Critical Thinking in the 11+: How to Show Maturity in Discussion Writing
Demonstrate sophisticated thinking and balanced analysis in your writing.
What Critical Thinking Looks Like at 11+
- Question assumptions ("What are we assuming here?")
- Weigh consequences (who benefits, who is affected?)
- Distinguish fact from opinion and anecdote from data
- Use conditional language ("This depends on…") and avoid extremes
CER: Claim – Evidence – Reasoning
Claim: a sensible point about the issue. Evidence: a brief fact/example. Reasoning: why the evidence supports the claim.
Example: Claim: "Short homework helps focus." Evidence: "Ten-minute tasks are more likely to be finished." Reasoning: "Because they are manageable, pupils practise consistently without stress."
Stems: "A reasonable claim is…", "For instance…", "This suggests…", "Therefore…"
Bias and Reliability
Check the Source
- Is the writer an expert or trying to sell something?
- Is the sample size tiny or just one story?
- Is the language emotional or neutral?
Common Traps
- Correlation vs causation: two things together doesn’t mean one caused the other
- Sweeping generalisations from one example
- False balance: pretending both sides are equal when evidence is lopsided
Evaluative, Careful Phrasing
Useful phrases: "to some extent", "in many cases", "provided that", "particularly for", "less convincing because", "this depends on".
These help you avoid absolute statements and show mature judgement.
Mini Exercises
- Underline the claim, evidence, and reasoning in a model paragraph.
- Rewrite this over-strong sentence: "Homework always ruins family time." → Make it balanced.
- Spot the bias: Is the source reliable? What information is missing?