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 is ‘exam-ready’ unless you know what to look for, and the 11 Plus exams are quite specialist.

Years ago, I worked with a lovely mum called Priya. Her daughter was writing regularly, but her confidence was dipping because she wasn’t getting feedback that helped her grow. Priya was unsure – she wasn’t a teacher and didn’t want to discourage her daughter. I gave her a simple five-point checklist and a few marking tips, and the change was incredible. Her daughter started improving within days, and Priya felt empowered to guide her.

You don’t have to be an English teacher to help. Here’s how you can mark your child’s 11 Plus writing at home – and make it count.

Read It Aloud

Reading your child’s writing out loud together is a game-changer. It helps both of you hear clunky sentences, missing words or moments where the writing doesn’t flow.

If your child hears you stumble over a sentence, that’s a gentle sign it might need revision – without you needing to say a word.

Focus on What They Did Well First

Start with praise. Find something they did well:

• “I really liked how you built tension here.”
• “This simile is great – it really helps paint a picture.”
• “Your dialogue sounds very natural.”

Positive feedback opens the door to growth. Children are far more open to improving when they feel seen for their effort.

Ask, Don’t Tell… No Matter How Tempted You Are!

Instead of pointing out every mistake, ask them questions:

• “What would make this sentence stronger?”
• “Could you add more description here?”
• “What do you want the reader to feel in this part?”

This builds independence – and confidence.

Don’t Get Caught Up in Spelling Alone

Spelling is important, but it’s not the only thing markers look at. A child might spell every word perfectly and still score low because the writing lacks structure, flair, or technique.

If your child’s writing is full of imagination but has a few SPaG slips, don’t panic. That’s far easier to fix than flat, lifeless content.

Use Examples to Teach (Not Just Correct)

Let your child see examples of strong writing – and compare them to basic ones. Discuss what makes one more effective than the other.

You’ll find plenty of these inside the Creative Writing Crash Course. Each module includes model answers, annotated examples, and videos showing exactly how to turn good writing into great writing.

Let Them Rewrite, Not Just Redraft

One of the most effective techniques I use is ‘re-writing’ – getting students to choose one paragraph and improve it using:

• Better vocabulary
• A figurative language device
• Sentence variety

This approach takes the pressure off starting over – and helps them see real progress, fast.

Still Unsure? Use Our Marking Service

If you’d rather have expert eyes on your child’s work, the Creative Writing Crash Course comes with the option to submit writing tasks and receive detailed, personalised feedback via video.

I’ll walk through the work line by line, highlighting what’s working, what needs improvement, and exactly how your child can level up.

This kind of support can make a huge difference in just a few tasks – and parents often tell me they finally understand what the writing should look like.

If you want your child to make meaningful progress and feel proud of their work, this is the next step.

Join the Creative Writing Crash Course today and take the guesswork out of 11 Plus writing once and for all.