The Selective writing task gives a short stimulus and an instruction, and expects a finished piece in 30 minutes. The prompts below follow that format. Use them in any order, but rotate the text types: the real test can ask for any of them, or leave the choice open.

Each prompt here is written out in full so you can use it on paper or in any editor. If you would rather have the timer, the test-style page and a mark out of 50 at the end, every text type has its own set of prompts on the practice tool.

Narrative prompts

  1. The key that didn't fit. Clearing out your grandmother's desk, you find a heavy brass key. None of the locks in the house match it. Write a story about where the key belongs.
  2. The last afternoon. The local pool closes forever tomorrow. Today is its final afternoon, and everyone in the suburb seems to have come. Write a story set at the pool on its last day.
  3. Wrong number. Your phone rings. A voice you don't recognise says, "Is it done?" and hangs up. Write a story that begins with this call.
  4. Behind the painting. Taking down an old painting to clean the wall, you find a hand-drawn map taped to the back. Write what happens next.
  5. Snow. You wake up and your street is white for the first time in its history. Write a story about that day.

Try a narrative prompt on the practice tool →

Persuasive prompts

  1. No homework. Your principal is considering banning homework in primary school. Write a speech for your school assembly arguing for or against the ban.
  2. Everyone should learn to code. Some schools now teach programming from Year 3. Write a letter to your principal persuading them to introduce it at your school, or not to.
  3. Uniform or no uniform? A survey shows students are split on school uniform. Write an article for the school newsletter arguing your position.
  4. Save the zoo. The council proposes closing the local zoo to save money. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper arguing for or against the closure.
  5. Longer lunch. Students have asked for a longer lunch break in exchange for a later finish. Write a persuasive piece for the P&C meeting giving your view.

Try a persuasive prompt on the practice tool →

Discursive prompts

  1. Specialist or all-rounder? Some people spend years mastering one thing; others try everything. Discuss whether it is better to be very good at one thing or fairly good at many.
  2. Screens and friendship. Many children keep in touch with friends mostly through screens. Discuss whether technology brings people closer together or pushes them apart.
  3. Earning pocket money. Some families give pocket money freely; others expect it to be earned. Discuss the different views and give your own.
  4. Smarter or lazier? "Technology is making us smarter." "Technology is making us lazier." Discuss both views.
  5. Winning matters. Some schools have stopped awarding places at sports carnivals. Discuss whether competition in school sport does more good or harm.

Try a discursive prompt on the practice tool →

Descriptive prompts

  1. The market at dawn. Stallholders are setting up; the first customers haven't arrived. Describe the market as it comes to life.
  2. Storm from inside the car. You are parked while a summer storm breaks overhead. Describe the storm from inside the car.
  3. After the last bell. Everyone has gone home. You are the last person in the classroom. Describe the empty room.
  4. The shed. Your grandfather's shed has not been opened in a year. Describe what you find when you open the door.
  5. Winter beach. The beach in July, almost deserted. Describe it so the reader feels the cold.

Try a descriptive prompt on the practice tool →

Informative prompts

  1. Koala in the library. A koala was found asleep on the top shelf of your school library on Monday morning. Write a newspaper report for the local paper.
  2. New student guide. Your school is welcoming students who have moved from overseas. Write a guide to help them through their first week.
  3. How to look after a pet. A friend is getting their first pet and has no idea what is involved. Write an information sheet explaining how to care for it.
  4. Carnival report. Your school athletics carnival was held last Friday. Write a report for the school newsletter.
  5. Saving water. Your council has asked schools to help younger students use less water at home. Write an information sheet for Year 2 students.

Try an informative prompt on the practice tool →

How to run a practice session

  1. Set 30 minutes, and treat it as fixed. Finishing inside the time is a skill being practiced too.
  2. Spend the first 5 minutes planning. Form and audience at the top, then hook, three beats, ending. See how to plan in 5 minutes.
  3. Write for about 22 minutes. Stop writing new material at the 25-minute mark even if the piece is not where you wanted it.
  4. Check for 3 minutes. Capitals and full stops, paragraphs, your usual spelling mistakes.
  5. Type, don't handwrite, and switch spell-check off. The test is typed and typing speed decides how much gets onto the page.
Tip

One marked and discussed piece a week does more than five unfinished ones. Pick a prompt, finish it, read the feedback, then choose one thing to fix next time from the common mistakes.

Marking what your child writes

A prompt is only half the practice; the other half is knowing how the piece measures up. The marking criteria are public and short, and this annotated Band 6 example shows what the top band looks like in practice. If you would rather not mark it yourself, the practice tool scores each finished piece out of 50 against the same bands, highlights the errors in the text and emails the report to you.