How to Put Writing Skills into Practice for the 11+ Exam
Build a simple, repeatable system: short drills, timed writes, quick edits, and regular feedback—all tracked to show progress.
A Simple Weekly Plan (3–4 sessions)
Session A: Technique Drill (20–25 min)
- Sentence variety drill (openers/connectives)
- Vocabulary drill (semantic field or synonyms)
- SPaG micro-quiz (punctuation/homophones)
Session B: Timed Write (25–30 min)
- 3 min plan → 18–22 min write → 3–5 min edit
- Rotate forms: narrative, description, persuasive, discursive
Session C: Feedback & Fix (20–25 min)
- Self-assess with a rubric/checklist
- Rewrite one weak paragraph or sentence chain
Session D: Mock or Mix (30–35 min)
- Full mock OR combine mini-drills you need most
Timeboxing and Focus
- Use a visible timer; set tiny goals ("add 2 varied openers", "fix 3 commas").
- One variable at a time: if you practise openings, don’t worry about imagery yet.
- Stop when the time ends—consistency beats perfection.
Deliberate Practice Drills
Sentence Variety
- Write 5 versions of the same idea with different openings
- Swap short/long sentences to control pace
Vocabulary
- Pick a theme (weather, emotion) and collect 10 precise words
- Write 3 sentences using 3 new words accurately
SPaG Micro-Fixes
- Comma for lists vs clauses; apostrophes for possession
- Homophones: there/their/they’re; its/it’s
Edit Sprint
- Underline verbs; replace 3 weak ones with stronger choices
- Circle repeated words; swap 2 with synonyms
Progress Tracker (quick)
- Date + task (e.g., "Timed write: persuasive letter")
- 1 strength, 1 fix, next step
- Word count and edit time
Practice
- Set a 25-minute session: 3-min plan, 18-min write, 4-min edit.
- Pick one drill to apply intentionally (e.g., sentence openers).
- Record your tracker: strength, fix, next step.