The Essential Parent Guide to NAPLAN Writing
Help your child navigate their first major online writing assessment with confidence, not stress.
Why Year 5 NAPLAN feels different
For many families, Year 5 NAPLAN comes as a surprise. Unlike Year 3, where the writing test was done on paper with a pencil, **Year 5 is the first time most students will type their response** on a computer.
This seemingly small change shifts the cognitive load significantly. Students aren't just thinking about what to write—they are struggling with how to type it. If a child enters the test using the "hunt and peck" typing method, they are already at a massive disadvantage compared to a touch-typist.
The Online Format: What You Need to Know
The Constraints
- Time Limit: 42 minutes total.
- Planning: 5 minutes (paper and pencil allowed).
- Writing: 37 minutes to type and edit.
- Tools: No spell-check. No auto-correct. Basic cut/copy/paste only.
The Expectation
Students are given a single prompt (either Narrative or Persuasive) and must produce a complete text. There is no choice of genre.
*Note: Year 3 students still write on paper. Year 5, 7, and 9 type online.
How to Support Your Child (Without Hovering)
Read Together
Exposure to good stories and strong arguments is the best preparation. Read a persuasive article and ask, "What words did they use to convince you?"
Talk About Ideas
Writing blocks often come from a lack of ideas. Discuss "What if?" scenarios at dinner. "What if animals could talk?" "Should school days be shorter?"
Build Typing Stamina
5 minutes of typing practice a day can double their output. Use our practice tests to simulate the pressure of the 42-minute timer.
It's Not Just About Spelling
Parents often worry about spelling, but it is only one of 10 criteria. Your child can still score well even with a few typos if their ideas and structure are strong.
High Value Skills
- Audience: Engaging the reader immediately.
- Text Structure: Clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Ideas: Creative, mature, or complex concepts.
- Vocabulary: Using precise and powerful words.
Technical Skills
- Paragraphing: Grouping ideas logically.
- Sentence Structure: Varying sentence length.
- Spelling & Punctuation: Accuracy matters, but it's not everything.
Helpful Writing Frameworks
Structure is one of the highest-value marking criteria. These guides teach your child proven frameworks they can use on test day.
📍 Story Map (4 Steps)
Character, Setting, Problem, Solution — ideal for Year 3 and younger Year 5 students.
⛰️ Story Mountain (5 Steps)
Introduction, Build-up, Climax, Resolution, Ending — for Year 5+ students aiming higher.
📝 CER Method
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — the go-to framework for persuasive writing.
✅ TEEL Structure
Topic, Explain, Evidence, Link — a pillar for strong paragraph writing.
Ready to give it a go?
The best way to reduce anxiety is familiarity. Let your child try a simulation of the actual test interface.
Start a Practice Test