NAPLAN narrative writing asks your child to write a story in response to a prompt, in 40 minutes. It’s one of the two text types that can appear in the NAPLAN writing test, and students don’t know which they’ll get until the test begins. This guide explains what markers look for in a NAPLAN narrative, a simple story structure, an original worked example, and tips for each year level.
What the narrative task asks for
The prompt gives a starting point, often a title, an idea or an image, for example “The Locked Door” or “A day when everything changed”. Students can interpret it in their own way, as long as the story clearly connects to the prompt.
Narratives are marked against 10 criteria, out of 47. The criterion unique to narratives is character and setting: how well your child creates believable characters and a setting the reader can picture. See NAPLAN writing marking criteria explained for every criterion.
A simple story structure
| Stage | What happens | Rough length |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | Introduce the main character, the setting and a hint of what’s to come. | 1 paragraph |
| Complication | Something goes wrong or a problem appears. | 1 to 2 paragraphs |
| Rising action | The character tries to solve the problem. Tension builds. | 1 to 2 paragraphs |
| Resolution | The problem is solved (or not), and we see how the character has changed. | 1 paragraph |
The most common problem in NAPLAN narratives is a story that never reaches its ending in 40 minutes. A small story told well beats a huge adventure that stops halfway. One main character, one setting and one problem is plenty.
NAPLAN narrative writing examples
Here are original example paragraphs written to the prompt “The Locked Door”, at the kind of level that scores well in Year 5.
Example orientation
Mia had walked past the green door at the end of Nana’s hallway a thousand times, but she had never seen it open. Tonight, while the storm rattled the windows, a thin line of golden light was glowing underneath it.
Why it works: we meet the character and setting straight away, the storm creates atmosphere (character and setting), and the light under the door hooks the reader (audience).
Example complication
Mia turned the cold brass handle. Locked. Then, from the other side, she heard a small, scratchy voice whisper her name. Her heart thumped so hard she was sure whoever it was could hear it too.
Why it works: the one-word sentence “Locked.” varies sentence structure for effect, and showing Mia’s fear through her heartbeat is more powerful than writing “she was scared”.
Example resolution
When Nana finally found the key, the room held nothing but a dusty birdcage and a very offended cockatoo named Captain. Mia laughed until she cried. Some mysteries, she decided, are better solved together.
Narrative writing tips by year level
- Year 3: make sure the story has a beginning, a problem and an ending. Use full stops, capital letters and a new paragraph when something changes.
- Year 5: open with action, dialogue or a question rather than “One day”. Use a few precise verbs and adjectives. Our Year 5 writing guide has a practice plan.
- Year 7: develop the main character’s feelings and motivations. Use dialogue sparingly and punctuate it correctly.
- Year 9: control pace and tension, use imagery with purpose, and consider a twist or a reflective ending.
Show, don’t tell
Markers reward writing that lets the reader work things out. Compare “Sam was nervous” with “Sam’s hands were shaking so much that the paper rattled.” The second version shows the feeling and lifts audience, vocabulary and character scores at the same time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- “And then I woke up. It was all a dream.” Markers see it often, and it undoes the story.
- Too many characters. Keep to one or two main characters the reader can get to know.
- No paragraphs. Start a new paragraph for a new time, place, speaker or event.
- Running out of time. Plan the ending before you start writing.
- Ignoring the prompt. The story must clearly respond to the stimulus.
- Skipping the reread. Punctuation and spelling are worth 11 marks together.
Need ideas? Try our free NAPLAN writing prompts.
Narrative writing FAQs
Can my child write in first person?
Yes. First person (“I”) and third person (“she”, “he”, “they”) are both fine. Choose one and stick with it.
Should a NAPLAN narrative include dialogue?
A little dialogue can bring characters to life, but it must be correctly punctuated. Too much dialogue can make the story hard to follow.
Can my child use a story they prepared earlier?
Memorised stories rarely fit the prompt well, and markers check that the response connects to the stimulus. Practising structure and skills is more useful than memorising a whole story.
Related guides
- NAPLAN Writing: A Parent’s Guide to the Writing Test
- NAPLAN Persuasive Writing: Examples and Tips
- NAPLAN Writing Marking Criteria Explained
- Free NAPLAN Writing Prompts
- NAPLAN Writing Sample Answers by Proficiency Level
Example paragraphs are original and written by MyNaplan. Marking information based on the 2026 NAPLAN narrative writing marking guide, © ACARA, CC BY 4.0.