Figurative language — words used in a non-literal way to create an image or effect — appears all over 11+ English. Children are asked to spot it in comprehension passages, explain why the writer used it, and use it themselves in creative writing. Here are the 15 techniques worth knowing, from the essentials to the ones that make stronger candidates stand out.
The essentials
1. Simile
A comparison using like or as.
The lake was as smooth as glass. He ran like the wind.
2. Metaphor
Says one thing is another, without like or as.
The classroom was a zoo. Time is a thief.
3. Personification
Giving human qualities or actions to something that isn't human.
The wind whispered through the trees. The old house groaned.
4. Alliteration
Repeating the same starting sound in nearby words.
The slippery snake slithered silently.
5. Onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it describes.
The bacon sizzled. Thunder rumbled. The door creaked.
6. Hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration for effect, not meant literally.
I've told you a million times. This bag weighs a tonne.
Next level
7. Idiom
A phrase whose meaning differs from its literal words.
It's raining cats and dogs. She let the cat out of the bag.
8. Pathetic fallacy
Giving human feelings to weather or nature, usually to reflect the mood of a scene. An 11+ favourite.
Angry clouds gathered as the argument grew louder.
9. Extended metaphor
A metaphor that continues and develops over several sentences.
The city was a beast. Its streets were veins pumping with traffic; its factories breathed smoke into the sky.
10. Implied metaphor
A comparison made through a verb or description, without naming one of the things.
The teacher barked instructions. (The teacher is compared to a dog, without the word "dog".)
11. Anthropomorphism
An animal or object that actually behaves like a person — talking, wearing clothes, making plans.
Mr Toad packed his picnic basket and set off in his motor car.
12. Zoomorphism
Describing a person using animal qualities — the opposite of personification.
He wolfed down his dinner. She was a fox — clever and quick.
13. Allusion
A brief reference to a famous story, person or event the reader should recognise.
Reading her brother's diary opened a Pandora's box of trouble.
14. Synecdoche
Using a part to represent the whole.
All hands on deck! (hands = sailors)
15. Metonymy
Replacing something with a closely related word or idea.
The Crown announced a new law. (the Crown = the monarch)
How figurative language is tested in the 11+
Comprehension questions usually ask one of two things:
- Identify: "Which technique is used in line 6?" — often multiple choice.
- Explain the effect: "Why has the writer described the fog as 'creeping'?"
For explanation questions, naming the technique earns little on its own. Children need to say what it makes the reader picture, feel or understand:
"The fog crept silently through the streets."
Weak: It's personification, which makes it more interesting.
Strong: Personification — "crept" makes the fog seem alive and sneaky, like someone stalking the streets, which builds a threatening, uneasy atmosphere.
More on this in 11+ comprehension tips.
Using figurative language in 11+ writing
- Quality over quantity. One fresh, precise simile beats five tired ones. Avoid clichés like "as white as snow".
- Make it fit the mood. A gloomy scene needs gloomy imagery.
- Try pathetic fallacy at the start of a story to set the atmosphere.
- Mix techniques — a simile here, personification there, onomatopoeia in an action scene.
See our 11+ creative writing tips for more.
Elevenplus FC teaches all 15 techniques with definitions, tips and example sentences, plus test questions — and figurative language mistakes flow into the Mistake Vault for revision. See 11+ English practice.
Frequently asked questions
What figurative language do I need to know for the 11+?
The essentials are simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia and hyperbole. Stronger candidates also benefit from knowing pathetic fallacy, idioms, extended metaphor and allusion, which often appear in literary passages.
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as' (her voice was like honey). A metaphor says one thing is another (her voice was honey).
How do 11+ comprehension questions test figurative language?
Typically by asking a child to identify the technique in a quoted phrase, and — on written papers — to explain its effect on the reader. Explaining the effect is where most marks are won or lost.