8-Week Creative Writing Study Plan for the 11+

How to Use This Plan

This eight-week study plan is designed for Year 5 and Year 6 students preparing for the creative writing component of the 11+ exam. It requires approximately 20 minutes of focused work each day, five days a week, with weekends kept free for rest and recreational reading.

Each fortnight focuses on a different skill area, building progressively from foundations to exam-ready performance. At the end of every two-week block, there is a checkpoint activity so you can assess progress and identify areas that need further attention.

You will need a dedicated notebook, a good dictionary, a thesaurus (the Oxford Primary Thesaurus works well), and access to age-appropriate fiction. All other materials are described within the plan itself.

Weeks 1-2: Foundations — Reading and Vocabulary Building

Strong writing begins with strong reading. These first two weeks focus on filling your child's mental library with rich language, varied sentence patterns, and compelling story structures.

Daily Activities (20 Minutes)

• Days 1 and 3 — Focused reading (15 min) + vocabulary log (5 min): Read a chapter of a well-written children's novel. After reading, choose three interesting words or phrases and record them in a vocabulary notebook with their meanings and an example sentence. Recommended authors include Philip Pullman, Frances Hardinge, and Berlie Doherty.
• Days 2 and 4 — Word exploration (10 min) + short writing (10 min): Review the vocabulary collected so far. Practise using five words in original sentences. Then write a short paragraph (5-8 sentences) describing a place, using at least two of the new words naturally.
• Day 5 — Story analysis (20 min): Read a short story or a chapter extract. Discuss or write brief answers to: What made the opening effective? Which words created the strongest images? How did the author build tension or emotion?

Checkpoint (End of Week 2)

Your child should be able to define and use at least 20 new words collected over the fortnight. Ask them to write a descriptive paragraph about a familiar place — a park, their bedroom, the school playground — using at least five of their new vocabulary words. Look for natural, confident usage rather than forced inclusion.

Weeks 3-4: Techniques — Show Don't Tell and Sensory Detail

With a richer vocabulary in place, the focus now shifts to the techniques that transform competent writing into impressive writing. These two weeks concentrate on the skills examiners reward most highly.

Daily Activities (20 Minutes)

• Days 1 and 3 — Show don't tell practice (20 min): Present a simple "telling" sentence such as "The boy was scared" and challenge your child to rewrite it by showing the emotion through actions, body language, and sensory details. Aim for three to four sentences that convey the feeling without stating it directly. For example: "His fingers trembled against the cold metal handle. Every creak of the floorboards sent his heart hammering against his ribs."
• Days 2 and 4 — Sensory writing (20 min): Choose a setting — a busy market, a forest at dawn, a school canteen at lunchtime. Write a description using all five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Encourage specific, unexpected details rather than cliches.
• Day 5 — Technique identification (20 min): Read a passage from a quality children's book and identify examples of show-don't-tell, sensory detail, simile, metaphor, and personification. Discuss why each technique is effective in its context.

Checkpoint (End of Week 4)

Give your child a simple scenario — for example, "A child discovers something unexpected in a garden shed." Ask them to write the opening paragraph using at least two show-don't-tell moments and sensory details from at least three senses. The writing should feel vivid and immersive rather than flat or formulaic.

Weeks 5-6: Structure and Planning

Many children write well at sentence level but struggle to organise a whole piece effectively. These two weeks focus on planning techniques and structural awareness.

Daily Activities (20 Minutes)

• Days 1 and 3 — Planning practice (20 min): Present an exam-style prompt and practise creating a quick plan in under four minutes. Use a simple framework: a compelling opening, three to four key events or moments in the middle, and a satisfying ending. Practise different planning formats — bullet points, a story mountain, or a simple grid — to find what works best for your child.
• Days 2 and 4 — Openings and endings (20 min): Write three different openings for the same story prompt. Experiment with starting in the middle of the action, opening with dialogue, or beginning with a vivid description. Then practise writing endings that feel complete: a reflection, a return to the beginning, or a final image that lingers.
• Day 5 — Full piece from plan (20 min): Using a plan created earlier in the week, write a complete short piece. Focus on clear paragraphing, smooth transitions between sections, and maintaining a consistent tone throughout.

Checkpoint (End of Week 6)

Set a fresh prompt and ask your child to create a plan in four minutes, then write the full piece in 20 minutes. Review the structure: Does it have a clear beginning, middle, and end? Are the paragraphs well-organised? Does the opening hook the reader? Does the ending feel satisfying rather than rushed?

Weeks 7-8: Timed Practice and Refinement

The final fortnight brings everything together under exam conditions. The focus is on fluency, time management, and building the confidence to perform well under pressure.

Daily Activities (20 Minutes)

• Days 1, 2, and 3 — Timed writing (20 min): Complete a full creative writing task under timed conditions matching the real exam (typically 25-30 minutes, but use 20 minutes for practice to build pace). Include planning time within the limit. After each piece, spend two minutes reviewing: check for missing full stops, unclear sentences, and opportunities to upgrade a word choice.
• Day 4 — Self-editing workshop (20 min): Take a piece written earlier in the week. Read it aloud slowly. Mark any sentences that sound awkward or unclear. Replace three ordinary words with more precise or vivid alternatives. Add one sentence of sensory detail. Remove any unnecessary repetition.
• Day 5 — Celebration piece (20 min): Write freely on a topic of your child's choice. No timer, no pressure. This reminds your child that writing is a creative, enjoyable activity and helps maintain motivation heading into the exam.

Final Checkpoint (End of Week 8)

Conduct a realistic mock under full exam conditions: a choice of prompts, strict time limit, and no assistance. Mark the piece against the criteria discussed at the start of the plan — content and ideas, organisation, vocabulary, sentence variety, and technical accuracy. Celebrate the progress made over the eight weeks and identify any final areas for light revision before exam day.

Remember: the goal of this plan is not perfection. It is to build a confident, skilled young writer who can perform at their best when it matters.