Creative Writing Mark Scheme
Welcome to the Creative Writing Mark Scheme page. Here, we break down the key assessment areas used to evaluate writing skills for 11+ exams. These criteria help students understand what makes excellent writing and how to improve their work.
Each piece of writing is marked based on the following key areas:
🔹 Ideas – Creativity, originality, and how well thoughts are developed.
🔹 Vocabulary & Spelling – Word choices, spelling accuracy, and use of ambitious vocabulary.
🔹 Grammar – Correct use of tenses, sentence structure, and overall fluency.
🔹 Punctuation – Effective use of punctuation marks to enhance clarity and meaning.
🔹 Structure – Logical flow, paragraphing, and use of connectives.
Click on each section to see examples and marking criteria for different performance levels.
Ideas - Mark Scheme Examples
Band 4 ✅
✅ Band 4 (Excellent)
“The golden sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and crimson. Sarah watched in awe, her heart pounding with excitement as she stepped onto the path that would lead her into the unknown.”
📝 Why is this Band 4?
✔ Creative and original ideas explored in depth.
✔ Engages the reader with descriptive imagery and emotion.
✔ Strong focus on the task with a clear theme.
Band 3 ✅ ⚠️
Band 3 ✅ ⚠️ (Good)
“Sarah stepped outside as the sun was setting. The sky turned red and orange. She was excited and a little nervous about what was ahead.”
📝 Why is this Band 3?
✔ Clear and effective writing with logical flow.
✔ Some descriptive elements but lacks deeper exploration.
✔ Ideas are appropriately explained but could be developed further.
Band 2 ⚠️
⚠️ Band 2 (Developing)
“Sarah went outside. The sky was changing colors. She felt happy and nervous.”
📝 Why is this Band 2?
✔ Basic ideas that relate to the task.
✖ Lacks descriptive language and depth.
✖ Ideas are listed rather than fully developed.
Band 1 ❌
❌ Band 1:
“Sarah is outside. The sky red. She walks.”
📝 Why is this Band 1?
✖ Incoherent or irrelevant ideas.
✖ Writing lacks focus and structure.
✖ Ideas are too simple and undeveloped.
IDEAS
✅May include abstract ideas & metaphors
✅Ideas are deeply explored
✅Strong focus on task & style
IDEAS
✅Ideas are explained appropriately
✅Maintains focus on the task
IDEAS
⚠️No clear purpose in writing
⚠️Ideas are listed rather than explored
IDEAS
❌ Writing unrelated to the task
❌ No clear focus or structure
Vocabulary & Spelling - Mark Scheme Examples
Band 4 ✅
✅ Band 4 (Excellent)
“The colossal waves crashed against the jagged rocks, their thunderous roar echoing across the deserted shore. An eerie silence followed, interrupted only by the whisper of the wind and the distant cry of a lone seagull.”
📝 Why is this Band 4?
- Ambitious vocabulary used effectively.
- Descriptive and expressive words enhance the scene.
- Accurate spelling throughout.
Band 3 ✅⚠️
✅⚠️ Band 3 (Good)
“The huge waves hit the sharp rocks, making a loud sound. Then it got quiet, except for the wind and a bird far away.”
📝 Why is this Band 3?
- Some ambitious vocabulary but lacks fluency.
- Mostly accurate spelling, but simpler word choices.
- Some sentence variety but less expressive.
Band 2 ⚠️
⚠️ Band 2 (Developing)
“The big waves hitted the stones. It was noise then peacful. The wind and a bird made sounds.”
📝 Why is this Band 2?
- Basic vocabulary, misspelled words.
- Misapplied ambitious words (“hitted”).
- Lacks fluency and natural flow.
Band 1 ❌
❌ Band 1 (Needs improvement)
“Big wave hit. Loud sound. Bird sound. Wind.”
📝 Why is this Band 1?
- Limited vocabulary, lacks clarity.
- Ideas do not connect fluently.
Vocabulary
✅ Enhances communication effectively
✅ Spelling is accurate for all basic words
Vocabulary
✅ Avoids overly complex words
✅ Spelling mostly accurate
Vocabulary
⚠️ Ambitious words misapplied
⚠️ Spelling errors in simple words
Vocabulary
❌ Frequent spelling mistakes
❌ Lacks variety in word choice
Grammar - Mark Scheme Examples
Band 4 ✅
✅ Band 4 (Excellent)
“Maria had always dreamed of traveling the world. She had studied different cultures, learned new languages, and saved money for years. Now, as she boarded the plane, she felt both excitement and nervousness.”
📝 Why is this Band 4?
- Correct tense usage (“had always dreamed,” “had studied”).
- Fluent sentence structure with variety.
- Clear subject-verb agreement.
Band 3 ✅⚠️
✅⚠️ Band 3 (Good)
“Maria dreamed about traveling. She studied different cultures. She learned new languages, and saved money. Now she is on a plane and feels excited.”
📝 Why is this Band 3?
- Mostly correct tenses but lacks fluency.
- Some variation in sentence structure.
- Subject-verb agreement is mostly correct.
Band 2 ⚠️
⚠️ Band 2 (Developing)
“Maria dream to travel. She study different culture and saved money. Now she is on plane and is exciting.”
📝 Why is this Band 2?
- Tenses are inconsistent (“dream to travel,” “study culture”).
- Sentence structure is basic and awkward.
- Grammar errors impact clarity.
Band 1 ❌
❌ Band 1 (Needs Improvement)
“Maria goes travels. She was save money. Now on plane excitement.”
📝 Why is this Band 1?
- No correct tense usage.
- Sentence structure is incorrect.
- Grammar makes meaning unclear.
Grammar
✅ Consistent sentence structure
✅ Grammar errors are minimal
Grammar
✅ Minor grammar errors
✅ Readable sentence flow
Grammar
⚠️ Sentence structure may be weak
⚠️ Grammar errors impact clarity
Grammar
❌ Sentence structure is not clear
❌ Significant grammar issues
Punctuation - Mark Scheme Examples
Band 4 ✅
✅ Band 4:
“As the sun set, a golden hue spread across the horizon, bathing the city in warmth. The bustling streets, filled with laughter and chatter, gradually quieted. The gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers – a reminder of the beauty in simple moments.”
📝 Why is this Band 4?
- Uses varied punctuation (commas, dashes, and full stops effectively).
- Creative sentence structure enhances readability.
- Correct use of commas and apostrophes ensures clarity.
Band 3 ✅ ⚠️
“The sun set over the city, turning the sky orange. The streets were busy, people talking and laughing. As night fell, the noise died down, and the smell of flowers was in the air.”
📝 Why is this Band 3?
- Uses basic punctuation correctly (commas and full stops).
- Lacks varied punctuation styles (e.g., no dashes or semicolons).
- Simple sentence structures with some variety.
Band 2 ⚠️
“The sun set it was turning orange. The people talked laughed and walked. The flowers smell nice in the wind.”
📝 Why is this Band 2?
- Basic punctuation is missing or misused (no correct comma placement).
- Sentence demarcation errors (run-on sentences).
- Lacks variety in punctuation (missing apostrophes or proper sentence flow).
Band 1 ❌
❌ Band 1:
“The sun set the people talk it orange sky no stops or comma they laugh.”
📝 Why is this Band 1?
- No clear punctuation (missing full stops, commas, and sentence breaks).
- Sentence structure is unclear, affecting readability.
- Poor use of grammar and sentence flow.
Punctuation
✅ Creative use of punctuation
✅ Accurate use of commas, full stops, etc.
Punctuation
⚠️
⚠️ Basic punctuation only⚠️ Errors in sentence demarcation
⚠️ Commas, apostrophes, etc., often missing
Punctuation
✅
✅ Limited punctuation used correctly✅ Mostly just full stops and commas
✅ Some variety in punctuation
Punctuation
❌
❌ Very limited punctuation❌ Writing may lack full stops
❌ Sentence clarity is affected
Structure - Mark Scheme Examples
Band 4 ✅
✅ Band 4 (Excellent)
“The forest was peaceful. Birds chirped in the trees while a small brook trickled over smooth stones. James took a deep breath and closed his eyes, listening to the gentle sounds of nature. For the first time in weeks, he felt completely at ease.”
📝 Why is this Band 4?
- Clear paragraph structure.
- Logical flow between sentences.
- Uses a mix of long and short sentences for effect.
Band 3 ✅⚠️
✅⚠️ Band 3 (Good)
“The forest was quiet. Birds chirped, and a brook made a sound. James closed his eyes. He felt calm.”
📝 Why is this Band 3?
- Has a paragraph structure, but lacks depth.
- Simple sentences with some variety.
- Logical but not engaging.
Band 2 ⚠️
⚠️ Band 2:
“The forest is quiet. The bird sings. A brook is water. James is here. He is happy.”
📝 Why is this Band 2?
- No clear paragraphing.
- Basic, repetitive sentence structure.
- Lacks fluency and flow.
Band 1 ❌
❌ Band 1:
“Forest quiet. Bird and water. James was happy.”
📝 Why is this Band 1?
- No paragraph structure.
- Disorganized thoughts.
- No sentence variety or logical connection.
Structure
✅ Paragraphs used accurately
✅ Varied and effective sentences
✅ Logical flow between ideas
Structure
✅
✅ Communicates clearly✅ Paragraphs are present
✅ Some sentence variety
Structure
⚠️
⚠️ No clear paragraphing⚠️ Sentence structure may be incorrect
⚠️ Lacks logical progression
Structure
❌
❌ No paragraphs❌ No clear sentence structure
❌ Writing feels disorganized