Writing is one of the four parts of the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, alongside Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. It is worth 25% of the test, so it deserves as much preparation as the other sections. Here is what you need to know.

What the writing task looks like

  • There is one writing task with an open response.
  • Students have 30 minutes, and that time includes planning.
  • The answer is typed on a computer.
  • The prompt usually includes a stimulus, such as a picture, a quote or a short scenario, plus instructions about what to write.

Sometimes the task names the type of writing (for example, "write a newspaper report" or "write a story"). Sometimes it leaves the form open. Students should be ready for both.

How it is marked

The NSW Department of Education says the writing is assessed on:

  • ideas
  • purpose and audience
  • structure
  • grammar
  • punctuation
  • style
  • vocabulary
  • spelling

The Department's 2023 test information described two sets of criteria: one for content, form, structure and style, and one for sentences, punctuation and spelling. Pieces were marked by two examiners.

One point is especially important: writing that goes off-topic is marked lower, no matter how good it is. A beautiful story that ignores the prompt will not score well. Teach your child to keep checking the prompt as they write.

How long should the writing be?

There is no official word count. Tutors often suggest that a typical response is around 300–400 words, but treat that as a rough guide, not a rule. Quality, structure and staying on topic matter far more than length.

Is there spell-check?

Check the Department's online practice test to see how the writing box behaves. Either way, it is safest to practice without spell-check or autocorrect, so your child learns to spell and punctuate correctly on their own.

Are there sample answers?

The Department does not publish marked sample answers. That makes regular practice with realistic prompts, and honest feedback, even more valuable.

How to help your child prepare

  1. Practice with realistic prompts. Use a mix of images, quotes and scenarios, and a range of text types. Our free practice prompts are written in this style.
  2. Practice typing, not just writing. The task is typed, so typing speed and accuracy matter. See how to improve typing speed.
  3. Practice planning quickly. A good five-minute plan makes the writing faster and better organised. See how to plan in 5 minutes.
  4. Do some pieces under test conditions. Try exam mode: one prompt, no spell-check, no pasting.
  5. Give focused feedback. Pick one or two things to improve each time rather than correcting everything.

What about the OC test?

The Opportunity Class (OC) placement test does not have a writing section. If your child is preparing for OC, focus on the other areas instead.

Official sources