If you’re a parent in Australia and your child is in grades 3, 5, 7, or 9, you must already be familiar with the term NAPLAN. The standardized exam is a source of stress for many students and parents alike, as it evaluates students on their reading, writing, grammar, and numeracy skills.
Today, we’ll focus on the writing component and try to eliminate the stress-causing factors with simple tips. So, let’s walk through six simple tips on how to prepare for the NAPLAN writing section. Here we go!
Understand the NAPLAN Writing Task
Before getting into preparation, it's essential to understand the NAPLAN writing test itself. For students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, the writing component evaluates their ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
There are two types of tasks your child will face: narrative and persuasive. In narrative writing, the student will need to craft a story, while a persuasive task requires them to argue a point of view on a given topic. Understanding these two styles is key to their approach.
The test is also a chance for students to show off their creativity and communication skills. Whether they’re telling a tale or making a point, NAPLAN looks at how well they can communicate their thoughts with flair. For more information on NAPLAN, check out our detailed guide here.
Now, let’s move ahead to the section you’ve come here for. Here are some tips to prepare your child for the NAPLAN writing section.
6 Tips on How to Prepare for NAPLAN Writing
Preparing for the NAPLAN writing component can be an interesting opportunity for your child to showcase their creativity and writing skills. With the right strategy, they can confidently tackle both the narrative and persuasive tasks. Here are some tips with which you can help your little writer.
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Focus on Authorial Skills
Authorial skills go beyond spelling and grammar. NAPLAN values creativity, strong ideas, and how well a student can maintain a cohesive structure throughout their writing. To score well, your child should focus on engaging the audience from start to finish.
A great tip is to encourage your child to think about who will be reading their work. Who are they writing for? What kind of tone will catch the reader’s attention? Getting into the mindset of the audience can make the writing more impactful.
The test also places more emphasis on authorial skills, such as creativity, structure, and vocabulary, compared to secretarial skills, like spelling and punctuation. So, while those things are essential, it's the creativity and structure that’ll make a real difference.
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Master Text Structures
Each writing task requires a different structure, and knowing these is crucial for NAPLAN success.
For a narrative write-up, your child needs to include the fundamental elements of a good story: orientation, complication, and resolution. In simple terms, they’ll need to introduce the setting, build up the problem, and provide a solution or conclusion. These three components help create a compelling narrative that draws readers in.
When it comes to persuasive writing, structure is just as important. The key is to develop clear arguments and support them with examples or evidence. Think of it as building a solid case; your child needs to be able to explain why their point of view makes sense, and they’ll need to back it up with strong reasons.
Also Read: Teaching Kids How to Write Persuasively: 5 Steps to Successful Persuasive Writing Techniques
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Develop Brainstorming Techniques
You know how sometimes the best ideas come when you’re least expecting them? Well, NAPLAN rewards those kinds of creative sparks. Encourage your child to brainstorm their ideas before starting to write. Generating a variety of ideas ensures they have more options to choose from, which can really make a difference when they’re under time pressure.
Group brainstorming activities can also help. Get together with your child and throw around some ideas, as sometimes, the best concepts come from collaborative thinking. Once they have a solid list, it’s time to choose the most substantial ideas for either the narrative or persuasive task. This step helps them stay focused and organized when writing.
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Practice Writing Skills
Just like any other skill, writing improves with practice. The more your child writes, the better they’ll get at articulating their thoughts. A great way to prepare is to encourage them to practice writing full texts. Whether it's an essay or a short story, regular practice will help them become more confident with the format.
One effective strategy is to simulate the test conditions. Set a timer, just like the actual NAPLAN test, and see how they manage their time. It’s also a great way to reduce test anxiety. When they’ve already practiced under timed conditions, the actual test will feel much more manageable.
Also, mix up practice sessions between group work and individual tasks. Working in groups can foster creativity and help them develop new ideas, but individual practice allows them to sharpen their personal writing style.
For starters, you can give kids some narrative and persuasive writing prompts to practice their skills.
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Use Creative Writing Techniques
NAPLAN loves a great story, so encourage your child to use creative techniques to grab the reader’s attention right from the first sentence. A sizzling start with a bold, exciting opening can make a huge impact. Whether it's a question, an action scene, or an intriguing statement, getting the reader hooked early makes a real difference.
Timed practice can also help with this. Set a timer for a few minutes and challenge your child to write a compelling opening under pressure. Not only does this improve their writing under time constraints, but it also builds confidence in their ability to write well in a short period.
In persuasive writing, your child should also practice using effective devices. This could be rhetorical questions, emotional appeals, or assorted sentence structures to keep the reader engaged and support their argument.
Also Read: How to Teach Persuasive Writing Techniques to Kids: A Detailed Guide
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Reflect and Evaluate
After practicing, it’s time for some self-reflection. Ask your child to review their work critically; what went well, and where could they improve? Reflection is a key part of the learning process, and it’s vital for continuous improvement. Did they develop their ideas fully? Were they able to engage their audience effectively? How well did they manage their time?
This is also an excellent opportunity for feedback. Whether it’s from you, a teacher, or even a peer, constructive feedback can help them identify areas for improvement and tweak their approach for the next practice session. The more they assess their work, the better prepared they’ll be when the real test day comes.
Final Words
And that’s a wrap! Preparing for the NAPLAN writing component doesn’t have to be stressful for either you or your child. With these six practical tips, you can help them develop their creativity, improve their writing skills, and build the confidence needed to tackle both narrative and persuasive tasks. By understanding the test, practicing regularly, and using creative techniques, your child will be well-equipped to shine on test day.
And if you’re looking for an extra boost, our FunFox Program is here to help. We’re offering an all-in-one prep program that includes extensive self-paced learning modules, live revision sessions with expert tips, and adaptive practice tests designed to replicate the exact NAPLAN format. This is a fantastic way to solidify key skills and boost exam readiness in a fun and interactive way.
For more information, book a call with our team today!
