Are you a parent with a child preparing for the 11 Plus exams? It can be a stressful and overwhelming time, but with the right guidance and creative writing tips, your child can excel in their exam. In this blog post, we will share some of the best creative writing tips for the 11 Plus exams, including statistics, expert recommendations, and resources to help your child succeed.
The 11 Plus exams are highly competitive, and according to a report by The Telegraph, in 2020, 15,000 children took the exams in the UK. Out of those, only 3,000 secured a place in a grammar school. The competition is fierce, and it’s essential to prepare your child effectively to give them the best chance.
At Geek School Tutoring, we offer expert 11 Plus tuition, including creative writing. We believe that creative writing is a vital skill for students to master, not just for the exam, but for their future education and career. We have helped hundreds of children achieve their desired results, and we can help yours too.
Here are our top creative writing tips for the 11 Plus exams:
- Plan your story: Encourage your child to brainstorm ideas and create a mind map or bullet points of their story’s structure. This will help them stay focused and avoid rambling, which can lose marks.
- Show, don’t tell: Encourage your child to use descriptive language and sensory details to paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. One way to achieve this is by using metaphors and similes to make the writing more engaging.
- Use dialogue: Dialogue is an excellent way to add depth and realism to a story. Encourage your child to use it to convey character emotions and move the plot forward.
- Vary sentence structure: Repetitive sentence structures can make a story feel flat and uninteresting. Encourage your child to mix up their sentence structure, using short and long sentences to create tension and add variety.
- Edit and proofread: It’s essential to teach your child the importance of editing and proofreading their work. Encourage them to read through their story several times, checking for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. They can also check for sentence structure and consistency of tense.
At 11 Plus Essay, we offer an extensive range of resources and tips to help your child prepare for their creative writing exam. Our team of experienced tutors has created a range of sample stories and exercises to help your child master the craft of creative writing.
One of the most useful tools on our website is our free 11 Plus creative writing guide, which covers everything from planning and structure to style and technique. We also offer one-to-one tuition with experienced creative writing tutors who can provide personalised feedback and support.
It’s important to remember that the 11 Plus exams are not just about raw talent but about how well your child can apply their skills under pressure. To help them do this, we recommend that you familiarise them with the exam format and provide plenty of opportunities for practice.
At Geek School Tutoring, we offer expert tuition in all aspects of the 11 Plus exam, including maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Our experienced tutors work closely with your child to identify areas of weakness and provide tailored support to help them achieve their goals. We also offer mock exams, which are an excellent way for your child to get used to the pressure of the exam and develop their time-management skills.
In addition to our tutoring services, we have a range of resources on our website to help your child prepare for the 11 Plus exams. Our blog is regularly updated with tips and advice from our expert tutors, and we also have a YouTube channel with videos covering all aspects of the exam.
To give you a taste of what we offer, we’ve embedded a video from our YouTube channel below. In this video, our founder, Joycellyn Akuffo, shares some top tips for creative writing in the 11 Plus exam.
In conclusion, the 11 Plus exams can be a daunting prospect, but with the right preparation and support, your child can succeed. Encourage them to plan their story, use descriptive language and sensory details, include dialogue, vary their sentence structure, and edit and proofread their work. Check out 11 Plus Essay and Geek School Tutoring for expert guidance and resources to help your child excel.
It’s important to remember that the 11 Plus exams are not just about creative writing. The exams cover a range of subjects, including maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. At Geek School Tutoring, we believe in a holistic approach to education and aim to help your child succeed in all areas of the exam.
One of the key ways to help your child prepare for the 11 Plus exams is to create a supportive and encouraging environment. Encourage your child to read widely, practice writing, and solve practice papers. Praise their efforts and help them learn from their mistakes.
At 11 Plus Essay, we also recommend that you encourage your child to read a variety of genres and styles to improve their writing skills. Reading can help your child develop their vocabulary, improve their sentence structure, and develop their writing style.
In addition to the tips we’ve shared in this blog post, it’s also important to ensure that your child is well-rested, well-fed, and well-prepared on exam day. Make sure they have a good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and are familiar with the exam location and timings.
To sum up, the 11 Plus exams can be a challenging time for both parents and children. However, with the right guidance and support, your child can excel in their exam. Encourage them to develop their creative writing skills, practice regularly, and seek out expert tuition and resources. With dedication and hard work, your child can achieve their desired results and secure a place in a grammar school.
