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.