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Free 11+ creative writing resources
Everything to help your child plan, write and improve a story for the 11+: writing techniques explained step by step, printable worksheets, word banks and example stories with notes on what earns marks.
Writing techniques
Step-by-step guides to the skills markers look for, each with before-and-after examples and a practice task.
Show, don't tell
Turn flat statements like "she was scared" into actions, body language and details that let the reader feel it for themselves.
OpenHow to write a story opening
Six ways to start an 11+ story that grab the reader in the first line: action, dialogue, a question, a mystery, a setting or a strong statement.
OpenHow to write a story ending
Ways to finish an 11+ story so it feels complete: solve the problem, show what changed, circle back to the start or add a final twist.
OpenSimiles, metaphors and personification
What similes, metaphors and personification are, how to write fresh ones instead of clichés, and how many to use in an 11+ story.
OpenWriting dialogue (and punctuating it)
How to punctuate speech correctly, start a new line for each speaker, choose said-words and use dialogue to show character and move the story on.
OpenBuilding tension and suspense
How to make the reader nervous about what happens next: slow the pace, use short sentences, hide information, add sounds and set a ticking clock.
OpenDescribing a setting with the five senses
How to describe a place using sight, sound, smell, touch and taste, choose precise words and set the mood without writing a list.
OpenCreating a believable character
How to bring a character to life in a few lines: a name, one telling detail, what they want, how they speak and act, and how they change.
OpenVarying sentences: length and openers
How to mix short, long and medium sentences and start them in different ways (adverbs, -ing words, prepositions, conjunctions) to make writing flow.
OpenParagraphs and story structure (the story mountain)
How to plan an 11+ story with the story mountain (opening, build-up, problem, resolution, ending) and when to start a new paragraph.
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Printable worksheets
Free printable sheets for planning, drafting and improving a story. View on screen, print or download as a PDF.
Story mountain planner
Plan a whole story in five stages, from the opening to the ending, before writing a word of it.
OpenCharacter profile
Build a believable character from the outside in: looks, voice, habits, feelings and what they want.
OpenFive senses setting planner
Describe a place through sight, sound, smell, touch and taste, then turn the notes into a vivid paragraph.
OpenShow, don't tell
Rewrite flat 'telling' sentences so the reader sees the feeling through actions, body language and speech.
OpenStory openings: try four kinds
Write the same story's first lines four ways: dialogue, action, description and a question, then choose the best.
OpenStory endings
Practise four satisfying ways to end a story, so it never stops with 'and then I woke up'.
OpenDialogue: punctuate and improve
Punctuate speech correctly, then make it work harder with better speech verbs and action between the lines.
OpenEditing and proofreading checklist
A five-minute checklist for the end of a timed piece: spelling, punctuation, paragraphs, sentence variety and vocabulary.
OpenSimiles, metaphors and personification
Spot figurative language, then write your own similes, metaphors and personification for everyday things.
OpenWord upgrades
Swap tired words like said, went, nice and big for stronger, more precise choices, then use them in sentences.
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Word banks
Ready-made lists of stronger words, grouped by meaning, with example sentences. Print one and keep it by the desk.
Emotions and feelings word bank
Words for happy, sad, scared, angry, surprised, calm and embarrassed, each from mild to strong, with example sentences.
OpenWeather word bank
Words to describe sunshine, cold, rain, wind, storms, fog and snow, from gentle to wild, for setting the scene.
OpenSettings word bank
Words and phrases for forests, cities, beaches, haunted houses, caves, mountains and space, to build a vivid setting.
OpenMovement word bank: alternatives to walked and ran
Better words for walked, ran, jumped and fell: slow, quiet, purposeful, fast, climbing, falling and smooth movement.
OpenSounds word bank
Words for quiet and loud sounds, animal noises, water, machines and voices, plus onomatopoeia to make a scene come alive.
OpenColours and light word bank
Shades of red, blue, green, yellow, white and black, plus words for bright light and for darkness and shadow.
OpenSentence openers and connectives word bank
Time, place, -ing, -ed and adverb openers, plus connectives for adding, contrasting and cause and effect.
OpenAlternatives to said word bank
Other words for said, grouped by how something is said: quietly, loudly, happily, angrily, sadly, nervously, asking and explaining.
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Example stories
Example answers to common 11+ writing tasks, with notes on what earns marks and what would make each one better.
Adventure story example: The Lighthouse Key
A strong 11+ adventure story about a key, a lighthouse and a rising tide, with notes on the opening, similes, tension and the ending.
OpenDescriptive writing example: The Fairground at Night
An annotated 11+ descriptive piece about a fairground at night, using all five senses, varied sentences and a clear shape from arrival to closing time.
OpenLetter example: A Letter Home
An annotated 11+ letter in role as a World War Two evacuee writing home to Mum, with notes on layout, audience, feelings and the sign-off.
OpenDiary entry example: The Talent Show
An annotated 11+ diary entry about a school talent show that doesn't go to plan, with notes on the hook, humour, feelings, reflection and the ending.
OpenPersuasive writing example: Save Our Library
An annotated 11+ persuasive speech to stop a library closing, with notes on the hook, rhetorical questions, the counter-argument and a strong final line.
OpenContinue the story example: The Fog
An annotated 11+ continue-the-story answer: a short given opening about a foggy footbridge, then a strong continuation with notes on matching the style, tension and resolution.
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Prompts, competitions and feedback
- 11+ writing promptsStory starters, titles and picture-style prompts to practise with.
- Free monthly writing competitionFree for every child, with feedback on every entry.
- Get feedback on a storyYour child writes to 11+ style prompts and gets detailed feedback on each piece.
- The complete writing guidePowerful words, grammar, openings, endings and writing tricks in one place.
Questions parents ask
Is creative writing part of the 11+?
Many 11+ and independent school entrance tests include a writing task, often a story, a description or a piece of persuasive or letter writing, written in a set time. Some grammar school tests don't include writing at all, so check what the schools you're applying to set.
What do markers look for in 11+ creative writing?
In general: a clear structure with a strong opening and a satisfying ending, ambitious but well-chosen vocabulary, varied sentences, accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation, and writing that suits the task and the reader. The technique guides here take each of these in turn.
Are these creative writing resources free?
Yes. Every guide, word bank and example story can be read on screen and printed, and the worksheets can be printed or downloaded as PDFs. Our marked creative writing practice, with feedback on each story, is a separate paid service with a free trial.
How can my child practise creative writing at home?
Little and often works best: one technique a week, a short timed piece using a prompt, then a few minutes improving it with an editing checklist. Reading widely and collecting good words in a notebook helps just as much as writing.
How long should an 11+ story be?
It depends on the time allowed rather than a word count. In a typical 30 to 40 minute task, a well-planned, well-checked story of a few hundred words is better than a long one that runs out of time or never reaches an ending.
What age are the resources for?
They're written for children in Year 5 and Year 6 preparing for the 11+, and they suit Key Stage 2 writing in general.