
Here are some useful tips that can help students to excel in the creative writing section of the 11 Plus exam:
- Understand the Theme
Ensure that your child understands the theme of the essay question. They should analyse the theme and understand the purpose of the essay. Brainstorming ideas beforehand can also be helpful.
- Plan and Structure
A good essay should have a clear structure and flow. Ensure that your child plans their essay and structures it with an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should set the scene and the tone, the body should explore the theme, and the conclusion should summarise the essay’s main points.
- Use Creative Language
Creative writing requires the use of creative language. Encourage your child to use similes, metaphors and descriptive language to make their writing more interesting and engaging.
- Use a Variety of Sentence Types
A good essay should have a variety of sentence types, such as simple, compound and complex sentences. This helps to break up the writing and create a better flow.
- Edit and Proofread
Editing and proofreading are essential parts of creative writing. Ensure that your child proofreads their work for errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- Practice, Practice, Practice
The more your child practises creative writing, the better they’ll become. Encourage your child to write regularly and try different styles of writing. They can also seek help from a professional tutor to improve their writing skills.

Recommended Resources
We recommend two excellent resources that can assist in the preparation for the 11 Plus Creative Writing section:
Geek School Tutoring – They provide comprehensive online tuition in Creative Writing, Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, helping students to achieve their full potential. Their tutors are highly qualified, experienced, and passionate about education, and they use a range of teaching methods to ensure that students receive the support they need. Their online courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of each student, and they offer flexible scheduling to fit around busy family lives.
11 Plus Essay – They provide a range of resources, including online courses, books and free resources to help students prepare for the Creative Writing section of the 11 Plus exam. Their courses cover all aspects of Creative Writing, including planning, structure, language and style. They also provide feedback and support to help students improve their writing skills.
Statistics to Consider
According to the Good Schools Guide, the Creative Writing section of the 11 Plus exam is often the deciding factor in gaining admission to a grammar school. In some regions, such as Buckinghamshire, the pass mark for the Creative Writing section is higher than the pass mark for Maths or English. This highlights the importance of excelling in Creative Writing to secure a place in a grammar school.
As you can see, the Creative Writing section of the 11 Plus exam is a crucial aspect that should not be overlooked. It is an opportunity for students to showcase their writing skills, creativity and imagination, and a good score in this section can significantly improve their overall exam score. Encouraging students to read widely, write regularly and seek support from a professional tutor, such as Geek School Tutoring, and using resources such as 11 Plus Essay can help them to achieve their full potential in the exam. With the right preparation, practice and support, students can master the art of 11 Plus Creative Writing and secure a place in a grammar school.