If your pupils are preparing for the 11+ entrance exam, Pobble 365 can be a powerful tool to support them. While it’s designed to spark creativity and build writing stamina for all learners, it also aligns closely with many of the skills tested in both grammar and independent school entrance exams.
Here’s how Pobble 365 can help build confidence, independence and writing excellence in the lead-up to the 11+.
Pobble 365 provides a daily image prompt that encourages children to write imaginatively and independently.
The accompanying questions and challenges help develop story structure, ambitious vocabulary and figurative language. These are all key to success in the 11+ creative writing task.
Because many 11+ writing prompts are based on a visual stimulus, using Pobble daily gives children regular practice with a similar format.
Each daily lesson includes sentence-level challenges focused on grammar, punctuation and word choice.
These short tasks help pupils experiment with more advanced language, improve sentence fluency and develop the precision expected in high-level 11+ responses.
The “Question Time” section helps children think critically about a scene, make inferences and justify their ideas. These are vital skills for the reading comprehension and verbal reasoning sections of the exam.
Encouraging children to explain their thinking aloud or in writing also strengthens their ability to reason and respond under timed conditions.
Success in the 11+ comes from consistent effort. Pobble 365 makes daily writing practice achievable, structured and engaging.
Children build the stamina to tackle timed tasks while improving their ability to plan, write, edit and reflect.
Pobble’s format is intuitive and child-friendly, meaning pupils can engage with it independently or with minimal adult support.
This helps build confidence in their writing ability and develops the self-reliance needed for success in test situations.
Here’s an example of how you might use Pobble over the course of a week to prepare for the 11+ exam. The focus is on building creative writing skills, editing techniques and comprehension, all using just one image prompt per week.
Look at the day’s Pobble 365 image.
Jot down or discuss:
Who is in the picture?
What has just happened?
What could happen next?
What is the setting and mood?
Goal: Plan a short story or description (10–15 mins).
Extension: Choose strong words or phrases to include later.
Write a story, diary entry or descriptive piece based on Monday’s plan (30–40 mins).
Focus on:
A clear opening and ending.
Figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification).
Sentence variety and structure.
11+ Tip: Use a timer to practise writing under pressure.
Complete the Sentence Challenge for the day.
Revisit Tuesday’s writing and improve a paragraph using your edits.
Focus on:
Upgrading vocabulary.
Spotting punctuation errors.
Smoothing out sentence flow.
Edit your full draft using a checklist:
Have you used varied sentence openers?
Is your punctuation accurate?
Can you improve any word choices?
Are your paragraphs clear and organised?
Optional: Use Pobble’s “Sentence Challenge” to model improvements before editing your own writing.
Answer Pobble’s “Question Time” prompts in full sentences.
Focus on using inference, evidence and explanation.
Alternative: Practice a reading comprehension or verbal reasoning task.
Choose a new Pobble 365 image.
Set a 30-minute timer and write without planning or editing.
Reflect on what worked well and what could be improved.
Pobble 365 offers more than just a writing prompt. It builds the habits, techniques and confidence needed to excel in the 11+. Whether you’re using it at home or in school, it’s a flexible and effective way to help young writers feel ready for the challenge.
Pobble Education Ltd,
Rosehay,
Tremorvah Wood Lane,
Truro, TR1 1PZ,
Cornwall, UK