The NAPLAN writing test is the first test of NAPLAN week and, for many children, the one that feels hardest. Your child gets one prompt, 40 minutes, and has to write either a story or a persuasive piece without knowing in advance which it will be. This parent’s guide explains how the NAPLAN writing test works, how it’s marked, and how to practise at home in a way that actually helps.
How the NAPLAN writing test works
| NAPLAN writing | Details |
|---|---|
| When | Day 1 of the NAPLAN window (Wednesday 10 March in 2027) |
| Time | 40 minutes, all year levels |
| Format | Year 3 handwrites on paper. Years 5, 7 and 9 type online |
| Task | One prompt, either narrative or persuasive |
| Prompts | Years 3 and 5 share one prompt. Years 7 and 9 share another |
| Planning | Students can plan on paper before and during writing |
The prompt is a short piece of stimulus, often a topic or a question with an image. Students can’t choose the text type, and every student in the same year group gets the same task. That’s why it pays to practise both types throughout the year rather than guessing.
Persuasive and narrative writing
Persuasive writing asks your child to take a position on an issue and convince the reader, for example “Should children have homework?” A strong response states a clear opinion, gives two or three well-developed reasons, and ends with a conclusion that restates the position. Read more in NAPLAN persuasive writing.
Narrative writing asks for a story based on the prompt. A strong response has a clear orientation, a problem or complication, and a resolution, with characters and a setting the reader can picture. Read more in NAPLAN narrative writing.
How NAPLAN writing is marked
Every NAPLAN writing response is marked by trained markers using the same 10 criteria across Australia. Persuasive responses are marked out of 48 and narratives out of 47. Notice how much weight goes to the basics: sentence structure, punctuation and spelling together are worth 17 marks, more than a third of the total.
| Criterion | Persuasive | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | 0 to 6 | 0 to 6 |
| Text structure | 0 to 4 | 0 to 4 |
| Ideas | 0 to 5 | 0 to 5 |
| Persuasive devices / Character and setting | 0 to 4 | 0 to 4 |
| Vocabulary | 0 to 5 | 0 to 5 |
| Cohesion | 0 to 4 | 0 to 4 |
| Paragraphing | 0 to 3 | 0 to 2 |
| Sentence structure | 0 to 6 | 0 to 6 |
| Punctuation | 0 to 5 | 0 to 5 |
| Spelling | 0 to 6 | 0 to 6 |
| Total | 48 | 47 |
For a criterion-by-criterion breakdown, see NAPLAN writing marking criteria explained.
NAPLAN writing practice by year level
Expectations rise with each year level, but the criteria stay the same. What changes is how sophisticated the writing needs to be to score highly.
- Year 3: focus on a clear beginning, middle and end, full sentences, capital letters and full stops. Remember that Year 3 handwrites, so practise on paper. Our Year 3 writing guide has 16 prompts and a practice routine.
- Year 5: work on paragraphs, more interesting vocabulary and a strong opening. Year 5 types online, so practise some pieces on a computer. Our Year 5 writing guide has 24 prompts and a practice plan.
- Year 7: develop ideas in more depth, vary sentence length and use persuasive devices or character detail with purpose.
- Year 9: aim for a sustained, controlled piece with precise vocabulary, a distinctive voice and well-linked paragraphs.
A simple routine that works
- Practise once a fortnight, alternating persuasive and narrative.
- Spend 5 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing and 5 minutes checking, just like the real test.
- Afterwards, pick only one or two criteria to talk about, such as paragraphing or punctuation. Too much feedback at once is discouraging.
- Keep pieces in a folder so your child can see their progress over the term.
Free writing prompts
Practice is easier when you don’t have to invent topics. We’ve collected original prompts for both text types in free NAPLAN writing prompts, and you can compare your child’s work with examples at each level in NAPLAN writing sample answers.
NAPLAN writing FAQs
How long is the NAPLAN writing test?
40 minutes for every year level, including planning and editing time.
Is NAPLAN writing done on a computer?
Yes for Years 5, 7 and 9, who type their response online. Year 3 students write on paper.
Does handwriting or typing speed affect the mark?
Markers don’t score neatness or speed, but a child who types slowly may run out of time. If your child is in Year 5 or above, regular typing practice is worthwhile.
How many words should a NAPLAN writing response be?
There’s no word limit or minimum. However, markers need enough writing to judge each criterion, and the marking guides note that around a page is needed to show some skills consistently.
Related guides
- NAPLAN Writing Year 3: Prompts, Tips and Practice
- NAPLAN Writing Year 5: Prompts, Tips and Practice
- NAPLAN Persuasive Writing: Examples and Tips
- NAPLAN Narrative Writing: Examples and Tips
- NAPLAN Writing Marking Criteria Explained
- Free NAPLAN Writing Prompts
- NAPLAN Writing Sample Answers by Proficiency Level
- NAPLAN Results Explained for Parents
Information current for NAPLAN 2026 and 2027, based on the published NAPLAN writing marking guides and guidance from ACARA.