Advice and Resources
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Why Your Generic 11+ Tutor is Failing Your Child on the Independent School Writing Exam
You’re investing a significant amount of money in an 11+ tutor. Your child’s maths and reasoning scores are steadily improving, and they seem to be keeping up in their group sessions. Yet, when you look at their creative writing, something is missing. It’s not bad, but it’s not brilliant. It lacks the spark, the sophistication,
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5 Writing Mistakes That Will Cost Your Child a Place at a Top London Independent School
Your child is bright, articulate, and has a wonderful imagination. So why doesn’t their creative writing reflect that? When it comes to the highly competitive entrance exams for London’s top independent schools, it’s not just about having good ideas. It’s about avoiding the common traps that even the brightest students fall into. These schools aren’t
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My Child’s Independent School Mock Exam Was a Disaster. Here’s How to Fix Their Creative Writing.
The mock exam results are in, and your heart sinks. The maths score is okay, the comprehension is fine, but the creative writing mark is a disaster. Next to the low score is a vague, unhelpful comment: “Needs more detail” or “Lacks structure.” Your child’s confidence is shattered, and you feel a rising sense of
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How to Prepare for the JAGS 11 Plus Creative Writing Exam
Getting into James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) is a dream for many families. It’s one of London’s top independent schools, and the 11+ entrance exam is notoriously competitive. While many parents focus on the ISEB Pre-test, they often overlook the one thing that can make or break their daughter’s application: the creative writing paper. At
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How to Prepare for the James JAGS 11+ Creative Writing Exam (2025 Guide)
Getting into James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) is a dream for many families. It’s one of London’s top independent schools, and the 11+ entrance exam is notoriously competitive. While many parents focus on the ISEB Pre-test, they often overlook the one thing that can make or break their daughter’s application: the creative writing paper. At
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From Struggling to Standout: How Our 11+ Writing Course Transformed My Child’s Confidence
When one of my first 11 Plus students first sat down to attempt a practice 11+ writing task, I watched his confidence crumble in real-time. Despite being a bright child who loved reading, he froze when faced with a blank page and a ticking clock. His first attempts were disorganised, basic, and nowhere near the
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11+ Creative Writing Course: 5 Techniques That Impress Examiners
11+ Creative Writing Course: 5 Techniques That Impress Examiners As a parent who’s helped more than 1,000 children secure places at top grammar and independent schools, I know exactly what keeps you up at night during the 11+ preparation journey. “Will my child’s writing be good enough?” “What are examiners actually looking for?” “How can
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11+ Creative Writing Course: 5 Techniques That Impress Examiners
The writing component of the 11+ exams often separates the good candidates from the exceptional ones. As a parent, you might be wondering what exactly examiners are looking for in your child’s writing. What makes one piece stand out while another fall short? Perhaps with equally creative ideas. Having helped more than 1,000 children with
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Normal 11-Year-Olds’ English Creative Writing: How Is It Different from the 11 Plus?
Most parents presume that if a child is doing well in English at school, especially when it comes to writing stories, they’ll naturally excel in the 11 Plus creative writing exam. But as I’ve seen over the last 10 years of preparing students for grammar school Stage 2 tests like Sutton Grammar and St Olave’s,
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Online vs. Face-to-Face: Why Our 11+ Writing Course Outperforms Private Tutoring
“Shouldn’t I just hire a private tutor for my child’s 11+ preparation?” As a parent navigating the competitive world of grammar and independent school applications, you’ve likely asked yourself this question. After all, conventional wisdom suggests that one-to-one tutoring is the gold standard for academic support. But what if I told you that for many
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