Advice and Resources
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10 Descriptive Writing Prompts for 11 Plus Practice at Home
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…
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10 Easy Ways to Build Better Settings in 11 Plus Creative Writing
Have you ever read your child’s story and thought, “This is good, but I can’t really picture where it’s happening”? You’re not alone. One of the most overlooked parts of 11 Plus writing is setting – but it’s also one of the most powerful tools to improve a child’s score. I once worked with a…
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11 Plus Story Planning Template: A Simple Structure Your Child Can Use in Every Exam
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.…
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How to Teach ‘Show Don’t Tell’ for the 11 Plus
One of the most powerful ways to transform your child’s creative writing is to help them master the skill of “show, don’t tell.” It’s also one of the most misunderstood techniques – especially when children are preparing for the 11 Plus. I once worked with a Year 5 girl who always wrote things like “She…
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Should I Worry If My Child Hates Writing?
I want to say this right from the start: you’re not alone. So many mums tell me their child hates writing. It’s the part of the 11 Plus they dread the most. And it’s understandable – writing is one of the hardest skills to develop, and when a child doesn’t feel confident, they naturally avoid…
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Why SPaG Alone Won’t Secure a Top Mark in the 11 Plus Creative Writing Task
One of the biggest myths I hear from mums preparing their children for the 11 Plus is this: “As long as their SPaG is good, they’ll be fine in the writing paper.” I understand why so many believe this. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are absolutely important – they form the backbone of good writing. But…
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How Often Should My Child Practice 11 Plus Writing?
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…
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How Long Should the 11 Plus Writing Task Be? (And What Matters More)
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…
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Grammar vs Independent School Writing Tasks: What’s the Difference?
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…
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How to Mark Your Child’s 11 Plus Writing at Home (Even If You’re Not a Teacher)
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…
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