Marking Criteria

Understand how 11+ creative writing is marked and what examiners look for.

4articles

What 11+ Examiners Look for in Creative Writing

An insider guide to the four key areas 11+ examiners assess: content and ideas, structure and organisation, vocabulary and style, and spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Learn how marks are weighted and what separates good from excellent.

10 min readIntermediate

How 11+ Creative Writing Is Actually Scored: A Parent's Guide

A clear explanation of how GL Assessment and CEM mark 11+ creative writing, written for parents. Covers the four main criteria, what low, mid, and high-scoring responses look like, and the misconceptions that catch families out.

10 min readIntermediate

What Top-Scoring 11+ Stories Have in Common

An analysis of the six features that appear consistently in high-scoring 11+ creative writing. Includes example extracts, a comparison between average and top-band writing, and why the best stories are controlled rather than complicated.

10 min readIntermediate to Advanced

Common Reasons Students Lose Marks in 11+ Creative Writing

The ten most frequent mark-losing errors in 11+ creative writing, based on examiner reports and years of tutoring experience. Each error includes an example, its typical mark cost, and a concrete fix students can apply immediately.

10 min readIntermediate

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