Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Exactly Fifty Words: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 9
- ForYear 9
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Exactly Fifty Words is a free printable English worksheet for Year 9 (ages 13 to 14), in Key Stage 3. Children draft a short story, then cut and sharpen it in three timed edits until it is exactly fifty words long. It is screen free, needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the writer and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children draft a short story, then improve it through three timed edits. The first edit removes filler words such as very, really, just and suddenly. The second swaps each weak verb and adverb for one strong verb. The third is a count, then a trim or an addition until the story is exactly fifty words. There is a checklist to tick off and lines for writing the final version.
- Edit 1, 3 minutes: cut filler such as very, really, just and suddenly
- Edit 2, 3 minutes: swap each weak verb and adverb for one strong verb
- Edit 3, 2 minutes: count, then trim or add until you reach fifty
A worked example of the three edits
Draft: The old dog was really very tired and he just walked slowly across the yard.
This is our own example, with a target of ten words instead of fifty. It uses a different sentence from the sheet and shows how the edits fit together.
Edit 1: cut the filler- Count the draft first. It has 15 words.
- Cross out really, very and just. They add no meaning.
- The sentence now reads: The old dog was tired and he walked slowly across the yard. That is 12 words.
- Find a verb with an adverb beside it: walked slowly.
- Replace both with one verb that does the same job: trudged.
- The sentence now reads: The old dog was tired and he trudged across the yard. That is 11 words.
- Our target is ten words, and we have 11. We need to cut one.
- Remove and, and split the sentence in two: The old dog was tired. He trudged across the yard.
- Count aloud: 5 words, then 5 words. That makes 10, so the target is met.
How the three edits work together
Edit 1: cut filler
Read your draft slowly. Cross out words that add nothing, such as very, really, just and suddenly. If the sentence still means the same thing, the word was filler.
Edit 2: choose strong verbs
Look for a weak verb with an adverb beside it. Ask whether one precise verb could do both jobs. Check that the new verb fits the mood of your story.
Edit 3: count and fix
Count every word aloud with a partner. Then trim or add until you reach exactly fifty. Add only words that earn their place.
Copy and check
Write the final version on the lines. Tick off the checklist, then count one last time so you know the total is right.
Why write a story in exactly fifty words?
A strict word limit makes a writer choose. With room for only fifty words, every one has to pull its weight. Stories of an exact length are a recognised short form, sometimes called minisagas. Writers use limits like this because cutting forces clear thinking. You have to decide what the story really needs: who it is about, what happens and how it ends.
Strong verbs are a useful tool for this. A weak verb with an adverb often needs two words to show what one well chosen verb can show alone. That saves space and usually makes the picture sharper. Not every adverb is weak, though, so good editors read each change aloud and keep the version that sounds best.
Skills and curriculum link
- Editing for concision
- Strong verb choice
- Precise redrafting
- Drafting a short story
- Counting and checking
Ideas to help writers edit
- Filler wordsFiller is any word that can be removed without changing the meaning. Reading a sentence with and without the word is a quick test.
- Strong verbsA precise verb names the exact action. It can replace a plainer verb and an adverb together, so the sentence gets shorter and clearer.
- Counting rulesAgree before counting how to treat small words and joined words. Count the same way every time, and say each number aloud.
- EndingsA short story has little room, so the ending matters. When you cut, protect the last line first and edit around it.
Key words
- DraftA first version of your writing, before you improve it.
- EditTo change writing so that it is clearer, tighter or more accurate.
- ConcisionSaying what you mean in as few words as possible.
- FillerWords that take up space but add no meaning.
- VerbA doing or being word, such as ran, is or whispered.
- AdverbA word that adds detail to a verb, such as how or when something happens.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the writer. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Draft the story on page 1. Do not worry about length yet. Get the whole story down first.
- Set a visible timer for each edit. Do the three edits in order, one at a time, and tick them off the checklist.
- Count the words aloud with a partner before copying the final version onto the lines.
- Check against page 2, then talk about which changes made the story better. Come back another day to try a new story.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give the writer a word bank of strong verbs, such as sprinted, gripped and murmured. Let them aim for a first draft of about 60 words, so there is less to cut. Do one edit at a time and read the story aloud after each.
To stretch confident children
Rewrite the finished story in exactly twenty five words. Keep the impact of the ending. Decide which details the story cannot lose and which can go. Then explain to a partner what you kept and why.
Make it a game
Swap finished stories with a partner. Each reader tries to find one word to cut without changing the meaning. If the writer agrees, they must add one stronger word elsewhere to get back to fifty. Compare the two versions and vote on which reads better.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe story has more than fifty words and the writer does not know where to cut.
Try thisGo back to Edit 1. Read aloud and cross out filler first. Then look for places where two sentences say the same thing.
Watch forThe writer swaps a verb for one that changes the meaning of the story.
Try thisRead the old and new sentences side by side. Ask whether the picture in the reader's head is still the same. If not, try another verb.
Watch forThe count is different each time, so the total is never certain.
Try thisAgree a counting rule first, for example how to treat joined words. Count aloud with a partner and touch each word with a pencil.
Talk about it
- Which word did you cut first, and how did you know it was not needed?
- Which strong verb are you proudest of? What did it replace?
- Did cutting words make the story weaker or stronger? Why?
- What does the reader need to know, and what can they guess for themselves?
- How did you decide on your ending?
- If you had to cut ten more words, what would you lose first?
Take it off the page
Cut the label
Choose a paragraph from a book or newspaper with an adult. Try to say the same thing in half as many words. Compare your version with the original.
Verb collection
Over a day, write down strong verbs you hear or read. Group them by meaning, such as ways of moving or ways of speaking, and use three in a short sentence each.
Story in a line
Tell a friend or family member a story from your week in exactly twenty words. Ask them to count aloud and say what they pictured.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first edit, then let them lead. Ask them to read each version aloud. Praise the choices they make, and ask why they chose one word over another.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a homework task after teaching editing. The timed edits keep pace brisk, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a favourite short story or a poem. Talk about how the author chooses words with care. Because it is free to print, you can reuse it with a new story idea for siblings or for revision.
Where this skill fits
Before this sheet, children learn to plan and draft whole pieces of writing and to read their work back to check it makes sense. They also meet verbs, adverbs and how word choice changes tone. Those skills give them something to edit.
After it, the same habits carry into longer pieces, such as stories, descriptions and persuasive writing. Writers who can cut filler and choose precise words find it easier to write for a set purpose and to meet word limits in exams and coursework.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Exactly Fifty Words for?
It is written for Year 9 (ages 13 to 14), in Key Stage 3. It also works for confident Year 8 writers, or as an editing refresher for older learners, with the help and stretch ideas on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise drafting, editing and redrafting a short story with precise, economical word choices. They cut filler, swap weak verbs and adverbs for strong verbs, and count carefully to reach an exact total.
- Is it free to print?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and you can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
- How do I use the timed edits?
Use a visible timer for each edit. The sheet suggests 3 minutes for Edit 1, 3 minutes for Edit 2 and 2 minutes for Edit 3. Writers then count aloud with a partner before copying the final version.
- What if my child finds it too hard?
Give them a word bank of strong verbs and let them aim for a first draft of about 60 words. That leaves less to cut. Do one edit at a time and read the story aloud between edits.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Writing by hand also slows children down, which helps them think about each word.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.