What markers look for in a story

Every competition and exam has its own mark scheme, but most narrative writing is judged on the same broad qualities. Our own judging criteria are on the Prize page.

Content and ideas

Is the story original and engaging? Does it answer the task or topic? Markers reward stories that feel thought through, not ones that recycle the plot of a film.

Structure

Does the story have a clear shape, with a hooking opening, building tension and a satisfying ending? Are paragraphs used well?

Language

Is vocabulary precise and varied? Are there effective images and a mix of sentence types? Does the writing have a voice?

Accuracy

Spelling, punctuation and grammar matter. A brilliant story full of errors loses marks, and errors also distract the reader from the story itself.

The overall impression

Finally, markers ask: did this story make me feel something? A story that moves, amuses or surprises the reader stands out from the pile.

Try it: read one of your stories and give it a mark out of 10 for each of the four areas above. Which one will you improve first?