Identifying Writers' Techniques

One of the most important skills in the CEM 11+ exam is being able to spot the techniques a writer uses and explain why they are effective. In this lesson, you will learn about the most common writers' techniques and how to talk about them confidently in the exam.

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Why Do Writers Use Techniques?

Writers do not just tell you things — they show you. They use techniques to:

• Create a picture in your mind (imagery)
• Make you feel something (emotion and mood)
• Emphasise an important idea (repetition, short sentences)
• Make the writing more interesting and memorable (figurative language)

In the CEM exam, questions about writers' techniques often ask you to find an example and then explain its effect — what it does and why it works.

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The Most Common Techniques

1. Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as".

Example: "The snow lay on the rooftops like a thick white blanket."

Effect: This helps the reader picture the snow as soft, thick, and covering everything — just like a blanket on a bed.

2. Metaphor