How to remember to add character description to 11+ exam stories

If your child is working towards an 11+ writing exam, you may have helped them with characterisation in stories.🦹🧝‍♀️🧙‍♂️🧙‍♀️👩‍🚀

Under time pressure in an exam, character descriptions will likely be either briefly added or not added. ✍️

One effective strategy is to insert a character description immediately after the character's speech. This ensures that the character's appearance is not forgotten or overlooked in the rush of writing under time pressure.

As soon as a new character is introduced, add in the description.

👀Example:

“I wouldn’t go in there!” warned a voice from the shadows. The speaker emerged, a figure with a hunched back, long, bony fingers, and eyes that glowed like twin suns in the dark.

Now it’s your child's turn! 👇

Home task

Add character description to these lines of speech. Each line is from a different character. Imagine who would say this, why they would be saying it, and what they would look like.

⭐️1. “Let’s go,” called a voice from behind the wall.

⭐️ 2. “You’ll never defeat me!” screamed the small thing in front of her.

⭐️ 3. “Pleased to meet you!” smiled an elderly woman holding out her hand.

Have fun with the descriptions!

Anna🙂