Skip to content
English
Go to atomlearning.co.uk
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How Is Creative Writing Marked?

If your child is preparing for secondary school entrance exams, they may be required to complete a creative writing task. Unlike multiple-choice questions, creative writing is more nuanced and subjective. That’s why, in this guide, we explain how Atom ensures its AI marking is aligned with what examiners are looking for, alongside practical tips to help your child write with confidence and maximise their marks.

How are our creative writing familiarisation tests marked?

Our marking is designed to mirror real exam standards. Atom’s AI learns from actual exam board mark schemes and is carefully checked by subject experts and former examiners to ensure accuracy. It uses clear, examiner-style criteria to highlight strengths and areas for improvement, scoring within ±1 mark of human markers. The system is continuously refined, so feedback stays reliable and aligned with what examiners expect.

What are examiners looking for?

Creative writing can be subjective. After all, everyone has different tastes and interests when it comes to stories! However, 11+ examiners are looking for specific qualities when marking creative writing papers. These include:

  • Structure – does the piece have a clear beginning, middle, and ending?
  • Creativity – has your child introduced unique ideas and demonstrated a strong imagination?
  • Spelling, punctuation, and grammar – are they all accurate, and have they made use of sentence variety?
  • Vocabulary – have they used more advanced vocabulary (while making sense in context) than others their age? Have they introduced a wide range of adjectives, nouns, and adverbs?

Most tests place the highest emphasis on content and organisation, but a number of marks are also given for spelling, punctuation, and grammar (SPaG), so don’t forget the basics!

Top tips for acing creative writing

Organisation

  • Make sure your child’s writing has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

  • Encourage the use of paragraphs to separate ideas rather than writing one continuous block of text.

Content

  • Use exciting vocabulary, think of synonyms for simple words like “then” or “and.”

  • Introduce unique ideas and imagination to keep the reader engaged.

  • Encourage literary devices such as metaphors, alliteration, or descriptive techniques to make the writing more vivid and entertaining.

SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar)

  • Double-check spelling, punctuation, and grammar for accuracy. Correct basics are essential, but bonus points come from precise, varied use of punctuation.