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Academy11+

Free printable worksheet 路 About 15 minutes 路 Ages 9 to 11

Story endings

Practise four satisfying ways to end a story, so it never stops with 'and then I woke up'. Print it from this page or download the PDF.

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Academy11+

Free 11+ creative writing worksheet

Story endings

About 15 minutes

Name

Date

Read the story summary. Write a different ending for it in each box, two to four sentences each. Then check your favourite ending against the checklist.

The story so far

Ava's little brother Noah goes missing at a busy seaside market. Ava searches the stalls, the pier and the beach,

and at last finds him at the end of the pier, feeding chips to a seagull, completely unaware that anyone was worried.

Circular ending

Return to something from the opening: a place, an object, a phrase.

Reflective ending

The character thinks about what they've learnt or how they've changed.

Twist ending

A surprise that makes the reader see the story differently.

Cliffhanger ending

Everything is solved... or is it? Use sparingly.

Does my ending...

  • solve the problem (or show clearly why it can't be solved)?
  • show how the main character feels now?
  • link back to the opening or the title?
  • avoid 'and then I woke up' or 'it was all a dream'?
  • finish in a full paragraph, not one rushed sentence?
www.academy11.co.uk/11-plus-creative-writing/worksheets/story-endings 路 Free 11+ creative writing worksheet from Academy11+ 路 Free to print for home and classroom use

Tips for parents

  • Rushed endings are the most common problem in timed 11+ writing. Encourage your child to leave five minutes for the ending.
  • Ask 'How is your character different now?' A good ending often answers that question.
  • Cliffhangers are fun but risky in an exam: some markers read them as unfinished. A reflective or circular ending is the safer choice.

Written the story? Get feedback on it

Once the plan becomes a story, get it marked: your child writes to exam-style prompts, typed or handwritten, and you get feedback on what went well and what to improve. There's a free 7-day trial.

Get feedback on a story

Enter the writing competition

Put the practice to use: a free writing competition every month for Years 4, 5 and 6, with one prompt, feedback on every entry and winners featured on the site.

See the writing competition

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Questions parents ask

What makes a good ending for an 11+ story?

A good ending solves the story's problem, shows how the main character feels or has changed, and ideally links back to the opening. It should feel planned, not rushed into the last two minutes.

Can an 11+ story end on a cliffhanger?

It can, but it's risky: an examiner may think the story simply isn't finished. If your child uses one, the main problem should still be resolved, with a small new mystery at the very end.