The short answer
Format: One prompt, one piece of writing. Year 3 writes by hand on paper (40 minutes); Years 5, 7 and 9 type online (42 minutes).
Genre: Either narrative or persuasive — students don't get to choose, and it's only revealed on test day.
Marking: 10 criteria, each with its own score range. A narrative totals 47 marks; a persuasive totals 48.
Results: Reported as one of four proficiency levels — Exceeding, Strong, Developing, or Needs additional support.
What the NAPLAN writing test actually involves
The writing test is the first NAPLAN test each year. Your child is given a single writing prompt — a topic with a picture or short stimulus — and asked to write one response.
ACARA's own scaffolding, read aloud to every student, breaks the time down as 5 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing, and 5 minutes editing. Year 3 students handwrite on paper, which is deliberate — it accounts for younger children's developing keyboard skills. From Year 5 onwards, responses are typed into the online platform, so typing comfort genuinely matters.
One detail that surprises many parents: the same 10 marking criteria apply to every year level. What changes is how much sophistication markers expect. A Year 3 child and a Year 9 student are judged against the same categories, but at very different standards.
Narrative or persuasive?
Your child could be asked for either, and they won't know which until the test begins. That means preparing for both — practising only stories leaves them exposed if a persuasive prompt appears.
Narrative writing
Full narrative writing guide →
The purpose is to entertain the reader with a story. Markers look for a clear orientation (setting the scene and introducing characters), a complication (a problem worth solving), and a resolution. The strongest responses develop a character the reader cares about and describe a setting using more than one sense.
Persuasive writing
Full persuasive writing guide →
The purpose is to convince the reader of an opinion. Markers look for a clear position stated early, reasons developed with supporting detail, and a conclusion that reinforces the argument. Persuasive devices — rhetorical questions, strong modal words like must and essential, appeals to the reader — are explicitly rewarded in this genre.
A practical tip: children who practise both genres regularly aren't thrown by whichever prompt appears. The genre itself is the biggest variable on test day — and the one most within your control beforehand.
How NAPLAN writing is marked: all 10 criteria
This is the part most guides get vague about, so here it is precisely. Each criterion has its own maximum — they are not all out of the same number, which is why totals like "out of 50" that you'll see elsewhere are incorrect.
| Criterion | Narrative | Persuasive |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | 0–6 | 0–6 |
| Text Structure | 0–4 | 0–4 |
| Ideas | 0–5 | 0–5 |
| Character & Setting (narrative) Persuasive Devices (persuasive) | 0–4 | 0–4 |
| Vocabulary | 0–5 | 0–5 |
| Cohesion | 0–4 | 0–4 |
| Paragraphing | 0–2 | 0–3 |
| Sentence Structure | 0–6 | 0–6 |
| Punctuation | 0–5 | 0–5 |
| Spelling | 0–6 | 0–6 |
| Total | 47 | 48 |
Two things worth noticing. First, Sentence Structure, Spelling and Audience carry the most marks (6 each) — so clear sentences and accurate spelling are worth more than many parents assume. Second, the fourth criterion changes with the genre: narratives are marked on Character & Setting, persuasive texts on Persuasive Devices. That single swap is why the totals differ, along with Paragraphing being worth one extra mark in persuasive writing.
Read the full breakdown of what markers look for in each criterion →
How the Spelling criterion works — the four word-difficulty tiers, and why perfect spelling may still not score 6
Get your child's writing marked — free
Brightstar scores a real piece of writing against all 10 criteria, with specific praise and one clear thing to improve. No signup, no cost.
Try AI writing feedback →How results are reported
Since 2023, NAPLAN no longer uses the old 10-band scale. Results are reported as one of four proficiency levels:
- Exceeding — above the expected level for the year
- Strong — meeting the challenging but reasonable expected level
- Developing — working towards the expected level
- Needs additional support — would benefit from targeted help
If you still see websites referring to "Band 6 writing examples" or similar, that content predates the 2023 reforms. Here's what the four levels actually mean →
How to help your child prepare
- Practise both genres. Alternate narrative and persuasive so neither feels unfamiliar — our 50 free writing prompts cover both.
- Plan for five minutes. A quick plan is the single biggest lever on Text Structure and Cohesion — two criteria worth 8 marks between them.
- Read the writing aloud afterwards. Children hear missing full stops and clumsy sentences far more easily than they see them.
- Build vocabulary in context. Swapping said for whispered or muttered lifts Vocabulary without any extra study time.
- Practise typing from Year 5. The response is typed online — slow typing costs writing time.
- Keep it short and regular. One piece a fortnight, marked and discussed, beats a cramming session in March.
What actually moves the score: most children lose marks on Paragraphing, Cohesion and Punctuation — not on ideas. Those are teachable, mechanical skills that improve quickly with feedback, which is exactly why getting a response marked matters more than writing more pieces unmarked.
Explore NAPLAN writing in more depth
Frequently asked questions
How long is the NAPLAN writing test?
Year 3 students have 40 minutes and write by hand on paper. Years 5, 7 and 9 have 42 minutes and type online. ACARA's scaffolding suggests 5 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing, and 5 minutes editing.
Is NAPLAN writing narrative or persuasive?
It can be either, and students don't get to choose. The genre is revealed on test day, so children need to be comfortable with both.
How many marks is NAPLAN writing out of?
A narrative response totals 47 marks and a persuasive response totals 48. The difference comes from Paragraphing, scored 0–2 for narrative and 0–3 for persuasive.
Do Year 3 and Year 5 get different writing prompts?
NAPLAN writing uses a small set of prompts, and the prompt presented can vary. Students respond to the prompt presented to them, while expectations for the quality of writing differ by year level. Brightstar provides varied narrative and persuasive practice prompts.
Can my child prepare for NAPLAN writing?
Yes — though ACARA stresses that students aren't expected to study for NAPLAN. The most effective preparation is regular short writing practice with feedback, not cramming. Familiarity with both genres and the marking criteria genuinely helps.
How many words should my child write?
There's no word count in the marking criteria — quality matters more than length. As a rough guide, Year 3 students typically produce 150–250 words in the time available and Year 5 students 250–400. A well-structured shorter piece scores better than a rushed long one.