Medway Test Writing Task: How to Score High in Extended Writing
If your child is sitting the Medway Test, there is one paper that often causes more “writer’s block” than any other: the Extended Writing task.
While many 11+ exams across the country have moved toward multiple-choice formats, Medway has kept a firm focus on composition. Crucially, unlike the Kent Test—where the writing is only looked at in borderline cases—in Medway the writing task is marked and weighted as part of the core English score. This means a strong piece of writing can be the “secret weapon” that secures a grammar school place.
What are the Examiners Looking For?
The Medway writing task usually gives students a choice of titles or a prompt (often a creative story starter or a persuasive letter topic). They have roughly 40 to 50 minutes to plan and write. To score highly, students need to demonstrate more than just good spelling; they need to show “flair.”
Here are the four pillars of a high-scoring Medway writing piece:
1. Structure is King
A story without a clear beginning, middle, and end will struggle to get past a basic grade. Examiners look for a logical flow.
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The Tip: Teach your child the “Five-Finger Plan.” 1) Introduction/Setting, 2) The Build-up, 3) The Problem/Climax, 4) The Resolution, and 5) The Ending. Spending 5 minutes planning these stages ensures they don’t run out of ideas halfway through.
2. “Show, Don’t Tell”
This is the golden rule of 11+ creative writing. Instead of writing “John was scared,” a high-scoring student will write “John’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.”
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The Tip: Encourage your child to use the five senses. What does the setting smell like? What can the character hear in the distance? This creates an “immersive” experience for the examiner.
3. Punctuation for Effect
To reach the top marks, students must move beyond full stops and commas. Examiners want to see a variety of punctuation used correctly to control the “pace” of the story.
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The Tip: Challenge your child to include at least one semi-colon, one set of brackets, and an exclamation mark in every practice piece. Using a short, punchy sentence after a long, descriptive one is a great way to create tension.
4. Ambitious Vocabulary (Used Wisely)
While “wow words” are important, they must make sense in context. A common mistake is “thesaurus syndrome”—dropping in complex words that don’t fit the tone.
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The Tip: Instead of learning long lists of random words, help your child find “upgraded” versions of common verbs. Instead of walked, try trudged, sauntered, or scurried.
Managing the Time Pressure
The biggest challenge in the Medway Test writing paper is the clock. Many children spend 20 minutes on a beautiful introduction only to have to rush a messy ending.
At Tuition Academy Medway, we practice “timed sprints.” We teach students how to produce a high-quality opening paragraph in under 8 minutes, leaving them plenty of time for the “meat” of the story.
How Tuition Academy Medway Can Help
Writing is a subjective skill, which makes it difficult to practice at home without expert feedback. At Tuition Academy Medway, our qualified teachers provide detailed, individual feedback on every piece of writing. We don’t just correct the spelling; we show students how to elevate their style, improve their descriptive techniques, and ensure their work stands out from the thousands of other papers the examiners will read.
Give Your Child the Creative Edge
A confident writer is a confident student. By mastering the Extended Writing task, your child isn’t just preparing for the Medway Test; they are building the communication skills they will need throughout secondary school and beyond.
Is your child struggling to get their ideas onto the page? Join our 11+ English and Writing classes at Tuition Academy Medway to help them find their voice and boost their score.
