How to Mark 11+ Creative Writing (Without Being a Tutor)

Why parent marking feels difficult.

Parent marking is hard because writing quality is multi-layered. You are judging ideas, structure, style, grammar, and age-appropriate ambition at the same time. Without a framework, it is easy to focus on whatever stands out first, usually spelling or dramatic vocabulary.

Another challenge is emotional proximity. You know your child, their effort level, and their mood that day. Examiners do not have that context. Parents naturally blend craft judgment with effort judgment, which can blur decisions. You might reward hard work in one week, then become stricter the next week if a piece feels rushed.

The solution is not pretending to be a tutor. The solution is standardising your process. If you apply the same checklist every time, confidence rises quickly because your feedback becomes consistent. Children also feel safer when they can predict how their writing will be reviewed.

A simple 10-minute marking checklist.

This 11+ writing checklist is designed for real evenings, not ideal schedules. Set a 10-minute timer and move through each step. Stop when the timer ends. Long review sessions usually reduce quality because they create too many corrections.

Keep your comments visible but brief. A one-line summary such as "Strong opening; next focus is paragraph transitions" gives more value than a page of scattered annotations.

Example: weak paragraph to stronger paragraph (with explanation).

Worked examples are one of the fastest ways to build parent confidence. If you can see exactly why one version is stronger, your marking decisions become easier and more objective.

You can use this technique at home without rewriting your child's work for them. Ask: "How can we make one sentence more specific?" and let your child suggest alternatives. The aim is coaching, not ghostwriting.

How to prioritise feedback so children don't shut down.

Children rarely apply broad criticism. They apply precise direction. If your notes contain many targets, your child has to decide what matters most, and that usually leads to overwhelm. A better approach is to choose one "craft target" and one "accuracy target", then decide which one leads this week.

In most cases, craft should lead because stronger structure and detail raise quality fastest. Accuracy can then be corrected in focused bursts. For example, if the piece lacks a clear ending, prioritise ending control before apostrophes. If sentence boundaries are repeatedly broken, fix those before adding advanced vocabulary.

• Start with one specific strength to protect confidence.
• Name one target in plain language, not exam jargon.
• Agree one practice action with your child before the next task.
• Review only that target in the next submission first.

This method gives children a visible win path. They know exactly what improvement looks like, and you can praise evidence when it appears.

How to track improvement over 4 weeks.

Parents asking "is my child good enough for 11 plus writing" usually need trend data, not one-off impressions. A four-week tracker is enough to see momentum without over-complicating your routine.

Use a table with four columns: week, key strength, priority target, evidence of progress. Add one line each week. That is all.

At the end of week four, compare week-one and week-four drafts. You should see greater clarity, stronger control, and less feedback repetition. That is meaningful progress, even if perfection is still distant.

If you work with a tutor, share this four-week record. It helps align home practice with professional instruction and avoids duplicating targets.

FAQ on scoring, consistency, and tutor alignment.