Free · No sign-up
Practice the Selective writing test
- Real-style prompts
- Typed, like the test
- Marked against the official bands
Time
30 min
One writing task, including planning time.
Weight
25%
Writing is one of four equal parts of the test.
- Writing
- Reading
- Maths reasoning
- Thinking skills
Format
Typed
Not handwritten. A student typing 15 words a minute gets half as much onto the page as one typing 30.
Improve typing speed →Two ways to practice
Tips for parents and students
All tips →- Marking
How the Selective writing test is marked: the rubric, band by band
The official NSW Selective writing marking criteria explained: Set A and Set B, the six bands, how the 50 marks add up, and what lifts a piece from Band 4 to Band 6.
3 min read
- Typing
How to improve your child's typing speed for the Selective test
The Selective writing task is typed, so slow typing means fewer ideas on the page. A step-by-step plan to measure and improve your child's typing speed at home.
4 min read
- Parent guide
The NSW Selective writing test: what parents need to know
What the NSW Selective writing task involves, how it is marked, what markers look for and how to help your child prepare at home.
3 min read
Questions parents ask
- How long is the NSW Selective writing test?
- Thirty minutes, including planning time, for one writing task. The answer is typed on a computer. Writing is one of four equal sections of the Selective High School Placement Test, alongside Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills, so it is worth 25% of the total.
- How is the Selective writing test marked?
- Two examiners each give two marks: Set A out of 15 for content, form, organisation and style, and Set B out of 10 for sentences, punctuation and spelling. The four marks add to a score out of 50. Each set has six bands, and writing that goes off-topic is marked down however well it is written.
- Is there a word count for the Selective writing task?
- No official word count is published. A typical response is around 300 to 400 words, but staying on topic, matching the form and finishing with a planned ending matter more than length.
- Is spell-check available in the Selective writing test?
- Prepare as if it is not. Spelling and punctuation are part of the mark, so practice with spell-check and autocorrect switched off. Exam mode on this site turns both off and blocks pasting, like a test setting.
- Does the OC test have a writing section?
- No. The Opportunity Class placement test (Year 4) has Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills only. Writing is in the Selective High School Placement Test taken in Year 6.
- Is Spark Writing free, and what happens to my child's writing?
- Yes, it is free with no account. Pieces and marks stay in the browser on your device. The only time writing leaves the device is when you ask for marking, which sends it to the marker and returns a result, or when a parent asks for the report by email. Writing is never used to train AI.