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NAPLAN-style writing prompts for Years 3 and 5

Pick a prompt and write for about 40 minutes. They're in the style of the NAPLAN writing test, which asks for a story (narrative) or an argument (persuasive). Tap "Show tips" to see what a strong answer does.

Name ____________________Date ______________
  1. 1.Write a story called "The door that wasn't there yesterday".
    Show tips
    Type: Narrative
    Hook the reader in the first line. Have a clear problem and a solution. Use your senses (what did you see, hear, smell?). Add a little dialogue. Finish with an ending that ties back to the door.
  2. 2.Do you agree? "Every child should have a pet." Write to persuade the reader.
    Show tips
    Type: Persuasive
    Say what you think in the first paragraph. Give 3 reasons, each in its own paragraph with an example. Use persuasive words like "clearly" and "most importantly". Finish by repeating your opinion strongly.
  3. 3.Write a story called "The day the animals could talk".
    Show tips
    Type: Narrative
    Pick one or two animals and give them real personalities. Show what goes wrong (or funny) when they talk. Use paragraphs for each part of the story, and check your full stops and capital letters.
  4. 4.Do you agree? "Homework should be banned in primary school." Write to persuade the reader.
    Show tips
    Type: Persuasive
    Choose a side and stick to it. Give reasons with examples from real life. Think of what the other side would say and explain why it's not as strong. End with a clear conclusion.
  5. 5.Write a story called "A surprise in my lunchbox".
    Show tips
    Type: Narrative
    Start in the action: the moment you open the lunchbox. Describe the surprise in detail. Show how you and your friends react. Use interesting verbs (gasped, giggled, peeked) instead of "said" and "went".

Answers: NAPLAN-style writing prompts for Years 3 and 5

  1. Narrative. Hook the reader in the first line. Have a clear problem and a solution. Use your senses (what did you see, hear, smell?). Add a little dialogue. Finish with an ending that ties back to the door.
  2. Persuasive. Say what you think in the first paragraph. Give 3 reasons, each in its own paragraph with an example. Use persuasive words like "clearly" and "most importantly". Finish by repeating your opinion strongly.
  3. Narrative. Pick one or two animals and give them real personalities. Show what goes wrong (or funny) when they talk. Use paragraphs for each part of the story, and check your full stops and capital letters.
  4. Persuasive. Choose a side and stick to it. Give reasons with examples from real life. Think of what the other side would say and explain why it's not as strong. End with a clear conclusion.
  5. Narrative. Start in the action: the moment you open the lunchbox. Describe the surprise in detail. Show how you and your friends react. Use interesting verbs (gasped, giggled, peeked) instead of "said" and "went".

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StudyHop is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACARA, NESA, the NSW Department of Education or any curriculum or exam authority. Names such as NAPLAN, Selective, OC, HSC and VCE describe the style of practice only. All questions here are original StudyHop questions, not official papers.