Helping your child improve their descriptive writing for the 11 Plus doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth. In fact, it can be one of the most creative and enjoyable parts of your child’s preparation – especially when you have the right prompts to spark their imagination.

I’ve worked with hundreds of children preparing for grammar and independent school writing tasks, and the one thing that consistently boosts their confidence? Practising descriptive writing in a low-pressure, consistent way. A little and often really does go a long way.

These ten prompts are designed to help your child build vocabulary, use figurative language, and learn to show, not tell – all the things examiners are looking for.

Let’s get straight into it.

10 Descriptive Writing Prompts

Each of these prompts can be used for a short 10–15 minute practice or expanded into a full 20–30 minute writing task.

1. Describe a stormy night through the eyes of a child who is home alone.

Focus on: sound, setting, atmosphere, and the character’s feelings.

2. Describe walking into a room that has been untouched for 100 years.

Focus on: textures, smells, lighting, mystery.

3. Describe the feeling of waiting for your name to be called in an exam hall.

Focus on: body language, thoughts, building tension.

4. Describe a crowded market using all five senses.

Focus on: movement, noise, smell, colour, and mood.

5. Describe a peaceful garden that suddenly feels unsettling.

Focus on: contrast, subtle changes in setting, emotional shift.

6. Describe an old man’s face without saying his age.

Focus on: zooming in on features, metaphors, and tone.

7. Describe the moment just before a race starts.

Focus on: tension, the physical body, anticipation, sound.

8. Describe the inside of a magical shop where anything could happen.

Focus on: unusual objects, imagination, wonder, curiosity.

9. Describe the moment you discover a hidden passage in your school.

Focus on: mystery, excitement, sensory detail.

10. Describe a pet’s view of a chaotic family morning.

Focus on: humour, perspective, voice.

How to Use These Prompts

You don’t need to turn every prompt into a full essay. In fact, sometimes short bursts of focused writing are more effective. Here’s how I recommend using them:

• Choose 1–2 prompts per week
• Let your child write for 15–20 minutes without worrying about perfection
• Pick one piece each week to edit or improve
• Encourage them to add at least one simile or metaphor

These prompts pair perfectly with the Descriptive Writing Mini Course, which breaks down all the essential skills needed to bring writing to life.

Inside the course, we explore:

• Using figurative language effectively
• Building atmosphere and tone
• Crafting precise, powerful descriptions

It’s ideal for children sitting both grammar and independent school exams.

Your Next Step

Descriptive writing isn’t just about sounding fancy – it’s about making the reader feel something. And with regular practice, your child can go from “just okay” to “this is incredible.”

If you want a structured way to build your child’s skills (without endless nagging), the Descriptive Writing Mini Course gives you everything you need.

Start the course here and help your child bring their writing to life – one sentence at a time.