When it comes to 11 Plus creative writing, planning often gets forgotten – especially when time is tight. But here’s the truth: children who take just a few minutes to plan their stories always produce stronger, more structured writing.
I remember working with a Year 5 boy who used to dive straight into his stories. His ideas were good, but the endings often fizzled out, and the plots went off track. Once we introduced a simple planning method, everything changed. His writing became more focused – and his confidence soared.
That’s why I teach a straightforward story planning template that works in any 11 Plus exam – grammar or independent. And I’m going to share it with you now.
Why Planning Matters
Even a quick 3–5 minute plan can:
- Help your child organise their thoughts
- Prevent waffling or repetition
- Make sure they finish the story on time
- Boost marks for structure and coherence
Markers can spot a well-planned story from the first paragraph. It flows better, builds tension naturally, and lands with a stronger ending.
The Five-Part 11 Plus Story Plan
This template works whether your child is writing a story, a description or a recount.
1. Setting the Scene (Opening)
- Where is the story set?
- What time of day is it?
- What’s the mood or atmosphere?
Example: It’s a stormy evening. The character is walking home alone.
Tip: Encourage your child to start with description or action – avoid “One day…”
2. Introduce the Character
- Who is the main character?
- How are they feeling?
- What are they doing?
Example: Tom is nervous – he’s forgotten his phone and it’s getting dark.
Tip: A named character makes the story easier to follow.
3. Problem or Twist (Build-Up)
- What goes wrong?
- What surprise happens?
- What changes the direction of the story?
Example: He hears footsteps behind him – someone is following him.
Tip: This is where tension starts to rise.
4. The Climax (Turning Point)
- What does the character do?
- How do they react?
- Is there a decision or action?
Example: Tom turns a corner and hides in a doorway, heart pounding.
Tip: Use short sentences and sensory details to build suspense.
5. The Resolution (Ending)
- How does it end?
- What does the character learn or realise?
- How has the situation changed?
Example: It turns out it was his older brother playing a prank. Tom laughs – eventually.
Tip: Avoid the “It was all a dream” ending – it weakens the impact.
How to Use This Template in Timed Exams
Here’s what I teach my students:
- Spend 3–5 minutes jotting down one or two bullet points for each section
- Don’t over-plan – just map out the key idea for each part
- Use the plan to guide each paragraph in their story
This method keeps them focused and on track – especially when the pressure’s on.
You can practise this at home too. Give your child a story prompt and ask them to plan it using the five-part template. Then challenge them to write the full piece in 20–30 minutes.
If they follow the plan, they’ll almost always finish their story on time – and it will feel more complete.
Bonus: Add a Planning Sheet to Your Writing Folder
To make life easier, I always suggest printing the five-part plan and keeping it in a writing folder or glued into the front of your child’s notebook.
That way, it’s always there when they need it – and becomes second nature by the time the exams arrive.
This story structure is also taught in detail inside the Creative Writing Crash Course, along with story openers, descriptive techniques, and writing tasks that bring the planning to life.
Your Next Step
If your child struggles with story structure or runs out of time before finishing their piece, planning is the missing link.
The Creative Writing Crash Course teaches your child exactly how to plan and execute exam-worthy stories – step by step.
Start the Crash Course today and give your child a planning system that works every time.
Leave a Reply