ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT Skill Check assessment criteria and WAGOLL 2025-26 Below you will find links to the assessment criteria for all of the Skill Checks. For each skill you will also find at least one example of what a good one looks like (WAGOLL) to help you better understand the assessment criteria. Essay writing Skill Checks Foundation skills (Year 7 onwards)Writing paragraph pointsSelecting relevant, meaningful evidenceEmbedding and contextualising evidenceMaking an argument — KS3 and GCSE versions of this taskIntermediate skills (Year 8 onwards)Analysing language, form and structureLinking analysis to big ideasAdvanced skills (Year 9 onwards)Linking analysis to context and the writer’s perspectiveCreating a conceptualised response around a thesis Creative writing Skill Checks Fiction writing skills (Year 7 onwards)Creating a characterDescribing a setting in vivid detailWriting direct speechUsing 3rd person limited narrative voiceControlling time in a story, including using timeshifts — slow-time and timeshift versions of this taskNon-fiction writing skills (Year 9 onwards)Writing an opening and matched closingWriting an opinion paragraph for a given text typePlanning skills (Year 9 onwards)Creating an effective structure (fiction)Creating an effective structure (non-fiction)
