Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Quirky DD - story choice for exam

31 replies

DachsAndPups · 09/10/2022 11:46

So DD is sitting various exams for 11+ entry to senior schools at the moment. She had her first one yesterday and they had to choose between a story about pets or a story inspired by a photo of a fairground. She chose the photo.

When questioned about what she wrote about she revealed that she’d written a story about a werewolf apocalypse.

We’re doomed, aren’t we.

OP posts:
ExpulsoCorona · 09/10/2022 12:04

DachsAndPups · 09/10/2022 11:46

So DD is sitting various exams for 11+ entry to senior schools at the moment. She had her first one yesterday and they had to choose between a story about pets or a story inspired by a photo of a fairground. She chose the photo.

When questioned about what she wrote about she revealed that she’d written a story about a werewolf apocalypse.

We’re doomed, aren’t we.

😂 My DD did very similar to yours and got into the schools she did this at. Don't worry. They're looking at quality of writing and love a bit of quirkiness.

Original poster
DachsAndPups · 09/10/2022 11:57

She did at least spell apocalypse correctly so maybe there’s some hope! 😂

OP posts:
MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/10/2022 11:57

I think it's quite common for young kids to want to write about disaster/apocalypse-type scenarios, isn't it? I remember dd's secondary school English teacher telling them in around year 9 that those stories were fine when they were younger but that she was looking for something a bit more mature/nuanced/creative as they got older. So I don't suppose she'll be alone in writing that kind of thing!!Grin

SoupDragon · 09/10/2022 11:57

That's just the sort of thing that will make her stand out from the crowd of heavily tutored "standard story" children.

i remember DS2 sitting these exams and, after a particularly dubious story where everyone ended up face down in a swimming pool having been shot, I had to give him some guidance before each exam reminding him "nobody is to die!"

Hoppinggreen · 09/10/2022 11:55

Every story DD wrote from the minute she could write them up until her GCSEs ended with everyone dying.
She did well in the 11+, got a part scholarship to Private school and ended up with excellent GCSEs
As long as your DD followed the brief she will be fine and may get extra points for making it interesting

YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/10/2022 11:52

I'm imagining an examiner sitting there saying 'dog story', 'dog story', 'dog story', cat story', cat story', 'dog story', 'where's my whisky', 'werewolf apocalypse - yes, please!'

Hopefully, her spelling and grammar were above average!