Creative writing assesses a student’s ability to express ideas imaginatively and coherently. The following set of 20 advanced creative writing questions is tailored for the 11+ assessment tests in UK schools. These questions aim to inspire creativity, enhance storytelling skills, and develop a strong command of written English.
Sample Example
Question:
Write a story that begins with the sentence: “The old lighthouse had stood silent for decades, but tonight, its light flickered to life.”
Instructions:
Your story should be at least 200 words long. Use vivid descriptions, develop interesting characters, and create a compelling plot.
Answer:
The old lighthouse had stood silent for decades, but tonight, its light flickered to life. Emma stood on the rocky shore, mesmerised by the sudden glow piercing the darkness. Curious and brave, she decided to investigate. As she approached the lighthouse, the door creaked open, revealing a spiral staircase bathed in the soft light. Inside, she met Mr. Thompson, the elderly keeper who had never left since the light had gone out years ago. He explained that the lighthouse was awakening to guide a lost ship back to safety. Together, they worked to restore the light, and as dawn broke, the vessel safely reached the harbour. Emma realized that some places hold secrets waiting to be discovered, and she felt proud to have played a part in the lighthouse’s revival.
Questions
1. Story Starter
Write a story that begins with the sentence: “Under the full moon, the enchanted forest revealed its hidden secrets.”
2. Character Development
Create a character who discovers they have the ability to communicate with animals. Write a scene that shows how they use this power.
3. Dialogue Writing
Write a dialogue between two friends who find a mysterious map in their school library. Use dialogue to build tension and excitement.
4. Setting Description
Describe a bustling marketplace in a fantasy kingdom. Use sensory details to bring the scene to life.
5. Plot Twist
Write a short story where the protagonist believes they are on a quest to find a treasure, but the treasure turns out to be something unexpected.
6. First-Person Narrative
Write a first-person account of a day when everything went wrong but ended with a positive outcome.
7. Third-Person Limited Perspective
Write a scene from a third-person limited perspective focusing on a child who is afraid of the dark but faces their fear.
8. Creating Conflict
Write a story where two siblings compete to solve a puzzle that leads to a family secret.
9. Theme Exploration
Write a story that explores the theme of friendship overcoming differences.
10. Imagery and Metaphor
Incorporate at least three metaphors to describe a stormy night in your story.
11. Flashback Technique
Write a scene that includes a flashback to reveal why the main character is determined to win the school competition.
12. Foreshadowing
Start your story with a seemingly minor event that foreshadows a major turning point later in the narrative.
13. Using Symbolism
Write a story where a broken watch symbolizes the protagonist’s struggle with time management.
14. Building Suspense
Create a story that builds suspense as the protagonist tries to uncover the truth behind a mysterious disappearance.
15. Writing an Ending
Write two different endings for a story where the main character finds a hidden door in their attic.
16. Incorporating a Moral
Write a story that ends with a moral lesson about honesty.
17. Creating a Unique Setting
Invent a unique world for your story, describing its geography, inhabitants, and culture.
18. Point of View Shift
Write a short story first from the perspective of a cat and then rewrite it from the cat’s owner’s perspective.
19. Using Humor
Write a humorous story about a school day that goes hilariously wrong.
20. Combining Genres
Write a story that combines elements of mystery and adventure as the protagonist searches for a lost artifact.
Answers
Creative writing responses are open-ended and can vary widely based on the student’s imagination and writing style. Below are example answers for the sample question and brief guidelines for evaluating the responses to each question.
Sample Example Answer
Question:
Write a story that begins with the sentence: “The old lighthouse had stood silent for decades, but tonight, its light flickered to life.”
Answer:
(As provided in the Sample Example section above.)
Guidelines for Evaluating Answers
- Story Starter:
- Assessment Criteria: Clear beginning, engaging introduction, sets the scene for the story.
- Character Development:
- Assessment Criteria: Well-developed character, clear demonstration of the ability, shows how it affects interactions.
- Dialogue Writing:
- Assessment Criteria: Natural and realistic dialogue, builds tension, reveals character traits.
- Setting Description:
- Assessment Criteria: Vivid sensory details, creates a strong sense of place, enhances the story.
- Plot Twist:
- Assessment Criteria: Unexpected yet plausible twist, adds depth to the story, maintains coherence.
- First-Person Narrative:
- Assessment Criteria: Consistent first-person perspective, personal insights, emotional depth.
- Third-Person Limited Perspective:
- Assessment Criteria: Clear focus on one character’s thoughts and feelings, maintains perspective throughout.
- Creating Conflict:
- Assessment Criteria: Clear conflict between characters, drives the plot forward, engages the reader.
- Theme Exploration:
- Assessment Criteria: Clear exploration of the theme, integrates theme seamlessly into the story.
- Imagery and Metaphor:
- Assessment Criteria: Effective use of metaphors, enhances descriptions, adds depth to the narrative.
- Flashback Technique:
- Assessment Criteria: Smooth integration of flashback, provides necessary background, enhances character motivation.
- Foreshadowing:
- Assessment Criteria: Subtle hints of future events, adds anticipation, maintains story flow.
- Using Symbolism:
- Assessment Criteria: Symbol is clear and relevant, enhances the story’s meaning, integrates naturally.
- Building Suspense:
- Assessment Criteria: Gradual increase in tension, keeps the reader engaged, effective pacing.
- Writing an Ending:
- Assessment Criteria: Two distinct and satisfying endings, resolves the story’s main conflict, maintains consistency with the narrative.
- Incorporating a Moral:
- Assessment Criteria: Moral is clear and effectively conveyed, integrated naturally into the story, avoids preachiness.
- Creating a Unique Setting:
- Assessment Criteria: Detailed and imaginative world, consistent internal logic, enhances the story’s uniqueness.
- Point of View Shift:
- Assessment Criteria: Clear distinction between perspectives, maintains narrative voice, adds depth to the story.
- Using Humor:
- Assessment Criteria: Effective use of humorous elements, maintains a light-hearted tone, engages the reader.
- Combining Genres:
- Assessment Criteria: Seamless integration of genres, maintains coherence, enhances the story’s appeal.
These advanced creative writing questions are designed to challenge and develop your ability to craft engaging, coherent, and imaginative stories. Practicing these questions will enhance your storytelling skills, preparing you for the creative writing component of the 11+ English exam.
