Does a newspaper article need a headline in the exam?

Yes. The headline is one of the clearest signals that you understand the format. It should be short (five to eight words), active, and intriguing. Think of it as the one-line summary of your whole article. Write it first so it guides your writing, then refine it at the end if needed.

Do I need to write a 'byline' with my name?

Yes — include a byline (By [Your Name] or By Our Correspondent) below the headline. It's a small detail that shows you know how newspaper articles are laid out. In the exam, you can use your own name or invent a journalist's name.

Should a news article be written in first person?

No. News articles are written in the third person ('residents expressed concern', 'the headteacher confirmed'). The journalist's personal opinion does not appear in a news article — that belongs in a feature or opinion column. If the prompt asks for a feature article rather than a news article, a more personal, first-person angle is acceptable.

How do I include quotes if I'm making up the event?

Invent them. Choose the type of person who would be relevant (a teacher, a resident, a pupil) and write what they might plausibly say. Attribution is what matters: 'Mrs Ahmed, the school's head teacher, said: "We are delighted by this outcome."' The quote and the attribution together show the examiner you understand how news articles work.

What is the 'inverted pyramid' structure?

The inverted pyramid means putting the most important information first (who, what, when, where, why) and adding context and detail further down. This is how real news is written — if a reader stops halfway through, they still have the key facts. In the exam, this structure ensures your opening paragraph does not waste time on a slow build-up.

Newspaper Article Writing for 11+ | Structure & Examples

What Makes a Newspaper Article Different

Key Takeaway: A newspaper article puts the most important information first. The headline, byline, and opening paragraph (who, what, when, where, why) are the core. Body paragraphs add detail and quotes. The register is formal, factual, and third-person. Examiners reward correct structure as much as quality writing.

A newspaper article is a distinct non-fiction form that requires a completely different approach from both creative writing and essay writing. Where a story builds gradually towards a climax, a news article puts its most important information first. Where an essay argues a case, a news article reports facts. Where a diary entry is deeply personal, a news article is deliberately impersonal.

Understanding these differences is the first step to writing a convincing newspaper article in the exam.

Stack of newspapers on a table with morning light

The Structure

Every newspaper article shares the same basic structure:

Headline

Short, punchy, active. No unnecessary words. Often uses alliteration, a pun, or a question to draw the reader in. Written in the present tense even if the event is in the past.

PUPILS PLANT PEACE: LOCAL SCHOOL WINS NATIONAL GREENING AWARD

Byline

Below the headline: By Priya Mehta, Education Correspondent or simply By Our Reporter.

Opening paragraph (the 'lede')

The first paragraph answers: Who? What? When? Where? Why? It contains the most important facts. Readers should know the whole story after reading just this paragraph.

Body paragraphs

Add context, detail, background, and quotes. Each paragraph expands on what you introduced above. Use the inverted pyramid: important information first, extra context later.

Quotes

At least one quote from a relevant person: a teacher, pupil, official, or local resident. Quotes add authenticity and break up the factual paragraphs.

Closing paragraph

Broader context or a look forward: what happens next, what others are saying, or a final quote that gives a sense of resolution.

The Register

The register of a news article is formal but accessible. Three rules to remember:

Third person throughout

The journalist never says 'I'. All people are referred to by name or title: 'Ms Patel said', 'the pupils reported', 'school officials confirmed'.

Past tense for events, present for context

Events are reported in the past tense: 'The ceremony took place on Thursday.' Context and ongoing situations use the present: 'The school continues to expand its environmental programme.'

Factual and neutral tone

A news article does not express the journalist's opinion. Avoid emotive adjectives unless they appear inside a quote. 'The children were thrilled' is slightly too editorial; 'the children described themselves as thrilled' is properly neutral because you're attributing the feeling to the source.

News vs Feature: A news article reports facts neutrally. A feature article (which sometimes appears in 11+ tasks) allows a more personal, exploratory style. If the prompt says 'newspaper article', write neutrally. If it says 'magazine feature' or 'feature article', a warmer, more personal tone is appropriate.

Writing Quotes and Attribution

Quotes are one of the clearest signals that you understand newspaper writing. Here's how to punctuate and attribute them correctly:

Mrs Okafor, the school's headteacher, said: "We are immensely proud of what these children have achieved. They have shown that young people can make a real difference."

The colon introduces the quote. The quote itself is inside speech marks. The attribution ('Mrs Okafor, the school's headteacher, said') names the person and their role before the colon. This is the standard newspaper format.

You can also put the attribution after the quote:

"We are immensely proud," said Mrs Okafor, the school's headteacher. "These children have shown what young people can achieve."

Note: in newspaper writing, said is almost always the preferred tag. Unlike creative writing, where you vary your dialogue tags, news articles use 'said' or 'added' consistently.

Model Article, Annotated

[Headline — short, active, present tense]
YEAR 6 PUPILS TRANSFORM WASTELAND INTO WILDLIFE HAVEN

[Byline]
By Amara Osei, Education Reporter

[Lede — who, what, when, where, why]
Pupils at Thornfield Primary School in Leeds have turned a neglected corner of their playground into a thriving wildlife garden, winning national recognition for their environmental work this week. The project, which began in September, was led entirely by Year 6 students aged ten and eleven.

[Context and detail]
The wildlife garden now includes three raised beds of native wildflowers, a small pond, an insect hotel, and a weather-monitoring station. The project was undertaken as part of the school's curriculum on biodiversity, but quickly grew into a year-long community effort that attracted the support of local volunteers and a grant from a national environmental charity.

[Quote — attributed correctly]
Mrs Fatima Okafor, the school's headteacher, said: "We are immensely proud of what these children have achieved. They came to us with an idea and they saw it through with dedication and real scientific curiosity."

[Pupil quote — humanises the story]
Ten-year-old Sasha Williams, who led the design of the pond, described the project as "the best thing we've ever done at school." She added: "We didn't just learn from books. We actually made something real."

[Closing — what happens next]
The garden will be open to local primary schools for educational visits from next month. Thornfield Primary also plans to share its planting guides and project resources with other schools through its new environmental website, which launches this Friday.

This model is approximately 270 words — realistic for a timed exam. It includes all the required features: headline, byline, lede with five Ws, two quotes with correct attribution, and a forward-looking close.

Practice Prompt

Write a newspaper article reporting on your school's summer fair. The fair raised a record amount for charity. Include a quote from the headteacher and a quote from a pupil.

Before you write: draft your headline. Then write your lede answering Who? What? When? Where? Why? Then add two paragraphs of detail, your two quotes, and a closing sentence. Aim to complete the task in 20 minutes.

Key Takeaway: A newspaper article leads with its most important information (inverted pyramid), stays in the third person throughout, and uses quotes from named sources. The headline, byline, and lede are non-negotiable features that show the examiner you understand the format. Keep your tone factual and neutral — save opinions for inside quotes.

Writing a Newspaper Article for the 11+