How To Prepare For 11 Plus (11+) Persuasive Writing — A Complete Guide
A persuasive writing question can be relatively unexpected for 11 Plus students, however they are appearing more and more in 11 Plus writing exams. Writing persuasively under pressure, with strict time constraints, is a significant challenge. However, it doesn’t have to be. With the right guidance and plenty of practice, students can develop their persuasive writing skills, learning to construct strong arguments, present evidence effectively, and influence the reader’s viewpoint.
Persuasive writing is a component of some 11 Plus writing exams, which are used to determine entry to some of the UK’s most prestigious independent and grammar schools. A persuasive writing test is designed to evaluate students’ writing skills, including their ability to structure an argument, use evidence to support their claims, and employ persuasive language techniques.
In this blog post, we will explore how to effectively prepare your child for an 11+ persuasive writing exam. We’ll give you plenty of practical tips and strategies, as well as explaining how we can improve your child’s writing skills to the best of their ability.
The Exam Coach delivers the best online learning experience for children studying to sit the 11+ in the UK. If you have a child about to take the 11 Plus, please read on to discover more about how we can work with you to ensure your child’s success.
Contents
What is Persuasive Writing?
Persuasive writing is the art of using language to convince others to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. It involves constructing logical arguments, supporting claims with evidence, and employing persuasive language techniques to sway the reader's opinion.
Persuasive writing skills are tested by many independent schools and some grammar schools as part of their 11+ exams, including:
The Kent Test
CSSE
The Sutton Second Stage Exam
Tiffin/Tiffin Girls’ Stage Two Exams
Most independent schools’ exams
How is Persuasive Writing Tested in the 11 Plus Exams?
Persuasive writing tasks can take several different forms in an 11 plus exam, but students must always answer a given question or prompt when writing. They may be asked to write an essay on a given topic, a letter or newspaper article. The writing task is always timed and students are usually given between 20–40 minutes to plan, write and check their work. Writing must be completed by hand, unless your child has special permission to use a computer.
Persuasive writing tasks in 11+ exams often require students to:
1. Write a Persuasive Essay:
Presents you with a topic and asks you to write an essay arguing for or against a particular viewpoint.
You might also be asked to compare and contrast different viewpoints on a topic, and then argue for their own position.
E.G - Every child should be given pocket money. Do you agree?
2. Write a Persuasive Letter or Speech:
Asks you to write a letter arguing for a particular viewpoint.
Alternatively, you could be asked to write a speech about a specific issue.
E.G - Write a letter to your teacher persuading them to remove the school’s uniform.
3. Write a Newspaper Article:
Asks you to write a newspaper article that presents a persuasive argument or informative view on a given topic.
You must consider your target audience and use appropriate language and style to persuade and inform readers.
E.G - Write a newspaper article with the headline, “Adopt a dog this Christmas”.
4. Write a Book Review:
Asks you to write a book review, explaining why others should (or shouldn’t) read a particular book.
You should use evidence from the book to support their claims and persuade readers to agree with their opinion.
E.G - Write a review of a book you have read recently.
When answering the question, students must ensure they are working towards hitting all areas of the mark scheme. This mark scheme differs slightly depending on the school and question given, however, mostly they look for the same skills.
When assessing a student's persuasive writing, examiners typically look for the following:
1. Purpose and organisation
Fully answering the given question.
Using paragraphs to for a clear introduction, body and conclusion.
Including fully developed arguments throughout.
2. Language
Using varied and interesting vocabulary.
Sticking to the correct tenses.
Demonstration of persuasive techniques (such as repetition, flattery and rhetorical questions).
3. Style
Varying sentence length and styles.
Starting sentences with different words.
Using the correct format (E.G - letter or newspaper article).
4. Spelling, punctuation and grammar
Using a range of simple and complex punctuation (E.G - commas, exclamation marks and semicolons).
Using accurate spelling throughout.
Writing in properly formed sentences with few mistakes.
Students must write and work aiming to hit all elements of this mark scheme in order to score highly in a persuasive writing task.
Check out an example writing mark scheme below.
What Does Your Child Need to Succeed in 11 Plus Persuasive Writing?
To succeed at an 11 Plus persuasive writing task, students need a range of skills, including:
1. Strong opinions and arguments
Students require the ability to craft a clear opinionated statement and support it with strong, well-developed arguments. This is key for any form of strongly written, persuasive writing answer. Your child must be able to read any given prompt and be able to come up with at least a few arguments (either for or against) that they could write about in an exam situation.
2. Effective use of evidence:
The ability to gather and use relevant evidence, such as facts, statistics, and expert opinions, to support their claims is key. Evidence must be fully explained and linked back to the argument being made at all times. This requires the skill of presenting evidence in a clear and concise manner.
2. Vocabulary knowledge
A strong, wide and complex vocabulary is something examiners will be looking for. Your child must be able to demonstrate this in their writing, using tricky words and phrases in context. The more words your child knows and understands, the more likely they’ll be able to use them in their writing task.
3. Spelling, punctuation and grammar
Good writing requires a strong grasp of English spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG). Make sure your child understands the basic rules of grammar and punctuation, so that they can avoid making small mistakes in their writing. Encourage them to practice their writing skills by creating stories or writing letters as often as possible. Practice makes perfect.
Watch the video below for help on using semicolons from top tutor James!
4. Understanding and use of persuasive techniques
Examiners are looking for students to be able to recognise, understand and use literary techniques such as persuasive language, rhetorical questions, facts and sources. These help deepen an argument and should be showcased in a writing exam.
5. Adaptability
Students need to be able to approach an unseen question with confidence and a plan. They might be asked to write in a specific format or about a specific topic. Your child should be able to adapt their writing style and tone to fit the task at hand.
6. Planning and organisation
Students must effectively plan and organise their writing. At The Exam Coach, we encourage all students to quickly plan out their writing before they start, using notes or an outline to help structure their ideas. This can then be referred back to as they write.
7. Editing and revision
Similarly, good writing requires some editing and revising. Students must practice rereading and checking their own work, making revisions as needed to improve the overall quality of their writing (specifically with their spelling, punctuation and grammar).
8. Time management
One of the biggest challenges of the 11 Plus. Students are usually given between 20–40 minutes to plan, writing and check their answer. Therefore, it's essential for students to develop effective strategies to maximize their speed and efficiency.
By developing all of these skills, students can approach an 11+ persuasive writing question with confidence and increase their chances of success. Not sure how to improve your child’s skills in these areas? Read on…
How Can You Prepare Your Child?
Preparing for an 11+ persuasive writing exam can be a challenge for both you and your child. Parents can play a crucial role in supporting their child's education and helping them develop the skills they need to succeed, but sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin…
Firstly, parents should encourage their child to use as many practice papers as they can to develop their skills. Practice papers can help students familiarize themselves with the format and style of a writing exam, as well as giving them an idea of what to expect. Practice papers give students experience working through exam style questions, meaning they won’t be surprised by anything on exam day.
Working through practice papers with your child can also be beneficial, as this allows you to identify areas of weakness and provide targeted feedback and guidance.
Parents can also help their child develop their persuasive writing skills by encouraging them to read. Reading widely and regularly exposes children to a variety of texts and genres and helps them build their creativity, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. Parents can support their child's reading by providing them with a range of age-appropriate books, magazines, and newspapers, and encouraging them to read for pleasure and information. Make sure your child is reading daily in order to develop these skills. Non-fiction texts are particularly useful for building knowledge of persuasive/informative writing.
Finally, parents can help their child expand their vocabulary by exposing them to a range of words in daily life. Try to encourage your child to be inquisitive (meaning having or showing an interest in learning things) and to always ask you or other adults if they ever use words your child does not understand. Hearing and learning new words will allow your child to eventually use them in their speech and writing.
Playing word games, using flashcards, and creating a vocabulary list/book can all be effective strategies for developing a child’s vocabulary. By creating a language-rich environment at home, parents can help their child develop the linguistic skills they need to succeed in an 11+ writing exam and beyond.
How Can We Prepare Your Child?
At The Exam Coach, we are 11 Plus exam experts, focusing on our specialisms:
11+ Creative Writing
11+ Persuasive Writing
11+ Comprehension
11+ Verbal Reasoning
To help students master these subjects, we offer the following services:
👨💻 5-Day courses 👩💻
Our full 5-day 11+ courses focus on teaching the key concepts and exam techniques for each of the 11+ disciplines we specialise in:
11+ Creative Writing
11+ Persuasive Writing
11+ Comprehension
11+ Verbal Reasoning
These courses help students develop the critical foundation needed for each of their 11 Plus exams — for example, understanding effective exam technique and the mark scheme. We provide clear explanations, give students easy-to-remember exam techniques and show worked examples. Our courses are designed to ensure that students master the skills they need in order to achieve their full potential in their 11 Plus.
Types of courses currently offered:
📝 Creative Writing
Suitable for the following exam boards: Kent Test, Sutton Stage 2 and independent/school written exams.
📝 Persuasive Writing
Suitable for the following exam boards: Kent Test, Sutton Stage 2 and independent/school written exams.
🤔 Verbal Reasoning
Suitable for the following exam boards: GL Assessment, CEM, CAT4, ISEB Common Pre-Test, Kent Test and Sutton SET.
📚 English Comprehension (Multiple Choice Style)
Suitable for the following exam boards: GL Assessment, CEM, ISEB Common Pre-Test, Kent Test and Sutton SET.
📚 English Comprehension (Written Answer Style)
Suitable for the following exam boards: Independent or school written exams.
Details:
5x 90-minutes of expert 11+ tuition by an experienced tutor/teacher over 5 days.
Interactive video and microphone access via Zoom.
Detailed class notes, worksheets and other resources for each session.
Key concept explanations and demonstrations.
Exam style question practice and walkthrough.
Competitive class tests.
Self-assessed and marked testing.
Full walkthroughs of answers.
Fun examples and stories.
Detailed and effective exam preparation in chosen 11+ area.
Exam and memory technique explanations.
Model answer explanations (where applicable).
Homework set after each session.
Detailed essay/homework marking and feedback after each session.
When they take place:
Weekends during school term time.
School holidays.
How to register:
📚 Weekly Workshops 📚
In our 11 Plus weekly workshops, your tutor will share some background information about themselves and our workshops with new students. This is followed by 40 minutes of teaching time. Weekly workshops usually run twice a week, usually on weekday evenings. The dates and times of these workshops change each week to ensure everyone can benefit from them.
The content within each workshop varies between 11+ creative writing, comprehension, verbal reasoning or English vocabulary. These classes are a great way to experience our tuition and let your child learn something new before booking one of our courses. Weekly tuition allows us to regularly top up your child’s knowledge during the year prior to their exams.
Each weekly tuition workshop is standalone, meaning your child does not need to have attended any previous sessions to join one. Class notes are sent out 24 hours after each workshop to help students recap what they have learnt.
Types of weekly workshop:
Tricky Vocabulary Workout
Verbal Reasoning Synonyms/Antonyms
Comprehension
Creative Writing
Details:
45 minutes.
Introduction to The Exam Coach.
Competitive class testing.
Self-assessed testing.
Walkthrough answers.
Class notes.
When they take place:
At least once a week (date and time announced on Mondays via our email newsletter).
How to register:
📝 11 Plus Practice Papers 📝
We have plenty of practice papers available for various 11+ exam boards to help your child prepare. We provide papers for CEM, GL, ISEB, Kent, Sutton, and Independent School exams.
We send out one free English or maths paper every Friday via our email newsletter. These papers are free in order to help support your child’s 11 Plus preparation consistently throughout the year.
🎙️ Our Vocabulary Podcast 🎙️
Our 11+ Daily Vocab Show podcast is available on our website and all major streaming platforms. In each episode, we teach children a new word, expanding their vocabulary one word at a time.
Every podcast episode focuses on one tricky piece of vocabulary, ensuring that your child’s vocabulary is built up slowly, fully understanding each word.
All podcast episodes can be found using the links below:
Listen to our latest episode by clicking the image below. 🎧
Persuasive Writing Courses – What We Cover?
In our persuasive writing course, we teach students the persuasive writing exam techniques and thought processes our students have used successfully in the past. Students then practise these skills on exam style questions, looking at model answers and working through prompts. By the end of the course, students will be completing persuasive writing questions confidently, efficiently and accurately.
In the five sessions, we focus on:
Persuasive writing basics
Informative writing basics
Types of persuasive and informative writing
Features of persuasive and informative writing
Mark schemes and our recommended exam writing system
Tutors
All our courses are delivered by The Exam Coach’s team of tutors. All of our tutors have:
Passed competitive exams such as the 11 Plus.
Attended a Russell Group University within the last 5-10 years.
Received two weeks of training to deliver expertly within our online workshop format.
Taught our 11 Plus exam preparation curriculum on a regular basis within the last two years.
KEY PERSUASIVE WRITING SKILLS COVERED
1. Understanding and answering the question. Students will be taught how to understand and answer different types of writing question, ensuring they give the examiner exactly what will be rewarded highly in the exam. Mark schemes and model answers will be studied.
2. Planning and timing. Leaving enough time for planning, writing and checking is key for a persuasive writing task but difficult to master for the 11+! We will teach students how to effectively do this.
3. The basics of persuasive writing. Students will take an in depth look at the basics of writing a persuasive argument, including using persuasive techniques such as rhetorical questions, flattery and exaggeration. Students will be given a variety of prompts, allowing them to use their new knowledge and skills to craft their own sentences and passages of persuasive writing.
4. The basics of informative writing. Students will then take an in depth look at the basics of informative writing, including using informative writing techniques such as listing, facts and informative language. Students will then be given a variety of prompts, allowing them to use their new knowledge and skills to craft their own sentences and passages of writing.
5. Complex 11+ writing. Moving on from the basics, students will then be taught how to master the more complex parts of an 11+ writing exam, including using tenses, voices, sentence variation and complex punctuation.
6. Types of writing. We will explain how to identify and answer the different types of persuasive and informative writing questions that could come up in the 11+ exam. We will look at model answers for persuasive essays, persuasive letters, newspaper articles, book reviews, and balanced essays.
7. Vocabulary expansion. 11+ writing tests a student’s knowledge of both writing and complex English vocabulary. As part of this course, we will focus on expanding your child’s vocabulary, to ensure they can showcase their knowledge of the English language in their writing exam. We will work through some complex synonyms and antonyms for more common words, as well as identifying the meanings of tricky words in our model answers.
8. Writer’s tools and literary devices. Students will be taught the key literary devices (or writer’s tricks) they will need for their writing exam. They will be taught how and when to use devices such as alliteration, repetition, rhetorical questions, listing and flattery, as well as how to come up with their own examples of these in an exam situation. Students will be provided with easy ways to remember these techniques under exam conditions.
COURSE RESOURCES
Worksheets, model answers, homework and class notes are sent out before the start of the course. These can either be printed or viewed digitally. For all workshops, students receive:
A worksheet to complete in the workshop.
One or two new model answers per workshop.
Class notes to help consolidate learning and give students an opportunity to recap some of what was covered in the workshop.
A homework task.
HOMEWORK AND MARKING
A 25-minute writing task is set for all students after each workshop. They complete this task after the workshop has finished and then send it to us via email (teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv). Each piece of homework is then individually marked and reviewed by one of our tutors (usually within 2 working days). For each homework submission, parents receive:
An annotated copy of the homework, marking highlights and areas for improvement.
A 5-minute-long voice note from the tutor to your child, celebrating successes, correcting any mistakes and highlighting areas for improvement. Importantly, our tutors will show your child how they could have improved, as opposed to just where their writing was weaker.
Got any questions about our courses? Fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch!
Bonus Resources
Thanks for reading this far! Click the links below to access some of our free 11+ resources. We hope you find them useful.
The Exam Coach's Guide to the ISEB Common Pre-Test
What Is The ISEB Common Pre-Test?
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is an entrance examination designed for UK independent senior schools. The pre-test is taken in Years 6 or 7 (when a child is aged between 10 and 12) and measures a child’s potential and attainment before they take the common entrance exam in Year 8.
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is taken online and can be taken in any location with an internet connection. However, the test is usually sat at the child’s current prep school. All questions are multiple choice, with five possible answers for each question.
Candidates are registered by the independent senior school(s) they have applied for. Results of the ISEB Pre-Test are available to all independent schools the candidate is registered for. Therefore, students only have to sit the test once. If the pre-test is sat more than once, only the first result will be counted.
ISEB stands for the Independent Schools Examination Board. ISEB prides itself in producing high quality examinations that are set by highly qualified and experienced teachers from the country’s leading schools. They are widely regarded as the ‘gold standard’ for assessment at 11+ and 13+.
Please use the guide below to learn more about ISEB’s Common Pre-Test.
Why Do Independent Schools Use Pre-Tests?
Independent schools use pre-tests to establish how each child is progressing a few years before they transfer schools. If a child does well in the pre-test, they will often be offered a place at their chosen senior school, dependent on their passing of the common entrance exam in Year 8.
However, it is up to each school how they use the pre-test results. Some oversubscribed schools only use them to cut down their list of potential candidates before the common entrance exam.
Which Subjects Are Covered?
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is made up of four exams:
English — tests comprehension, missing words in sentences, spelling and punctuation.
Maths — tests maths skills in line with the national curriculum.
Verbal reasoning — tests thinking and problem-solving with words
Non-verbal reasoning — tests thinking and problem-solving with shapes, diagrams and pictures.
How Long Are The Tests?
All four of the ISEB Common Pre-Test exams take two and a half hours to complete.
The English test takes 25 minutes.
The maths test takes 50 minutes.
The verbal reasoning test takes 36 minutes.
The non-verbal reasoning test takes 32 minutes.
The four tests can be taken together or separately, but once a section is started it must be completed in one go. The tests can be completed in any order.
Each test has a timer which counts down the time remaining for that section.
How Are The Tests Laid Out?
The four ISEB Pre-Test exams are taken online, however they are still treated like an exam. Silence is expected at all times and no outside help is allowed. A pen/pencil and paper can be used to help with working out answers.
Before each test, students are given a set of instructions to read carefully. These instructions explain to candidates how to navigate through the test, as well as how to answer each type of question. Each type of question is explained individually.
For every question, students click on their chosen answer from a choice of five and then press ‘next’ to submit their answer. Please note: Your child cannot go back to a question once they have submitted an answer and pressed the ‘next’ button.
The tests are all adaptive, meaning the questions each student faces in the exam might not be the same. The next question is given depending on previous answers submitted.
For the English test, the passage of writing will be visible on screen for each question page that refers to it. Students can use a set of arrow buttons under the text to navigate through it at any time.
For the verbal reasoning test, some question types will require more than one answer per question. If two answers are chosen and your child wishes to change one of their answers, they must first deselect a chosen answer before clicking on a new one.
A progress bar can be seen at the bottom of the screen at all times. The timer at the top of the screen shows students how much time they have remaining.
Which Schools Use The ISEB Common Pre-Test?
Not all independent schools take the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Some design their own pre-test and others do not use a pre-test at all.
A list of schools which use the ISEB Common Pre-Test can be found below. Please click the link of your chosen school for more information.
Abbot's Hill School
Alleyn's School
Ampleforth College
Ardingly College
Bedford School
Benenden School
Berkhamsted School
Bloxham School
Bradfield College
Brentwood School
Brighton College
Bryanston School
Canford School
Caterham School
Channing School
Charterhouse
City of London Freemen's School
City of London School
Cranleigh School
Culford School
Dauntsey's School
Downe House School
Downside School
Dulwich College
Eaton Square Senior School
Epsom College
Eton College
Felsted School
Francis Holland School Regent's Park
Francis Holland School Sloane Square
Fulham School
Gateways School
Godolphin and Latymer School
Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools
Haileybury School
Hampton School
Harrow School
Headington School
Holmwood House School
Hull Collegiate School
Hurstpierpoint College
James Allen's Girls' School
Kew House School
King's College School Wimbledon
King's College Taunton
King's School Rochester
King Edward's School Witley
Knightsbridge Senior School
Lancing College
Latymer Upper School
Leeds Grammar School
Leys School
Lord Wandsworth College
Maida Vale School
Marlborough College
Mayfield School
Merchant Taylors' Boys' School
Mill Hill School
More House School
New Hall School
Northwood College
Northwood Senior School
Notting Hill and Ealing School
Oratory School
Palmers Green High School
Pangbourne College
Putney High School
Queen's College London
Queen's Gate School
Radley College
Reed's School
Roedean School
Royal Grammar School Guildford
Royal Hospital School
Royal Russell School
Seaford College
Sherborne School
South Hampstead High School
St Albans High School for Girls
St Augustine's Priory School
St Benedict's School
St Dunstan's College
St Edward's School
St Helen's School
St James Senior Girls' School
St Margaret's School
St Paul's School
St Swithun's School
Stowe School
Streatham & Clapham High School
Sutton Valence School
The Harrodian School
Thomas's Battersea Senior School
Tonbridge School
Tormead School
Trinity School
University College School
Uppingham School
Wellington College
Westminster School
Wetherby Senior School
Whitgift School
Wimbledon High School
Winchester College
Woldingham School
Worth School
How To Prepare For The ISEB Common Pre-Test.
11+ 5-Day Courses
Our full 5-day 11+ courses focus on teaching the key concepts and exam techniques for each of the 11+ disciplines we specialise in:
11+ Comprehension (Multiple Choice and Written Answer)
11+ Creative Writing
11+ Persuasive and Informative Writing
11+ Verbal Reasoning
All of our courses are designed to help students develop the critical foundation needed for each of their 11 Plus exams — for example, understanding effective exam technique and the mark scheme. We provide clear explanations, give students easy-to-remember exam techniques and show worked examples. Our courses are designed to ensure that students master the skills they need in order to achieve their full potential in their 11 Plus.
For the ISEB Common Pre-Test, we’d recommend our ISEB English Comprehension/Multiple Choice Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning courses.
Weekly Workshops
The Exam Coach runs two 45-minute 11+ tuition sessions every week. Weekly workshops are designed to be attended weekly (or whenever you can) to ensure continuous, steady progression. Workshops provide a good way to consistently practise the important 11 Plus skills each week. These sessions also give students an idea of what the learning experience on a full 5-day course would be like.
In our 11 Plus weekly workshops, your tutor will share some background information about themselves and our workshops with new students. This is followed by 40 minutes of teaching time. Weekly workshops usually run twice a week, usually on weekday evenings. The dates and times of these workshops change each week to ensure everyone can benefit from them.
The content within each workshop varies between 11+ creative writing, comprehension, verbal reasoning or English vocabulary. These classes are a great way to experience our tuition and let your child learn something new before booking one of our courses. Weekly tuition allows us to regularly top up your child’s knowledge during the year prior to their exams.
Practice Papers
ISEB provide no practice materials for their ISEB Common Pre-Test apart from their familiarisation test. The familiarisation test allows students to get used to the layout and questions types they will find in the exam. However, these tests are not marked or timed.
You can find the ISEB familiarisation test below:
ISEB FAMILIARISATION WALKTHROUGH
The best way to prepare for the ISEB Common Pre-Test is to practice the common question types that appear in the exam. Our ISEB Common Pre-Test practice papers below have been designed to aid students’ knowledge and understanding of the types of questions they may find in their pre-test exams. Answers and optional answering booklets are also provided.
ISEB COMMON PRE-TEST ENGLISH PAPER 1
ISEB COMMON PRE-TEST MATHEMATICS PAPER 1
ISEB COMMON PRE-TEST VERBAL REASONING PAPER 1
We would also recommend setting up a visual timer for your child whilst they use these papers. This will give them a greater understanding of how much time they will have in the exam and how they can use the timer to keep track of time whilst working.
Finally, as the ISEB Common Pre-Test is created by GL, the questions and question types found in this exam are very similar to those which appear in the 11+ GL exams. You can find some free 11+ GL practice papers below:
GL ENGLISH PAPER 1
GL MATHEMATICS PAPER 1
More 11+ GL papers can be found here and a free 11+ paper is sent out weekly via our email newsletter. You can sign up below.