The questions your child might be asked in an 11+ creative writing assessment is endless but here is a list which you could use to guide you. These tasks are all taken from real 11+ papers, from schools including Latymer Upper, St Pauls Girls, The Perse School, Emanuel School, Alleyn’s School, Merchant Taylors and the Essex CSSE Exam.
Write a Story
- ‘Taught a Lesson!’ Write a story about a bully who is taught a lesson.
- Write a story entitled, ‘Alone’.
- “The Fire” Write a story with this as your title. Concentrate on describing a fire and its effects, and the thoughts and feelings of the people involved, so that it is convincing for your reader.
Continue a Story
- Continue the story that begins with, Outside my front door, someone had left a large cardboard box.
- Continue the Story that begins with, Pushing the door, his hand shook uncontrollably as he watched the ground open up to reveal a spiral staircase winding down to the unknown.
Write a recount
- Imagine you are a Martian landing on Planet Earth. Write a diary entry (in English!) about your first day.
- A Walk in the Dark. You have had to go out after dark to carry out an errand. Write a letter to a friend telling them: • What you saw. • What you heard. • How you felt about being out by yourself in the dark.
Write a Description
- Imagine it is very early in the morning and you are all alone in your school just before anyone else has arrived. Describe your observations and what you feel.
- Describe a visit to a very cold place.
- Imagine that your train stops in a tunnel in the dark for half an hour. Describe what you see and how you feel.
- Describe someone you will never forget and explain why.
Write about an Experience
- Write about a time when you had to do something that scared you. Explain what happened and describe how you felt. You should make your writing as interesting and detailed as possible.
- Write about a time that you or someone else became frustrated by something. Explain what happened and how you felt.
Write a piece of Non-Fiction
- Write a persuasive letter to your local MP about the litter in your area and what you want them to do about it.
- Do you think children should have access to smart phones? Write a discursive magazine article in which you outline reasons for and against.
- Explain what is your favourite time in the whole year. You should aim to write at least six sentences.
- Write down, in six or seven sentences, instructions for a younger brother, sister or friend on how to clean their teeth.
- Write six or seven sentences describing an animal. For example, a cat, a dog, a guinea pig, a horse. Make your writing as vivid as possible.
- In six or seven sentences, write down clear instructions how to make a piece of toast with jam. Make your writing as precise as possible.
Write about an Image
- Write a story based on the picture below.
- Describe the image.
Other Blogposts
Igniting Writing: Why it Matters in 2024
In July 2023, the National Literacy Trust published a report entitled, Children and Young People’s Writing in 2023. The report summarises the findings from their 2023 Annual Literacy Survey, which was completed by 71,351 children and young people aged 5-18 in schools...
Phases 4-6 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...
Phase 3 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...