You dont want to be writing at a "standard level" in Stnd English. The guys who write high band 5's & the lucky ones who get band 6, write with style and at a level of an advance student. Just because you do standard english doesnt mean you have to write at the minimum requirements to achieve band 5.
Points ive learnt for creative writing: Some may have been mentioned before
- Write as though you know what your talking about. You need to sell your self to the marker. You only get one chance.
- Take risks, no matter what, a person who takes risks with the story they are writing produces something unique. However, if you know it might be something unacceptable, dont write it.
- Base your writing, on something you are familiar with, or even a real life event.
Usually, the events in your life which may be most emotional, are the best to write down. Just add a little flare to it.
- Characters, make your character unique. Base your character on 5 people you know, the best attribute about each one, personality, sense of humour, courage, emotional, athletic, heroic. Absolutely anything.
These are a few examples, i need to study for half yearlies
Goodluck,
go hard!