NAPLAN · Writing
NAPLAN writing
Writing is the one NAPLAN section where a child cannot be told whether they got it right. There is no answer key — a marker reads the piece and scores it against ten separate criteria, and almost nobody outside a marking centre knows what those criteria are. That is the gap this section closes: what each criterion is looking for, what a piece that earns the marks actually looks like, and prompts to practise on.
Everything in this section is free and open. No account, no sign-up, nothing held back.
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The marking criteria
Every piece is scored against ten separate criteria out of 47. Here is what each one is looking for, and what moves a score up a band.
Read it →Persuasive writing
How to build the argument, the words that do the persuading, and a full sample text broken down paragraph by paragraph.
Read it →Narrative writing
Orientation, complication, events, resolution, coda — what each part has to do, with a complete story showing all five.
Read it →Practice prompts
Ten prompts, persuasive and narrative, each with the planning questions to answer before writing a word.
Read it →The short version
- One prompt, not announced in advance. It may be persuasive or narrative, and the same prompt goes to every year level. Preparing for only one is a gamble.
- 47 marks across ten criteria. Spelling, sentence structure and audience are worth six each; paragraphing is worth two and is the easiest to secure.
- Length earns nothing. A planned, paragraphed, finished piece beats a longer one that stops mid-argument.
- Plan before writing. Five minutes deciding the position and the two strongest reasons is worth more than five extra minutes of writing.
Common questions
- Which text type will my child get?
- It is not announced in advance. NAPLAN sets one prompt, either persuasive or narrative, and the same prompt goes to every year level with the marking pitched differently. Preparing for only one is a gamble, which is why both are here.
- How is NAPLAN writing marked?
- Against ten criteria, out of 47 in total. Spelling, sentence structure and audience carry the most weight at six marks each; paragraphing carries two and is the easiest to secure. The official marking guide is published by ACARA.
- Does handwriting matter?
- It is not marked, but it has to be readable — a marker cannot award a mark for a word they cannot make out. Year 3 writes on paper; the other year levels type.
- How long should the piece be?
- There is no required length and no marks for volume. A shorter piece that is planned, paragraphed and finished scores better than a longer one that runs out of time mid-argument.
- Is any of this behind an account?
- No. Every page in this section — the criteria, the samples, the word banks and all ten prompts — is free and open, with nothing to sign up for.
Looking for the other three sections? They are on the NAPLAN practice pages, by year level.
Aussie Edu Hub is an independent educational practice platform and is not affiliated with ACARA or any state education authority. NAPLAN is a registered trademark of ACARA. The official marking guide is published by ACARA.