Quest Assessment Part 2: Mastering Creative Comprehension and Creative Writing

Quest Assessment Part 2 is the advanced supplementary component of the Quest admissions platform, used by a subset of the 100+ schools that use Quest Part 1. Where Part 1 focuses on core academic ability across English, Maths, NVR, and VR, Part 2 assesses higher-order analytical skills: synthesising information from multiple source types simultaneously (Creative Comprehension), reasoning through interactive puzzles (Puzzles and Problem Solving), and at many schools, producing original prose under timed conditions (school-set Creative Writing).

This guide explains each component in detail, clarifies which elements are Quest platform modules and which are created independently by individual schools, describes what markers look for in written work, and outlines preparation strategies for each section. For a full explanation of Quest Part 1, see our Quest Assessment Part 1 guide. For specialist tuition, visit our Quest Assessment preparation page.

What Is Quest Assessment Part 2?

Quest Part 2 is a configurable additional assessment layer that schools can add to their Quest process alongside Part 1. The two core Quest platform modules in Part 2 are Creative Comprehension and Puzzles and Problem Solving. Both are non-adaptive: all candidates see the same questions and can navigate between them freely within each section. This contrasts with the Maths, NVR, and VR sections of Part 1, which are adaptive and generate each question based on the previous response.

Alongside the online Quest Part 2 modules, many schools also administer a separate school-created written assessment on the same occasion. The most common form is a creative writing task, though some schools set a written comprehension with extended prose questions. This written paper is entirely separate from the Quest online platform: it is created, administered, and marked by the school itself. Preparation for a school-set written paper must therefore be tailored to each school rather than to any generic Quest format.

Not all Quest-using schools include Part 2. Schools that do are typically among the more academically selective. Always check your target school's admissions page for its specific combination of Quest modules and any additional school-set papers.

Creative Comprehension: The Most Distinctive Quest Module

Creative Comprehension is Quest's most innovative and demanding component. It is also the section where underprepared children are most frequently caught out, because it requires a skill set that standard single-text comprehension practice does not develop: rapid information synthesis across multiple, varied source types.

The format: children are presented with 6–7 interconnected sources all centred on a single overarching theme. Source types include some combination of maps (physical or thematic), graphs (bar, line, pie, scatter), data tables, news articles or informational extracts, images or diagrams, timelines, and timetables. The multiple-choice questions require children to locate information within individual sources, cross-reference two or more sources to answer a single question, draw inferences from non-textual data, and synthesise findings across different formats.

The section typically runs for 20 minutes and is non-adaptive, meaning children can navigate between questions freely. Strong performers scan all sources for 60–90 seconds before beginning the questions, building a mental map of where different types of information are located, then move efficiently to relevant sources as each question demands rather than re-reading everything from scratch.

The London Consortium test (used by 14 elite independent girls' schools) has made Creative Comprehension a central feature. The Consortium version is particularly demanding: sources are more complex, cross-referencing questions are more intricate, and the total test duration is approximately 100 minutes. Children targeting Consortium schools should allocate significant preparation time specifically to this module.

Key Skills for Creative Comprehension Success

Four core competencies determine performance in Creative Comprehension, and each can be deliberately developed through targeted practice.

Rapid information location. The ability to scan a source quickly and locate a specific datum — a number in a table, a place on a map, a value on a graph — without reading everything. This requires knowing what you are looking for before you look, then zeroing in efficiently. Timed practice with data tables and bar charts is particularly effective for building this skill.

Cross-source synthesis. Many Creative Comprehension questions require combining information from two different sources — for example, finding a city on a map and then locating that city's population in a table, or cross-referencing a timeline date with a matching graph value. Children who treat each source in isolation will lose marks on a significant proportion of questions. Developing the habit of actively noticing connections between sources is a key preparation goal.

Comfort with non-textual formats. Many children arrive at 11+ preparation with strong text-based comprehension skills but limited experience interpreting graphs, maps, and tables under time pressure. Specific preparation should address each format: reading bar charts (including compound and stacked bars), interpreting line graphs (including gradient), reading tables (selecting the correct row and column intersection), and using maps (compass directions, scale, key).

Time management across multiple sources. With 6–7 sources and approximately 20 minutes, children cannot read every source in full before answering questions. The optimal strategy: skim all sources for overview on first pass, begin answering using information already absorbed, return to less-familiar sources only when a question requires it. Children who read all sources sequentially before looking at the questions consistently run out of time.

Puzzles and Problem Solving

Puzzles and Problem Solving is a non-adaptive Quest platform module, typically running for 15 minutes. All candidates see the same questions and can navigate freely between them.

The section assesses mathematical reasoning and logical thinking in less familiar, more playful contexts than the standard Maths section. Question types include interactive puzzles where children must manipulate a diagram or visual element to find a solution, problems requiring both mathematical and logical reasoning in combination, and challenges requiring systematic trial-and-error or elimination. Children who have only practised standard curriculum maths questions sometimes underperform here: the unusual question formats require comfort with non-routine problem types not commonly encountered in school lessons.

Strong exam technique: attempt all questions solvable quickly first, mark harder puzzles to return to, do not spend more than two minutes on any single puzzle before moving on. Because the section is non-adaptive, returning to skipped questions is always an option.

School-Set Creative Writing: What It Is and What Markers Look For

Many schools that use Quest for their online component also administer a separate, school-created written assessment on the same occasion. The most common form is a creative writing task. It is critical to understand that this written paper is entirely separate from the Quest online platform. The school writes the prompt, supervises the sitting, marks the work, and applies its own assessment criteria. Preparation for it must be tailored to each school's specific requirements rather than to any generic Quest format.

Time allowed for school-set creative writing tasks typically ranges from 15 to 30 minutes. Children are presented with a prompt — an image, a title, an opening line or sentence, a scenario description, or a combination — and asked to produce a prose response. Genre varies by school: some ask for narrative fiction, others for descriptive writing, and some leave the genre choice open.

What markers at selective independent schools consistently look for:

Structure and planning. Strong responses show deliberate narrative architecture — a compelling hook, a middle section that develops tension or description with purpose, and a conclusion that resolves or reframes the opening. Children who spend 2–3 minutes planning their structure before writing produce measurably more coherent responses than those who begin immediately.

Precise and varied language. Varied sentence structures (including deliberately short sentences for effect), precise word choices showing broad vocabulary, and literary techniques used naturally rather than mechanically. A simile that emerges organically from the writing is far more impressive than three similes inserted to tick a checklist. Overuse of adjectives without precision is a common weakness that experienced markers notice immediately.

Voice and originality. Schools look for writing that feels individual — a distinctive narrative voice, an unexpected angle on the prompt, or genuinely surprising imagery. Generic, predictable narratives score in the mid-range even when technically accurate. The most memorable responses take an unexpected approach while remaining tightly focused on the prompt.

Technical accuracy. Accurate spelling, correct punctuation, and grammatical sentence construction are expected at a high standard. Consistent errors throughout will reduce marks substantially at selective schools. Paragraph control — knowing when and why to begin a new paragraph — is also assessed.

Sustained stamina. Some children write a strong opening and then lose focus. Markers look for writing that maintains quality throughout. Timed practice with full-length responses, followed by structured feedback, builds the stamina to sustain quality from start to finish.

Which Schools Use Quest Part 2?

Quest Part 2 configurations vary by school. Among confirmed examples: City of London School for Girls uses Creative Comprehension and Puzzles and Problem Solving alongside Part 1 (30-minute English including SPAG, adaptive Maths, NVR, VR) and also sets a separate school-written English paper. Forest School (Walthamstow) includes Puzzles and Problem Solving alongside Part 1 (with 15-minute English) and sets a separate written English paper. The London Consortium (14 elite girls' schools) uses a Quest-built test centring Creative Comprehension alongside standard Part 1 modules and Problem Solving, with a total sitting of approximately 100 minutes. Always check your target school's admissions page directly, as configurations are updated each year.

How to Prepare for Quest Part 2: A Practical Strategy

Start Creative Comprehension practice early — the multi-source format is unfamiliar to most children. Allow at least 3–4 months of targeted practice working through varied source combinations. Focus first on the source types children find hardest (usually data tables and maps) before moving to full mixed-source practice sets. Practise source-scanning rather than deep reading: efficient information extraction, not thorough coverage, is what scores points here. Include explicit cross-referencing exercises where children must use two sources together to answer one question. For written tasks, practise planning as much as writing: 2–3 minutes of structured planning produces measurably better responses. Get written work marked with detailed, specific feedback rather than generic praise.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quest Assessment Part 2