Type of Questions in Creative Writing
In the 11+ exams that require creative writing, you may be asked to write in different styles and for different purposes. Understanding these purposes will help you choose the right tone, structure, and language for your writing. Sometimes you’ll be asked to argue or persuade, other times to describe, explain, or even entertain the reader with a story.
On this page, we break down the main writing purposes you need to know. Each section explains what the task means, gives you examples, and shows you how to approach it confidently.
Argue, Pursuade, Advise
What this means:
You may be asked to argue for or against something, persuade the reader to agree with you, or give advice in a helpful way.
Argue ✅
Example questions:
“Write an article arguing whether school uniforms should be compulsory.”
“Write a letter to your council arguing for or against more cycle lanes in your area.”
“Write a speech for assembly arguing why reading is more important than watching TV.”
How to succeed:
Plan 2–3 strong points.
- Present both sides, but make your opinion strongest.
- Use connectives: however, therefore, on the other hand.
“Some people believe…, however I strongly disagree because…”
Sentence starters:
“Some people believe…, however I strongly disagree because…”
“The main reason is that…”
“Therefore, it is clear that…”
Pursuade ✅
Example questions:
Write a letter persuading your headteacher to allow more school trips.
Write a speech persuading pupils to eat healthily.
Write a leaflet persuading people to recycle more.
How to succeed:
Use emotive language and powerful vocabulary.
Ask rhetorical questions (Do you really want…?).
Repeat key phrases for impact.
Sentence starters:
“Surely you can see that…”
“It is essential that…”
“Without doubt, this will benefit everyone…”
Advise ✅
Example questions:
Write a letter advising a younger pupil how to settle into secondary school.
Write an article giving advice on how to stay calm before an exam.
Write a guide advising new students how to make friends quickly.
How to succeed:
Use a kind, supportive tone.
Give practical, step-by-step suggestions.
Use modal verbs (you should, you might, it’s best to).
Sentence starters:
“My first piece of advice is…”
“You might find it helpful to…”
“It is a good idea to…”
Argue
Pursuade
Advise
Explore Imagine Entertain
What this means:
You may be asked to argue for or against something, persuade the reader to agree with you, or give advice in a helpful way.
Explore ✅
Example questions:
Write a diary entry exploring your feelings after moving to a new city.
Write about a time you had to face a challenge and how you felt.
Write a reflection on your happiest memory.
How to succeed:
Use first person (“I felt…”).
Show thoughts and emotions clearly.
Reflect on what you learned.
Sentence starters:
“At first, I felt nervous because…”
“What surprised me most was…”
“Looking back, I realise that…”
Imagine ✅
Example questions:
Imagine you wake up and everyone has disappeared. Write a story.
Imagine you find a time machine in your garden. What happens next?
Imagine you could fly for one day. Write about your adventure.
How to succeed:
Be creative and original.
Use vivid description and strong imagery.
Structure: beginning, middle, end.
Sentence starters:
“Suddenly, everything changed when…”
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when…”
“If only I had realised…”
Entertain ✅
Example questions:
Write a funny story about a talking pet.
Write a story that begins: “The lights went out and I heard a strange noise…”
Write a story to entertain younger children about a mischievous robot.
How to succeed:
Grab the reader’s attention at the start.
Use characters and dialogue.
Include suspense, humour, or surprise.
Sentence starters:
“Once upon a time, in the most unusual place…”
“Nobody expected what happened next…”
“Everything seemed normal, until…”
Explore
Pursuade
Entertain
Inform Explain Describe
What this means:
You may be asked to explore feelings, imagine a situation, or write to entertain the reader.
Inform ✅
Example questions:
Write an article about a recent school trip.
Write a report on your school’s sports day.
Write a letter to parents informing them about a new club.
How to succeed:
Be clear, factual, and structured.
Use headings or subheadings (if allowed).
Write in a formal tone.
Sentence starters:
“On Tuesday, our class visited…”
“The purpose of the trip was to…”
“During the event, we learned that…”
Explain ✅
Example questions:
Explain how to play your favourite sport.
Explain how to bake a simple cake.
Explain how to look after a pet.
How to succeed:
Use step-by-step order (first, then, finally).
Give clear instructions.
Be precise.
Sentence starters:
“The first step is to…”
“You must make sure that…”
“Finally, it is important to…”
Describe ✅
Example questions:
Describe your favourite place in detail.
Describe a stormy night.
Describe the best meal you’ve ever eaten.
How to succeed:
Use the five senses.
Use figurative language (similes, metaphors).
Paint a picture for the reader.
Sentence starters:
“The air was filled with…”
“I could see, hear, and feel…”
“It looked as though…”
Inform
Explain
Describe
Analyse Review Comment
What this means:
You may be asked to look closely at a topic, review a book or film, or comment on an issue.
Analyse ✅
Example questions:
Analyse why children enjoy playing computer games.
Analyse the benefits of reading regularly.
Analyse why teamwork is important in sports.
How to succeed:
Break the topic into parts.
Explain causes, effects, and consequences.
Support with examples.
Sentence starters:
“One important reason is…”
“This can lead to…”
“As a result…”
Review ✅
Example questions:
Write a review of a book you recently enjoyed.
Write a review of a film, saying what was good and what could be improved.
Write a review of a sports event you attended.
How to succeed:
Give positives and negatives.
Share your opinion clearly.
End with a recommendation.
Sentence starters:
“The best part of this book was…”
“However, I felt that…”
“Overall, I would recommend this to…”
Comment ✅
Example questions:
Write a piece on whether social media is good or bad for young people.
Write a newspaper article commenting on why children should exercise more.
Write a speech commenting on the importance of kindness.
How to succeed:
Take a clear stance.
Back up opinions with evidence.
Use formal but confident language.
Sentence starters:
“In my opinion, it is clear that…”
“Some people believe…, but I strongly feel…”
“Therefore, we must…”