11 Plus Writing Genres – A Quick Guide for Parents

A common issue with writing submissions to our Facebook group is that children often fail to follow the brief/prompt. This guide should help you and your child better understand the given task.

The 11 Plus writing slot can feel daunting. However, many tasks repeat familiar patterns. Children who quickly identify the genre, adjust their tone and layout and adhere to a tight plan may score more reliably than those who write in a uniform style.

At home, try mixing your practice between handwriting and typing. Typing has many advantages when working at home, especially when you’re learning how to edit. As you approach the tests, it may help to handwrite.

11 Plus Story Tasks – Plan with ‘CAPRE’ and Keep It Simple

Stories are often the most difficult to write under pressure. Children freeze. The blank page is daunting. Understanding story archetypes (familiar characters, symbols or situations found across many cultures) and tropes (common story ideas readers might expect to see) could help with ideas.

For timed 11+ stories, it’s usually helpful to limit the cast to one or two characters and one point of view. Keep the plot simple. Introduce the character and the goal quickly. You could use something like ‘CAPRE’ to plan quickly.

‘Show, don’t tell’ can be drummed into children. We prefer ‘Show and Tell’ when writing stories. Why? Because we often need to do both, especially when time and word count are limited. Too much of both might cause an imbalance in a one-page/short story. Understanding story archetypes and tropes could help with the following:

• Character – one clear viewpoint
• Action – start in motion rather than warming up slowly
• Problem – a snag or change that forces a choice
• Resolution – demonstrate how the character addresses the issue
• Ending – a short closing beat that shows consequence, is earned and is satisfying

Sensible timings that might work under pressure – three minutes to plan, twenty minutes to write, five minutes to check. Aim for one clean plot, not branching subplots. Check your target schools’ websites for absolute guidance.

11 Plus Letter Writing – Tone and Layout That Fit the Audience

Identify the audience first:

• Formal letters – use a conventional layout with address, date, greeting, clear purpose in short paragraphs and a courteous close. Keep diction (the deliberate choice of words and phrasing a writer uses in a given context) measured and precise. Generally, avoid contractions.
• Informal letters – a conversational voice is fine. Open with purpose, keep paragraphs short and sign off neatly. Contractions and personal details are allowed yet stay relevant to the task.

A useful exercise is to write about the same topic twice – once to an ‘official’ person, such as a teacher or local MP, and once to a friend or family member – then compare the openings, vocabulary and endings.

11 Plus Diary Entries – Voice, Feeling, Shape

Typically, write in the first-person perspective with a believable, consistent voice (yours!). Often start with a date. Shape the entry so it reads like this – set-up, key moment, brief reflection. If asked to write as another character, match the diction and viewpoint to the character, not to yourself.

11 Plus Description – Showing as the Default

Description tests atmosphere, focused detail and vocabulary in context. Although there may be no full plot (you’re not writing a story), there should still be a clear focus and a sense of progression, depending on the given brief (e.g., a picture prompt). Choose sensory details that earn their keep, vary sentence length and avoid strings of overblown adjectives. A quick exercise that builds control is to describe the same place twice – first from a calm perspective, then from a tense perspective, or from ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ perspectives – and note how your choices shift. In story writing, we prefer the ‘Show and Tell’ approach, but for descriptive pieces, we should aim to show as much as possible.

11 Plus Applied Comprehension – Writing in Role

These tasks ask for writing from a character’s viewpoint after reading an extract. Jot down a quick character attribute/situation before you start – age, situation, emotional state, aim. Keep the written voice and word choice tied to the character. If a format is specified – diary, letter, short scene – follow it exactly. Build confidence at home by practising with familiar stories first, then move to unfamiliar extracts once your child feels more comfortable with this writing task.

11 Plus Discursive Essays – Balanced, Reasoned, Clear

Organise your piece for fairness and flow:

• Introduction – state the topic without restating the question at length
• Viewpoint one – one or two paragraphs with concrete examples
• Viewpoint two – one or two paragraphs with concrete examples
• Conclusion – weigh both sides and give a reasoned view if asked

Signpost your thinking with discourse markers such as ‘to begin with’, ‘on the one hand’, ‘however’, ‘in contrast’, ‘nevertheless’. Try to avoid making sweeping claims you cannot support. Rhetorical questions and the rule of three may help, provided they stay precise and relevant.

11 Plus Persuasive Writing – Take a Stand and Justify It

Persuasive tasks ask the writer to choose a side and convince the reader. Discursive tasks weigh both sides and keep a neutral tone unless a view is requested. Persuasive writing states a position early, selects the strongest reasons and ends with a clear call to action.

Purpose and tone – maintain a firm stance and speak with a confident yet respectful tone. Match the tone to the audience – a headteacher usually needs measured formality; a school magazine piece may be lighter yet still precise.

A structure that helps – you could use the acronym ‘PREP’ in this order: point, reason, evidence, point again.

• Point – state your position in one crisp line
• Reason – explain why it matters
• Evidence – add a specific example, brief data or a short scenario
• Point again – restate the stance in stronger words, then move on

Include one short counterview and a fair rebuttal (a short reply that counters an opposing point) if time allows. Useful signpost markers include ‘firstly’, ‘more importantly’, ‘this shows’, ‘therefore’. Avoid exaggeration and name-calling – accuracy builds trust.

Quick distinction – discursive writing explores both sides and ends with a weighed view when asked. Persuasive writing argues one side throughout and seeks to change the reader’s mind.

Less Common 11 Plus Tasks Worth Practising

Instructions – use imperative verbs and a logical sequence – number the steps where suitable. Write for a reader who knows nothing about the task and test the clarity by reading it aloud to yourself and another – teach it! Replace vague verbs with precise actions that a novice could follow.

News report – aim for a factual, concise account. Include a short headline, a who – what – where – when – why – how lead, then brief paragraphs with one key idea each. Use the third person and the past tense for completed events. Add short quoted lines for testimony and keep the tone neutral.

Speech review – if it is a speech, write it to be spoken. Open with a clear purpose, signpost points, use a few rhetorical devices and end with a call to action. If it is a review, give a summary without spoilers, evaluate specific features with examples and finish with a balanced recommendation.

School magazine – treat as a light, informative article. Use a clear heading, short subheadings and a semi-formal voice that suits pupils and parents. Include a tight intro, two or three focused paragraphs and a neat closing line.

Playscript – use speaker labels and minimal narration. Set the scene and tone with a short opening direction in brackets. Keep dialogue on separate lines and add stage directions sparingly to guide action and emotion.

Recount – give a chronological retelling of a real or imagined event. Set the context quickly. Use time connectives to move events along. Keep to the first or the third person consistently and finish with a brief outcome or reflection.

11 Plus Exam Writing – Habits That Protect Marks

• Follow the brief exactly and underline key words in the task
• Plan for three minutes, write for about twenty, leave five to check (check your school’s requirements)
  
• As a rough guide, schools might expect approximately 350 to 400 words (varies greatly depending on the task) in perhaps twenty-five to thirty minutes. This requirement will vary by genre, so research your target school’s website
• Choose ambitious vocabulary only if you can use it correctly, in context. Simple and right beats fancy and wrong
• Read over your work for logic, punctuation and tense consistency
• Presentation matters. If typing could be appropriate, speak to the school early, as permissions may take time

Weekly Practice That Builds Range

As practice ramps up, you might move towards a gentle weekly rhythm. If you want a daily pattern, one option is Monday story, Tuesday formal letter, Wednesday diary, Thursday description, Friday applied comprehension.

If two or three sessions a week work better for you, focus on the genre your child needs more practice in and repeat it until the writing feels steadier. If you can manage only one, that’s better than none!

It might be worth timing each session for around 25–30 minutes so children learn to plan, write and review within a short window. Keep it light and flexible – the aim is steady habit, not perfection.

The ‘CAPRE’ Pocket Checklist for story writing – before starting, circle the task words.
Before finishing, tick C-A-P-R-E in the margin. If any letter is not ticked, fix that line.

11 Plus Writing Quick FAQs

Which genres typically appear most often?
Anecdotally/historically – story, letters, diary, description, applied comprehension, persuasive and discursive. Instructions, such as recipes, tend to appear less often yet still merit practice. Remember, 11+ history is not always an indication of the future.

How should we plan an 11+ story?
You can use an acronym to help, such as ‘CAPRE’ – character, action, problem, resolution, ending. Introduce the character and the goal quickly. Keep to one or two characters and keep the plot simple. Write a satisfying, earned ending.

How much should my child write?
As a general guideline, aim for approximately 350 to 400 words in twenty-five to thirty minutes (note that timings may vary from school to school, so conduct your own research). Remember, a complete, coherent piece beats a longer, messy piece: quality over quantity.

How do we practise letter tone?
Write about the same subject to a headteacher or a local MP, and then write the same letter to a friend or family member – ‘feel’ the difference. Compare openings, vocabulary and how you sign off the letter.

Please join our friendly 11+ Writing & Resources Group, where parents ask questions and share their children’s work. Our tutors often read, comment and help with submitted work and queries – not guaranteed. On joining, you can receive free, unique comprehensions not featured in any workbooks.

Click the link to join the group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/thecadwaladrquestschat