How to Analyse 11+ Writing Prompts Quickly
Understand what the task wants in seconds: who you’re writing to, why you’re writing, and which structure to use.
APF: Audience, Purpose, Form
Audience
Who will read it? Teacher, head, council, peers, general public.
Purpose
Inform, persuade, argue/discuss, describe, narrate.
Form
Letter, speech, article, essay, story.
Spot the Task Type
- Persuasive: "convince", "argue for" → use devices + clear CTA
- Discursive: "discuss both sides" → balanced, evaluative tone
- Descriptive/Narrative: "describe", "write a story" → imagery, structure, character
- Informative/Article: "explain", "advise" → subheadings, examples, clear sequencing
Command Verbs and What They Want
Explain / Describe
Give detail, examples, sensory language if descriptive.
Argue / Persuade
Reasons + evidence, rhetorical devices, signposted structure.
Discuss
Both sides fairly, then a balanced judgement.
Advise
Clear steps, reader-friendly tone, practical examples.
3-Minute Planning Flow
- Circle the audience; underline verbs (convince/discuss/describe).
- Choose a structure (e.g., PEEL, story mountain, block vs point-by-point).
- Jot 3 bullet points with tiny examples; decide your tone and ending.
Model Openings (by form)
- Letter to Head: "Dear Mrs Patel, I am writing to suggest…" (polite, factual, respectful)
- Speech: "Good morning, everyone. Today I want to explore…" (direct address, hook)
- Article: Bold headline + engaging fact/question in first line
- Story: Start with action, a curious detail, or dialogue that hints at conflict
Common Misreads
- Ignoring the audience (speech written like a private diary)
- Writing only one side when asked to "discuss"
- Over-ambitious plans that don’t fit the time
Practice
- Take 3 random prompts; label APF and pick a structure for each.
- Draft two different openings for one prompt (letter vs speech).