One of the biggest worries mums have when preparing their children for the 11 Plus is how much writing practice is enough. Some mums tell me their child writes every day, while others struggle to get one piece a week done – and feel guilty about it.

Let me reassure you right now: it’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right kind of writing, consistently.

One of the most common questions I hear from mums is, “How long should my child’s 11 Plus writing be?” It’s a fair question – but also one that causes a lot of unnecessary stress.

I remember one mum who came to me worried because her daughter was only writing half a page in timed tasks. “She’s not writing enough,” she said. But when I looked at her daughter’s work, it was beautifully structured, descriptive, and finished with a strong ending. The truth is, it’s not about writing pages and pages. It’s about writing with purpose.

When it comes to preparing for the 11 Plus, one question that often comes up is: “Is the writing task the same in grammar and independent school exams?” It’s an important question – because while both types of schools test writing, how they do it and what they expect can vary quite a bit.

I remember working with a mum whose son was sitting for both grammar and independent school exams. She was overwhelmed trying to prepare him for everything. The truth is, you don’t need two completely separate prep plans – but you do need to know what makes each exam style different so your child can adapt with confidence.

One of the most common questions I get from parents is this: “How do I know if my child’s writing is any good?”

The truth is, most parents are flying blind when it comes to marking their child’s 11 Plus creative writing. And I completely understand – it’s not easy to judge whether a story is ‘exam-ready’ unless you know what to look for, and the 11 Plus exams are quite specialist.

Years ago, I worked with a lovely mum called Priya. Her daughter was writing regularly, but her confidence was dipping because she wasn’t getting feedback that helped her grow. Priya was unsure – she wasn’t a teacher and didn’t want to discourage her daughter. I gave her a simple five-point checklist and a few marking tips, and the change was incredible. Her daughter started improving within days, and Priya felt empowered to guide her.

One of the biggest lightbulb moments for parents and children alike is seeing real examples of 11 Plus creative writing – not just average ones, but excellent pieces that would earn top marks in a grammar or independent school exam.

I remember a student I worked with called Adam. He was bright, had a great imagination, but didn’t know how to show it on paper. His writing was fine – but nothing stood out. One day, I showed him a few top-level examples from other students his age. As we read through them together, he stopped and said, “I can do this. I just didn’t know how.”

Every year, I read dozens – sometimes hundreds – of creative writing tasks written by children preparing for the 11 Plus. Some pieces sparkle with imagination and control. Others have potential but are held back by the same recurring issues.

One of the most eye-opening exercises I do with parents during consultations is showing them two pieces of writing side by side – one that would pass, and one that could secure top marks. More often than not, the difference isn’t talent. It’s technique – and whether the child has been shown what not to do.

So, let’s talk about the biggest mistakes I see in 11 Plus writing and how you can help your child avoid them.

One of the quickest ways to improve your child’s writing? Show them the difference between average and excellent. I’ve seen the lightbulb go on so many times – that moment where a child reads a powerful paragraph and says, “I could do that!”

Let me walk you through a real example I use in my sessions.

When parents come to me asking when to start preparing for the 11 Plus, I always tell them the same thing: earlier is easier. Not earlier in the sense of drilling exam papers – but in creating the right habits and mindset. Year 4 is the sweet spot. It gives children time to grow into the skills they’ll need, without the anxiety that often hits hard in Year 5.

I remember working with a lovely Year 4 girl a few years ago who loved reading but found writing tricky. We focused on short, playful tasks: silly story prompts, drawing and describing characters, and exploring new words through books she loved. By the time she entered Year 5, she was miles ahead – not because she was naturally gifted, but because we started gently and early. That’s the power of Year 4.

So, how do you give your child that kind of start?

Over the years, I’ve had countless parents come to me feeling lost. Their child writes stories – sometimes even enjoys writing – but when it comes to the 11 Plus, they’re not producing good pieces of writing. I remember one mum telling me, “He’s imaginative – but we’re just not getting the ideas on paper properly. I don’t know what to do, and my son is getting frustrated as well.” And that’s exactly it – most parents don’t know what examiners are looking for, but can see when their child is struggling – and when they will clearly lose marks because they either don’t have much writing on paper, or the standard of writing just isn’t up to even the basic standards sometimes.

So let’s walk through how to improve this.