How much creative writing can an average 10/11 yo write in 30 minutes

[UhareFouxisci]

Preparing for (private) 11+ school entrance tests. DC is bright, above expected academic attainment across the board but really dislikes writing. Will do what needs to be done in school but very resistant to doing anything extra for exam prep practice out of school hours.

The sample creative writing pieces available online are typically 2 pages long when transcribed into computer text. My DC is barely managing to write a third of that in the available time but I don't know if the sample stories online are actually representative. We have just over 2 months before the tests - can a typical bright (11+ taking so possibly not "average") 10/11yo really write 3 times faster than my DC? Wondering whether we should be doing speed-handwriting practice to get the words flowing quicker, or accepting that this is the handwriting speed and working on getting the skills to fit a pithy and well-constructed piece of storytelling into that kind of word-count.

Perhaps they have some sort of learning disability like dyslexia? It's worth getting it tested as they may be allowed extra time.

I don't think it is a learning disability crazyhat. My DS is the same. Very slow in thought and even to put pen to paper but his stories always outshine DD's who is quick to write. Infact, it's a little frustration for his teacher who feels he could produce so much more if only he would just get going sooner.
OP, you should work on the latter. Would it reassure you if I said that the majority of testers (with the exception of one or two girls schools I've come across) value the length much less than they value the development of ideas? The best schools look for potential not a child who has arrived. In our case, we've avoided schools that just want very bright children because there is no value added and I went to one and it can cause a lot of stress even when you are bright. In my experience, maths is a given and NVR and VR are really important. With those three, together with how they work with peers, can give a school a very good idea of a DC's potential and whether or not they'll fit into the school.

My dd (in Y7 at selective school, so did 11+ exams) says she would do two sides of A4 (handwritten) in 30 minutes for a creative writing task in exam conditions.

My DD isn't able to complete one full page hand written in 30 minutes. She struggles with writing too- hates it. Sitting 11+ for independent schools in London and hope her strength in maths and reasoning will be enough to compensate!

My dd is an exceptional writer, however she takes her time as she wants to make sure everything she writes is as poetic and expressive as possible. So her teachers love her work but tend to be frustrated that she doesn't write as much as she 'should'! However, personally I would much prefer to read half the amount at a very high standard that transports me to another world, than a boring long dull piece of writing. She's going for v selective London schools so we shall see if the marker feels the same as me or not! She has a historical novel in the planning so she truly is a passionate writer, but just a slow one! Certainly no dyslexia or learning issues, just a perfectionist. She is practising writing faster for the 11+ exams but I fear the quality could suffer. At a guess I would say she would write max 1 side of A4 in 30mins - her writing is quite small - (however that's max, I suspect she might write slightly less ). It is a concern for the 11+ exams but I'm trusting the system that the right school for her will appreciate her quality over her quantity.

Thank you for the replies - sorry I got stuck somewhere with no network signal shortly after starting the thread. Really appreciate the guidance.

I don't think there's any dyslexia going on but DC is currently half way through being assessed for potential ASD or ADHD which school have missed up till now as DC bright enough to be in top quarter of class without additional teacher attention but social interaction and various other issues now just (in year 6) being enough to cause them concern - am frustrated about this because I have been expressing worries about this for years and have been told its all fine (because academic performance all fine). Really hoping that the smaller class sizes of this school will help DC cope better than the alternative huge comprehensive and getting the writing skills improved before January feels like an unreasonable barrier in the way of that possibility.

Unfortunately the assessment and diagnosis process will not be finished before January so DC will be tested and evaluated by the potential secondary school as if neurotypical with no concessions but I do suspect there's something to do with organisation, processing and planning skills which are affecting DC's ability to get a tumble of creative and imaginative ideas into a good structure on the page.

My ds was a very slow writer so we had to have a year or so build up to the creative writing tests. He had to practise writing a story every week with his tutor group and slowly went from writing a few sentences at the start of year 4 in half an hour to a page and a half by the time the independent school tests were sat. He struggled as his imagination wasn't great either despite being a good reader.

What worked for us; keeping the story simple - a simple dilemma to be resolved but using great vocabulary, a metaphor, a simile, alliteration, heart as emotion, all of the senses and colour. ' The graves lay in a row like a line of rotting teeth', ' a crimson sky'. Very formulaic but it worked for ds who is logical. Many children get carried away and bogged down in a never ending scenario. It has to be structured with a beginning, middle and end. We bought the 'magic money' cards (google these). At a push, ds would copy vaguely a plot he'd read in a short story. Descriptive writing is a bit easier and may also crop up ie, write about this picture.

I don't think you've said whether you have a daughter or son but often English is the great divider for the boys. My ds did exceptionally well in the tests and I was very proud at how far he went with the effort he put in.

You don't have a lot of time so maybe start practising now if your child will engage. If you can, take a little time to look at some children's poems and see how a picture is painted using words.

30 mins isn't that long. Maybe enough for a couple of thought-out paragraphs. Or a very short story. Certainly not 2xA4 typed up.

Thanks again.
Did another attempt today - quite reluctantly but DC feels less stressed about it now I have said we won't worry so much about the length and will work towards getting the story on the page within the number of words that is typical for 30 minutes. Managed to do a word count on the examples I had found and they were circa 800 words. DC is managing about 280 at best (today's effort more like 220). But I think we will have more joy with learning a formula to include a metaphor, a simile, alliteration, references to all the senses etc and a compact plot within a limited word count.

I will have a google for the Magic Money cards - thank you!