"Nice", "big", "scary" and "said" are the words examiners see most often — and the ones that earn the fewest marks. Swapping them for precise, ambitious alternatives is one of the fastest ways to lift an 11+ piece of writing. Here's a word bank grouped by topic.
Only use a word if your child knows exactly what it means. A misused "impressive" word costs more than a simple word used well. Check shades of meaning — irritated and furious are both angry, but very differently.
Feelings
Happy: elated, jubilant, overjoyed, ecstatic, content, cheerful, delighted, euphoric, gleeful, thrilled
Sad: melancholy, forlorn, dejected, despondent, crestfallen, downcast, sorrowful, heartbroken, wistful, glum
Angry: furious, livid, irate, seething, indignant, incensed, irritated, exasperated, resentful, fuming
Scared: terrified, petrified, apprehensive, anxious, uneasy, panic-stricken, horrified, nervous, jittery, alarmed
Surprised: astonished, astounded, bewildered, dumbfounded, stunned, flabbergasted, perplexed, speechless
Tired: exhausted, weary, lethargic, drained, sluggish, drowsy, fatigued, listless
Characters
Positive traits: tenacious, compassionate, resilient, courageous, generous, diligent, inquisitive, loyal, modest, witty, charismatic, benevolent
Negative traits: arrogant, conceited, obstinate, malicious, deceitful, callous, greedy, spiteful, cunning, sly, vain, cowardly
Appearance: gaunt, stocky, lanky, dishevelled, immaculate, weather-beaten, wizened, freckled, hunched, sprightly
Settings
Peaceful: tranquil, serene, secluded, idyllic, picturesque, still, sleepy, sheltered
Frightening: sinister, eerie, desolate, derelict, foreboding, menacing, gloomy, ominous, forsaken
Busy: bustling, teeming, thronging, chaotic, lively, vibrant, clamorous, crowded
Old: ancient, crumbling, dilapidated, decrepit, weathered, moss-covered, ramshackle
Weather
Storms: torrential, tempestuous, raging, thunderous, turbulent, lashing, howling
Calm and warm: balmy, sultry, sweltering, mild, sun-drenched, cloudless
Cold: frosty, bitter, glacial, biting, icy, raw, numbing
Grey: overcast, drizzly, murky, misty, leaden, bleak, dreary
Light and colour
gleaming, glinting, shimmering, flickering, dazzling, luminous, radiant, glowing, dim, shadowy, murky, crimson, scarlet, amber, emerald, azure, ivory, ebony, silvery
Sounds
whisper, murmur, rustle, crackle, creak, clatter, rumble, thunder, shriek, wail, howl, hiss, echo, clang, thud, patter, drone, hum
Movement — instead of "walked" and "ran"
Slow: trudged, ambled, strolled, plodded, shuffled, crept, tiptoed, meandered, lumbered, sauntered
Fast: sprinted, dashed, hurtled, bolted, raced, scurried, darted, charged, scampered, fled
Other: staggered, stumbled, lurched, strode, marched, prowled, slunk, clambered, wriggled
Instead of "said"
Quiet: whispered, murmured, muttered, mumbled, breathed, sighed
Loud: shouted, bellowed, roared, yelled, screamed, shrieked
Emotional: sobbed, stammered, snapped, snarled, pleaded, gasped, protested, exclaimed
Tip: "said" isn't banned — it's often the best choice in quick dialogue. Use a stronger verb when how something is said matters.
How to make these words stick
- Learn five a week — with a definition and an example sentence.
- Use them the same week in a piece of writing or conversation.
- Collect more from books. Great authors are the best word banks. See our 11+ reading list.
- Review with spaced repetition so words move into long-term memory.
- Try "show, don't tell". Sometimes the best description replaces the adjective entirely: not "she was furious" but "she slammed the door so hard the windows rattled".
Elevenplus FC teaches 1,500 words at this level — many of them from the lists above — with definitions, examples, synonyms and "use it in a sentence" practice. See 11+ vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
Should my child use as many ambitious words as possible?
No. Examiners reward precise, well-chosen vocabulary, not the number of long words. One perfectly chosen word used correctly is worth more than several forced ones.
How can my child learn to use new describing words?
Learn each word with its meaning and an example, then use it in their own sentences. Collect words from reading, and review them regularly so they become part of their natural vocabulary.