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10+ GCSE creative writing ideas, prompts and plot lines
Getting a good GCSE creative writing plot going can be difficult, here are some ideas to help you out.
Ahead of your exams, here are a selection of GCSE creative writing ideas and prompts to hopefully provide some inspiration.
The Lost Timepiece
Prompt: In an old, dusty attic, a teenager discovers a mysterious pocket watch that doesn’t seem to tell the correct time.
Potential Story Directions:
- The watch could transport the teenager to different moments in history whenever it's wound.
- The watch might belong to a long-lost relative, leading to a family mystery.
- The watch could be counting down to a significant event, and the protagonist must figure out what is about to happen.
The Secret Garden Door
Prompt: Behind the overgrown ivy in the school's garden, a student finds a door that wasn't there before.
- The door could lead to a magical world, offering an escape from everyday life but with challenges of its own.
- It might be a portal to the past, showing the school's history and secrets.
- The door could be a metaphorical passage to self-discovery, revealing hidden aspects of the character’s personality.
The Last Message
Prompt: A character receives a mysterious message in a bottle on the beach, written in a cryptic language.
- Deciphering the message could lead to an adventure, perhaps a treasure hunt or a rescue mission.
- The message might be from a distant land or time, offering insights into an ancient or futuristic world.
- It could be a personal message from someone significant in the character’s past, triggering a journey of emotional growth.
Midnight at the Museum
Prompt: A night guard at a museum notices that the exhibits come to life after midnight.
- The guard could interact with historical figures, learning about history firsthand.
- There might be a plot to steal an exhibit, and the living exhibits help to thwart it.
- The phenomenon could be linked to a supernatural event or an ancient curse that needs resolving.
The Forgotten Melody
Prompt: A pianist discovers an old, unplayed piano in a neglected music room that plays a melody no one seems to recognize.
- The melody could be a key to unlocking forgotten memories or a hidden past.
- It might be a magical melody, having various effects on listeners.
Each of these prompts offers a starting point for creative exploration, allowing students to develop their storytelling skills in imaginative and engaging ways.
Galactic Storm
Prompt: Astronauts on a mission to a distant planet encounter a bizarre, otherworldly storm.
- The storm could have strange, mind-altering effects on the crew.
- It might be a living entity, communicating in an unprecedented way.
- The crew must navigate through the storm to discover a hidden aspect of the universe.
Unearthed Powers
Prompt: A teenager suddenly discovers they have a supernatural ability.
- The power could be a family secret, leading to a journey of self-discovery.
- It might cause conflict with friends and society, forcing the protagonist to make difficult choices.
- The ability could attract unwanted attention, leading to a thrilling adventure.
Reflections of Reality
Prompt: A story that mirrors a significant real-life experience involving friendship or a pet.
- The story could explore the depth of human-animal bonds or the complexities of friendship.
- It might involve a heartwarming journey or a challenging ordeal.
- The protagonist learns valuable life lessons through these relationships.
Chronicle of Times
Prompt: A character discovers a way to travel through time.
- Traveling to the future, they encounter a radically different world.
- In the past, they might inadvertently alter history.
- The story could explore the moral and emotional implications of time travel.
Apocalyptic Event
Prompt: A natural disaster of unprecedented scale threatens humanity.
- The story could focus on survival, resilience, and human spirit.
- It might involve a journey to avert the disaster.
- The narrative could explore the societal changes that occur in the face of such a disaster.
The Unsolved Case
Prompt: A detective starts investigating a complex and mysterious murder.
- The investigation uncovers deep secrets and conspiracies.
- The detective's personal life might intertwine with the case.
- The story could have a surprising twist, challenging the reader's expectations.
Retold Fable
Prompt: Modernize a classic fable or story, such as the Boy Who Cried Wolf, in a contemporary setting.
- The story could be set in a modern city, exploring current social issues.
- It might be told from a different perspective, offering a fresh take on the moral of the story.
- The narrative could blend the original fable with current events, creating a powerful commentary.
Forbidden Love
Prompt: Two characters from vastly different worlds fall in love, against all odds.
- Their love could challenge societal norms and expectations.
- The story might explore the sacrifices they make for each other.
- It could be a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in the face of adversity.
Thomas Brella is the founder of Student Hacks, starting the website in 2013 while studying at the University of Brighton to share tips and tricks on life as a cash-strapped student. He's now spent over 10 years scoping out the best ways to live on a budget
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11+ creative writing guide with 50 example topics and prompts
by Hayley | Nov 17, 2022 | Exams , Writing | 0 comments
The 11+ exam is a school entrance exam taken in the academic year that a child in the UK turns eleven.
These exams are highly competitive, with multiple students battling for each school place awarded.
The 11 plus exam isn’t ‘one thing’, it varies in its structure and composition across the country. A creative writing task is included in nearly all of the 11 plus exams, and parents are often confused about what’s being tested.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the plot of your child’s writing task is important. It is not.
The real aim of the 11+ creative writing task is to showcase your child’s writing skills and techniques.
And that’s why preparation is so important.
This guide begins by answering all the FAQs that parents have about the 11+ creative writing task.
At the end of the article I give my best tips & strategies for preparing your child for the 11+ creative writing task , along with 50 fiction and non-fiction creative writing prompts from past papers you can use to help your child prepare. You’ll also want to check out my 11+ reading list , because great readers turn into great writers.
Do all 11+ exams include a writing task?
Not every 11+ exam includes a short story component, but many do. Usually 3 to 5 different prompts are given for the child to choose between and they are not always ‘creative’ (fiction) pieces. One or more non-fiction options might be given for children who prefer writing non-fiction to fiction.
Timings and marking vary from test to test. For example, the Kent 11+ Test gives students 10 minutes for planning followed by 30 minutes for writing. The Medway 11+ Test gives 60 minutes for writing with ‘space allowed’ on the answer booklet for planning.
Tasks vary too. In the Kent Test a handful of stimuli are given, whereas 11+ students in Essex are asked to produce two individually set paragraphs. The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CCSE) includes 2 creative writing paragraphs inside a 60-minute English exam.
Throughout the UK each 11+ exam has a different set of timings and papers based around the same themes. Before launching into any exam preparation it is essential to know the content and timing of your child’s particular writing task.
However varied and different these writing tasks might seem, there is one key element that binds them.
The mark scheme.
Although we can lean on previous examples to assess how likely a short story or a non-fiction tasks will be set, it would be naïve to rely completely on the content of past papers. Contemporary 11+ exams are designed to be ‘tutor-proof’ – meaning that the exam boards like to be unpredictable.
In my online writing club for kids , we teach a different task each week (following a spiral learning structure based on 10 set tasks). One task per week is perfected as the student moves through the programme of content, and one-to-one expert feedback ensures progression. This equips our writing club members to ‘write effectively for a range of purposes’ as stated in the English schools’ teacher assessment framework.
This approach ensures that students approaching a highly competitive entrance exam will be confident of the mark scheme (and able to meet its demands) for any task set.
Will my child have a choice of prompts to write from or do they have to respond to a single prompt, without a choice?
This varies. In the Kent Test there are usually 5 options given. The purpose is to gather a writing sample from each child in case of a headteacher appeal. A range of options should allow every child to showcase what they can do.
In Essex, two prescriptive paragraphs are set as part of an hour-long English paper that includes comprehension and vocabulary work. In Essex, there is no option to choose the subject matter.
The Medway Test just offers a single prompt for a whole hour of writing. Sometimes it is a creative piece. Recently it was a marketing leaflet.
The framework for teaching writing in English schools demands that in order to ‘exceed expectations’ or better, achieve ‘greater depth’, students need to be confident writing for a multitude of different purposes.
In what circumstances is a child’s creative writing task assessed?
In Essex (east of the UK) the two prescriptive writing tasks are found inside the English exam paper. They are integral to the exam and are assessed as part of this.
In Medway (east Kent in the South East) the writing task is marked and given a raw score. This is then adjusted for age and double counted. Thus, the paper is crucial to a pass.
In the west of the county of Kent there is a different system. The Kent Test has a writing task that is only marked in appeal cases. If a child dips below the passmark their school is allowed to put together a ‘headteacher’s appeal’. At this point – before the score is communicated to the parent (and probably under cover of darkness) the writing sample is pulled out of a drawer and assessed.
I’ve been running 11+ tutor clubs for years. Usually about 1% of my students passed at headteacher’s appeal.
Since starting the writing club, however, the number of students passing at appeal has gone up considerably. In recent years it’s been more like 5% of students passing on the strength of their writing sample.
What are the examiners looking for when they’re marking a student’s creative writing?
In England, the government has set out a framework for marking creative writing. There are specific ‘pupil can’ statements to assess whether a student is ‘working towards the expected standard,’ ‘working at the expected standard’ or ‘working at greater depth’.
Members of the headteacher panel assessing the writing task are given a considerable number of samples to assess at one time. These expert teachers have a clear understanding of the framework for marking, but will not be considering or discussing every detail of the writing sample as you might expect.
Schools are provided with a report after the samples have been assessed. This is very brief indeed. Often it will simply say ‘lack of precise vocabulary’ or ‘confused paragraphing.’
So there is no mark scheme as such. They won’t be totting up your child’s score to see if they have reached a given target. They are on the panel because of their experience, and they have a short time to make an instant judgement.
Does handwriting matter?
Handwriting is assessed in primary schools. Thus it is an element of the assessment framework the panel uses as a basis for their decision.
If the exam is very soon, then don’t worry if your child is not producing immaculate, cursive handwriting. The focus should simply be on making it well-formed and legible. Every element of the assessment framework does not need to be met and legible writing will allow the panel to read the content with ease.
Improve presentation quickly by offering a smooth rollerball pen instead of a pencil. Focus on fixing individual letters and praising your child for any hint of effort. The two samples below are from the same boy a few months apart. Small changes have transformed the look and feel:
Sample 1: First piece of work when joining the writing club
Sample 2: This is the same boy’s improved presentation and content
How long should the short story be.
First, it is not a short story as such—it is a writing sample. Your child needs to showcase their skills but there are no extra marks for finishing (or marks deducted for a half-finished piece).
For a half hour task, you should prepare your child to produce up to 4 paragraphs of beautifully crafted work. Correct spelling and proper English grammar is just the beginning. Each paragraph should have a different purpose to showcase the breadth and depth of their ability. A longer – 60 minute – task might have 5 paragraphs but rushing is to be discouraged. Considered and interesting paragraphs are so valuable, a shorter piece would be scored more highly than a rushed and dull longer piece.
I speak from experience. A while ago now I was a marker for Key Stage 2 English SATs Papers (taken in Year 6 at 11 years old). Hundreds of scripts were deposited on my doorstep each morning by DHL. There was so much work for me to get through that I came to dread long, rambling creative pieces. Some children can write pages and pages of repetitive nothingness. Ever since then, I have looked for crafted quality and am wary of children judging their own success by the number of lines competed.
Take a look at the piece of writing below. It’s an excellent example of a well-crafted piece.
Each paragraph is short, but the writer is skilful.
He used rich and precisely chosen vocabulary, he’s broken the text into natural paragraphs, and in the second paragraph he is beginning to vary his sentence openings. There is a sense of control to the sentences – the sentence structure varies with shorter and longer examples to manage tension. It is exciting to read, with a clear awareness of his audience. Punctuation is accurate and appropriate.
11+ creative writing example story
How important is it to revise for a creative writing task.
It is important.
Every student should go into their 11+ writing task with a clear paragraph plan secured. As each paragraph has a separate purpose – to showcase a specific skill – the plan should reflect this. Built into the plan is a means of flexing it, to alter the order of the paragraphs if the task demands it. There’s no point having a Beginning – Middle – End approach, as there’s nothing useful there to guide the student to the mark scheme.
Beyond this, my own students have created 3 – 5 stories that fit the same tight plan. However, the setting, mood and action are all completely different. This way a bank of rich vocabulary has already been explored and a technique or two of their own that fits the piece beautifully. These can be drawn upon on the day to boost confidence and give a greater sense of depth and consideration to their timed sample.
Preparation, rather than revision in its classic form, is the best approach. Over time, even weeks or months before the exam itself, contrasting stories are written, improved upon, typed up and then tweaked further as better ideas come to mind. Each of these meets the demands of the mark scheme (paragraphing, varied sentence openings, rich vocabulary choices, considered imagery, punctuation to enhance meaning, development of mood etc).
To ensure your child can write confidently at and above the level expected of them, drop them into my weekly weekly online writing club for the 11+ age group . The club marking will transform their writing, and quickly.
What is the relationship between the English paper and the creative writing task?
Writing is usually marked separately from any comprehension or grammar exercises in your child’s particular 11+ exam. Each exam board (by area/school) adapts the arrangement to suit their needs. Some have a separate writing test, others build it in as an element of their English paper (usually alongside a comprehension, punctuation and spelling exercise).
Although there is no creative writing task in the ISEB Common Pre-test, those who are not offered an immediate place at their chosen English public school are often invited back to complete a writing task at a later date. Our ISEB Common Pre-test students join the writing club in the months before the exam, first to tidy up the detail and second to extend the content.
What if my child has a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, ASD)?
Most exam boards pride themselves on their inclusivity. They will expect you to have a formal report from a qualified professional at the point of registration for the test. This needs to be in place and the recommendations will be considered by a panel. If your child needs extra arrangements on the day they may be offered (it isn’t always the case). More importantly, if they drop below a pass on one or more papers you will have a strong case for appeal.
Children with a specific learning difficulty often struggle with low confidence in their work and low self-esteem. The preparations set out above, and a kids writing club membership will allow them to go into the exam feeling positive and empowered. If they don’t achieve a pass at first, the writing sample will add weight to their appeal.
Tips and strategies for writing a high-scoring creative writing paper
- Read widely for pleasure. Read aloud to your child if they are reluctant.
- Create a strong paragraph plan where each paragraph has a distinct purpose.
- Using the list of example questions below, discuss how each could be written in the form of your paragraph plan.
- Write 3-5 stories with contrasting settings and action – each one must follow your paragraph plan. Try to include examples of literary devices and figurative language (metaphor, simile) but avoid clichés.
- Tidy up your presentation. Write with a good rollerball pen on A4 lined paper with a printed margin. Cross out with a single horizontal line and banish doodling or scribbles.
- Join the writing club for a 20-minute Zoom task per week with no finishing off or homework. An expert English teacher will mark the work personally on video every Friday and your child’s writing will be quickly transformed.
Pressed for time? Here’s a paragraph plan to follow.
At Griffin Teaching we have an online writing club for students preparing for the 11 plus creative writing task . We’ve seen first-hand what a difference just one or two months of weekly practice can make.
That said, we know that a lot of people reading this page are up against a hard deadline with an 11+ exam date fast approaching.
If that’s you (or your child), what you need is a paragraph plan.
Here’s one tried-and-true paragraph plan that we teach in our clubs. Use this as you work your way through some of the example prompts below.
11+ creative writing paragraph plan
Paragraph 1—description.
Imagine standing in the location and describe what is above the main character, what is below their feet, what is to their left and right, and what is in the distance. Try to integrate frontend adverbials into this paragraph (frontend adverbials are words or phrases used at the beginning of a sentence to describe what follows—e.g. When the fog lifted, he saw… )
Paragraph 2—Conversation
Create two characters who have different roles (e.g. site manager and student, dog walker and lost man) and write a short dialogue between them. Use what we call the “sandwich layout,” where the first person says something and you describe what they are doing while they are saying it. Add in further descriptions (perhaps of the person’s clothing or expression) before starting a new line where the second character gives a simple answer and you provide details about what the second character is doing as they speak.
Paragraph 3—Change the mood
Write three to four sentences that change the mood of the writing sample from light to gloomy or foreboding. You could write about a change in the weather or a change in the lighting of the scene. Another approach is to mention how a character reacts to the change in mood, for example by pulling their coat collar up to their ears.
Paragraph 4—Shock your reader
A classic approach is to have your character die unexpectedly in the final sentence. Or maybe the ceiling falls?
11+ creative writing questions from real papers—fictional prompts
- The day the storm came
- The day the weather changed
- The snowstorm
- The rainy day
- A sunny day out
- A foggy (or misty) day
- A day trip to remember
- The first day
- The day everything changed
- The mountain
- The hillside
- The old house
- The balloon
- The old man
- The accident
- The unfamiliar sound
- A weekend away
- Moving house
- A family celebration
- An event you remember from when you were young
- An animal attack
- The school playground at night
- The lift pinged and the door opened. I could not believe what was inside…
- “Run!” he shouted as he thundered across the sand…
- It was getting late as I dug in my pocket for the key to the door. “Hurry up!” she shouted from inside.
- I know our back garden very well, but I was surprised how different it looked at midnight…
- The red button on the wall has a sign on it saying, ‘DO NOT TOUCH.’ My little sister leant forward and hit it hard with her hand. What happened next?
- Digging down into the soft earth, the spade hit something metal…
- Write a story which features the stopping of time.
- Write a story which features an unusual method of transport.
- The cry in the woods
- Write a story which features an escape
11+ creative writing questions from real papers—non-fiction prompts
- Write a thank you letter for a present you didn’t want.
- You are about to interview someone for a job. Write a list of questions you would like to ask the applicant.
- Write a letter to complain about the uniform at your school.
- Write a leaflet to advertise your home town.
- Write a thank you letter for a holiday you didn’t enjoy.
- Write a letter of complaint to the vet after an unfortunate incident in the waiting room.
- Write a set of instructions explaining how to make toast.
- Describe the room you are in.
- Describe a person who is important to you.
- Describe your pet or an animal you know well.