Here is how to keep one that lasts.
Write a few sentences every day in a notebook that nobody marks. Use it to practise describing, observing and arguing, not to record your day. Over time, words come more easily, your own voice develops and you collect ideas for exam writing.
Why does unmarked writing help?
Good exam writing needs fluency, which means words and sentences come without a struggle. Fluency grows when you write often. It shrinks when every piece of writing is judged.
A journal removes the fear of the red pen. You can experiment and make mistakes. That freedom is where fluency and voice grow, which is why it suits younger students in Year 9 foundation work.
How is a journal different from a diary?
A diary lists events. A journal practises writing well about anything. Your day may appear, but as material for good writing.
Instead of “Today school was boring,” a journal entry might say: “The clock’s second hand jerked backwards before every tick, and I watched it for all of double maths.” It is the same day, but now it is practice in observation.
What should you write in it?
Mix it up so the habit stays interesting. You might describe a place, copy down an overheard line or sketch a stranger’s character. You could argue a small opinion or try a sentence style you liked in a book.
Each type of entry trains a different skill. Some days, practise building a setting. Other days, collect words for vocabulary by register.
If this is where marks are going missing, a trial hour with an experienced teacher can work on it one-to-one.
How does a journal give you ideas for exams?
Note down small things worth keeping: a striking image, a strange character or a good story opening. Most will never be used. Some will be exactly what you need months later.
A narrative composition built from real observations is more vivid than one built on general ideas.
How do you keep the habit going?
Keep it small. Link it to something you already do, such as a few lines before bed or on the bus. Keep the notebook where you will use it.
If you miss a day, simply start again the next day. A few lines a day for a year does more than a burst of enthusiasm that fades.
How should parents support a journal?
Do not check or correct it like homework. Its value comes from being private, so it is a place to write badly on the way to writing well.
Show interest without reading over your child’s shoulder. Our guides for parents have more ideas for supporting writing at home.
How do our teachers help with writing habits?
A journal builds fluency, but exam writing also needs structure, accuracy and a clear sense of the task. In one-to-one IGCSE English tuition, our teachers suggest journal prompts and help students turn their ideas into strong compositions. The journal itself stays private.
If your child finds writing slow or stiff, book a paid one-hour trial class. The teacher will look at a piece of their writing and show what to work on first.