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.

Let’s take a look at what really matters when it comes to length – and how you can help your child find the right balance.

Grammar School Writing: Keep It Tight and Focused

In grammar school exams, children are often given 20–25 minutes to complete the writing task. That doesn’t leave much time for long, flowing stories.

So what’s realistic?

• Up to an A4 page of writing is a strong target.
• That’s about a side of A4, depending on handwriting size.

Markers are looking for structure, creativity, and control – not word count. In fact, writing too much often leads to rushed endings, repeated ideas, or sloppy spelling and punctuation.

The best writing in grammar school exams is well-paced and complete. It has a beginning, middle, and end – and it shows off vocabulary and sentence variety without going off-track.

Independent School Writing: More Room to Stretch

Independent school writing tasks are usually longer – sometimes up to 40 minutes – and the prompts can be more challenging. That gives children time to write more, but the focus shifts slightly.

Rather than word count, these schools are looking for:

• Depth of description
• Emotional range
• Strong character voice
• Originality

A well-written piece of around at least one A4 side of writing and a bit more is ideal for these exams. But again, the quality matters more than the length. A well-crafted A4-side length’s story that keeps the reader hooked is more impressive than a two-sided piece that drags.

Writing More Doesn’t Always Mean Writing Better

I’ve seen children write two full pages and score lower than a child who wrote one paragraph well. Why? Because more words don’t mean more marks – unless they’re used effectively.

Signs your child is writing too much:

• Rushed or weak ending
• Repeating ideas
• Struggling to finish in time
• More SPaG mistakes from fatigue

Signs your child is writing too little:

• Bare-bones story without detail
• Underdeveloped characters
• No clear resolution

Finding the sweet spot is key – and that’s something we work on in the Creative Writing Crash Course. Your child will learn how to plan, pace, and finish strong – no matter the task.

Tips to Help Your Child Get the Balance Right

1. Set Word Count Targets – Gently

2. Practise Pacing

Use timed practice once a week. Give your child a 20-minute writing window and see how much they can write well. Then review:

• Did they have time to finish?
• Was the ending strong?
• Could they have used their time differently?

Over time, they’ll learn to write at a natural, effective pace.

3. Focus on Structure First

A complete piece will always beat a long one that trails off. Teach your child to:

• Spend 3–5 minutes planning
• Focus on one main idea or event
• Include a twist or reflection at the end

This approach builds confidence and consistency.

4. Quality Check Before Quantity Check

After your child finishes a piece, ask:

• Does it make sense?
• Are there interesting word choices?
• Have they used any similes or sensory language?
• Is the punctuation clean?

Get them in the habit of checking for quality before worrying about how much they’ve written.

Your Next Step

Whether your child tends to write too little or too much, they can learn to hit that perfect middle ground – where every sentence counts, and the writing flows with confidence.

Inside the Creative Writing Crash Course, your child will learn how to plan, pace, and polish their writing – all without pressure. There’s even the option to get personalised video feedback, so you’ll never have to guess whether they’re on track.

Start the Creative Writing Crash Course today and help your child find the balance that gets results.