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.
Mistake 1: Flat, List-Like Sentences
This is incredibly common in first drafts:
“I got up. I got dressed. I went downstairs. I ate my breakfast.”
There’s nothing wrong with these sentences, but they’re lifeless. They don’t engage the reader, create atmosphere or show control.
How to fix it: Teach your child to vary their sentence lengths. Mix short sentences with longer ones. Try questions, dialogue, and descriptive openings. Encourage them to zoom in on a moment rather than rush through the whole day.
Try this transformation:
“I got dressed and rushed downstairs.” → “Still half-asleep, I pulled my jumper over my head and staggered downstairs, my eyes barely open.”
Mistake 2: Telling Instead of Showing
“I was sad. I was scared. I was excited.”
These are feelings, but they don’t give the reader anything to connect to.
How to fix it: Get your child to use the “show, don’t tell” approach. Instead of saying, “I was scared,” describe the character’s body language, thoughts, or surroundings.
Example: “My hands were shaking as I opened the door, the echo of footsteps behind me growing louder.”
Want a fun way to practise this? The 20 Writing Prompt Checklist Bundle is perfect for getting your child to write creatively and emotionally – with just enough structure to guide them.
Mistake 3: Overusing Figurative Language (or Forcing It!)
I love a well-placed simile – but not when there’s one in every sentence:
“The door creaked like an old ghost. The room was as dark as a bat’s cave. My heart pounded like a thousand drums.”
How to fix it: Remind your child that devices like similes and metaphors are like seasoning – they should enhance the flavour, not overpower it. One or two used well is far better than five used awkwardly.
Try creating a list of your child’s favourite similes from books they’ve read and talk about why they work.
Mistake 4: Weak Endings
So many stories start strong… but then:
“Then I woke up. It was all a dream.”
This kind of ending tells the examiner that the writer ran out of time or ideas.
How to fix it: Help your child plan a clear beginning, middle, and end before they start writing. The ending should give a sense of closure or reflection.
A stronger version:
“As I left the hall, my cheeks still warm, I realised something: I hadn’t forgotten my lines. I’d remembered my courage.”
That’s a sentence that makes a marker pause – and maybe even smile.
Mistake 5: Lack of Planning
This might be the biggest issue of all. Children dive in without a plan and end up writing themselves into a corner.
How to fix it: Teach them to spend 5 minutes planning before they write. Even just jotting down the setting, characters, problem and ending can make a world of difference.
If you need help with this, the Creative Writing Crash Course includes planning frameworks your child can reuse again and again – and it walks them through story structure in a way that makes sense.
Mistake 6: Rushing and Forgetting to Edit
A good story can be let down by careless mistakes: missing capital letters, forgotten speech marks, jumbled tenses.
How to fix it: Teach your child to build in 5 minutes at the end of every writing session to read their work aloud (or in their head). Mistakes jump out much more easily that way.
Better yet, get outside eyes on it. The Crash Course Marking Option lets your child submit tasks and get personalised, video-marked feedback – the kind that makes improvement immediate.
Mistake 7: Writing Too Much (Yes, Really!)
Some children think that the longer the story, the better. But long doesn’t mean strong – especially if the middle is repetitive or the story drifts off course.
How to fix it: Set a word count goal (e.g. 250–300 words) and focus on quality. Remind your child: it’s better to write one brilliant scene than rush through an entire novel.
Final Word: Fixing These Mistakes Is Easier Than You Think
The good news? Every one of these mistakes is fixable – with the right guidance, examples, and practice.
I’ve seen it time and time again: once children see the difference between weak and strong writing – and understand why it matters – they start improving fast.
If you want support at home, the Creative Writing Crash Course is the perfect place to start. It’s self-paced, child-friendly, and packed with expert guidance. And if you want to focus on specific skills like description, recount writing or persuasive writing, we’ve got Mini Courses for those too:
Let’s stop guessing and start growing. Start the Crash Course here and help your child leave these common mistakes behind – for good.
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