11+ Narrative Writing

Narrative writing asks your child to tell a story — with a character, a setting, a problem, and a resolution. It is different from descriptive writing (which paints a scene) and continuation writing (which picks up an existing story). With narrative writing your child starts from scratch, choosing their own characters and plot. A prompt might say "Write a story about a door that should never have been opened" or "Write a story beginning with the line: The old house had been empty for years." This task appears in GL Assessment, Kent Test, FSCE, and many independent school 11+ papers.

Examiners look for: a clear story structure with a beginning, middle, and end; an engaging opening that hooks the reader immediately; strong characterisation with at least one believable character; a central conflict or problem that creates tension; a satisfying resolution; ambitious and varied vocabulary; literary techniques including simile, metaphor, personification, and varied sentence lengths; accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar throughout; and a consistent narrative voice.

A proven structure for an 11+ story in 25-35 minutes: (1) Opening — establish the character and setting immediately, include a hint of the problem to come; (2) Build-up — develop the character and setting, increase tension; (3) Problem/Climax — the central conflict reaches its peak, the most dramatic moment; (4) Resolution — the problem is resolved, the character has changed or learned something; (5) Ending — a closing image or line that feels satisfying. Each section should be roughly equal in length. Avoid spending too long on the opening and rushing the ending.

Most 11+ writing tasks last 20-35 minutes. In that time, a well-prepared child should write 250-400 words. A shorter, complete story with a satisfying structure will always score higher than a longer piece that runs out of time before the ending. Planning for 3-5 minutes before writing is essential — it ensures the story has a beginning, middle, and end rather than an unfinished narrative that stops mid-action.

Both first person ("I walked into the room...") and third person ("Jake walked into the room...") are acceptable and can score highly. First person can create a strong, immediate voice and emotional connection. Third person gives more narrative flexibility and is often easier for children to control. Advise your child to choose whichever feels most natural to them and to stay consistent throughout — switching between first and third person mid-story is a common mistake that loses marks.

The opening line is crucial — it sets the tone and grabs the examiner's attention. Strong openings include: starting in the middle of the action ("The door slammed behind me."), beginning with vivid description ("The forest was the kind of dark that pressed against your eyes."), starting with an intriguing question or statement ("Nobody believed me when I said the house was alive."), or using dialogue ("'You should never have come here,' the old woman whispered."). Avoid starting with "One day..." or "My name is..." — these are overused and weak.