Three different uses of written English
| What the route describes | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Multiple-choice English | Whether the child selects answers rather than composing a piece of writing. |
| A marked written paper | How the writing is assessed and whether it contributes to qualification or ranking. |
| An assessment exercise | Whether the work is used in a review or assessment process rather than the published score. |
The label “creative writing” can hide these differences. A written task may ask for description, a response to a passage or another form of communication; it is not necessarily a story.
Kent, Bexley and CSSE examples
Kent includes a writing exercise alongside its test papers. The council says it is not marked but may be considered by the headteacher assessment panel. Treat it seriously without assuming it adds a fourth component to the published Kent score.
Bexley describes its current selection papers as multiple choice. Do not add a supposed Bexley composition paper to your preparation plan without finding it in the official specification.
CSSE publishes English continuous-writing material and a sample mark scheme. Its criteria address ideas, vocabulary, grammar, structure and punctuation. Use the official materials linked from its examination page to understand the expected response.
Check every stage of a school’s process
A multiple-choice first stage does not tell you what happens at a second stage. Find the school-specific instructions and samples for both, especially if you are combining a shared county test with a separate London school route.
Record the writing time, any planning time, the answer format and whether marks are described. If a school does not publish sample tasks, do not treat a commercial practice paper as an exact forecast.
Make writing practice useful
Ask your child to identify the audience and task before writing. A short plan can help keep the answer relevant and give it a beginning, development and ending. Afterwards, discuss one or two improvements: clarity, paragraph order, tense consistency or punctuation.
Avoid rewarding unusual vocabulary simply because it sounds impressive. Words should communicate the intended meaning. Keep broader reading and school English work in the routine, then add timed writing when the target test actually requires it.
Use the route directory to confirm which tests your school choices need before buying route-specific materials.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Still wondering?
Does the Kent writing exercise add marks to the Kent Test total?
Kent says the exercise is not marked as part of the test score, but it may be used by a local headteacher panel during the assessment process.
Does an English paper always involve creative writing?
No. English may mean multiple-choice comprehension, vocabulary or grammar questions, written responses, a composition task, or a combination. Read the official format.
Should my child memorise a story?
A prepared story may fail to answer the actual prompt. Practise interpreting the task, planning relevant ideas, organising paragraphs and checking the finished response.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026