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.”

From that point on, his writing transformed. Because the moment children see what strong writing looks like – and understand why it works – it unlocks something in them.

Let’s take a look at two writing samples based on the same 11 Plus-style prompt. One is a typical first attempt. The other is the kind of writing that gets full marks.

Writing Prompt: “Describe a time you felt nervous.”

✘ Example One – Basic Response

“I was feeling really nervous. It was the day of my school play. I went on stage and forgot my lines. I was so embarrassed. Everyone looked at me. I was very scared.”

This is very typical of a Year 5 child who hasn’t yet been shown how to use more effective techniques. It’s not wrong – it’s just plain.

What’s missing?

• Repetitive sentence structure (“I was… I went… I was…”)
• No figurative language or description
• Telling rather than showing emotion
• No real build-up, pacing or structure

Now let’s compare it with an improved version.

How You Can Use This At Home

When parents ask me how they can help their child improve writing at home, this is what I suggest:

1. Read Examples Together

Print off two versions like the ones above. Ask your child:

• What do you notice?
• Which version made you feel something?
• What would you change?

This encourages critical thinking – and gives them a framework for improvement.

2. Practise Editing

Give your child a weaker sample paragraph (you can even write one yourself!) and challenge them to improve it. Add one simile. Replace three weak adjectives. Reorder the sentences.

These mini-editing sessions build skills far faster than just “writing more stories.”

3. Encourage Self-Review

Once your child has written something, ask them to re-read and highlight:

• Any figurative language they used
• Sentences that feel flat
• Where they could show more instead of telling

This builds independence – and starts to shift their thinking from writing to finish to writing to impress.

Want More Examples Like This?

In our Creative Writing Crash Course, I include real 11 Plus-style tasks with step-by-step video guidance and examples just like the ones above. Plus, your child can submit their own work for personalised feedback through our marking service, which shows exactly how to improve in the most important areas.

For more targeted writing help, check out our Mini Courses:

• Descriptive Writing Mini Course – master vocabulary, figurative language and visual detail
• Recount Writing Mini Course – teach structure and tone for diary-style tasks
• Transactional Writing Mini Course – perfect for independent school exam prep

When your child understands what great writing looks like – and how to recreate it – they’ll stop feeling unsure and start writing with confidence and flair.

Start the Creative Writing Crash Course today and watch your child’s writing transform.