Skills assessed
Responding to the prompt
Turning an open prompt into one clear idea worth writing about.
Shape and cohesion
A strong opening, ordered ideas and a purposeful ending.
Language and vocabulary
Precise word choice and varied sentences.
Working to 30 minutes
Producing a complete, checked piece inside the time limit.
Common question types
Persuasive
Arguing a position clearly and convincingly.
Narrative & imaginative
Telling a focused, engaging story.
Informative / reflective
Explaining or reflecting with clarity and voice.
Why Writing matters
Writing is a full section, not an afterthought — a strong, well-structured piece can lift an otherwise average result. It’s where a student’s thinking, voice and control all show at once.
The 30-minute limit means planning and pacing matter as much as talent: the best responses are clear and complete, not the longest.
✍️ AI-Marked Writing
Smart Panda marks every writing response with detailed AI feedback aligned to Selective-style criteria — a band, comments on ideas, structure, language and control, and concrete suggestions to improve. Students get examiner-style feedback in seconds, not weeks.
One example question
A single representative question, to show what this section looks like — not a practice set. The full sets live on the free practice questions page below.
Sample prompt: “The best lessons are the ones we don’t expect.” Write a response.
What a strong response does
Plans for two minutes, opens with a hook, develops one clear idea with a specific example, varies sentence length for effect, and lands a deliberate ending — all inside the time limit.
Want more? Try a set of free practice questions across all four subjects.
How to prepare at home
What helps between now and the test. Technique for the test itself — pacing, elimination, checking your reasoning — is a separate job, and has its own guide.
- ✓Write one response a week on a 30-minute timer, with no notes.
- ✓Read the kinds of writing the task asks for — short stories, opinion columns, reflective pieces.
- ✓Have them read their own work aloud; most weak sentences are heard before they are seen.
For technique in the test itself, read how to improve at Writing.
Ready to practise Writing?
Sit a free, full-length sample test and practise Writing under real exam conditions.