In Years 7 and 9, the NAPLAN writing test gives your child 42 minutes to type one response, either narrative or persuasive. Persuasive is the one most high school students find harder, because it rewards a different style from the essays they write in class.
This guide covers how persuasive writing is marked, a plan that fits 42 minutes and the mistakes that keep students out of the top band.
How persuasive writing is marked
Markers use 10 criteria. Here are the ones that matter most for persuasive writing at Years 7 and 9, with their score ranges from the persuasive marking guide:
| Criterion | Score range | Top-band responses |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | 0 to 6 | Control the reader's response and stay persuasive throughout |
| Text structure | 0 to 4 | Clear introduction, developed body and a strong conclusion |
| Ideas | 0 to 5 | Well-chosen, developed arguments, not a list of points |
| Persuasive devices | 0 to 4 | A range of devices used deliberately |
| Vocabulary | 0 to 5 | Precise, varied, sophisticated word choice |
| Paragraphing | 0 to 3 | Each paragraph does one job |
| Sentence structure | 0 to 6 | Controlled, varied sentences, including complex ones |
| Punctuation | 0 to 5 | Accurate across a range of punctuation |
| Spelling | 0 to 6 | Accurate spelling of difficult words |
Cohesion, which is how well ideas and paragraphs connect, is the tenth criterion.
NAPLAN style is not school essay style
In most high school essays, students are told not to write "I believe" or to address the reader as "you". NAPLAN persuasive writing is different. It rewards a direct, engaged voice. Writing "Imagine you are..." or "I strongly believe..." is a legitimate persuasive device in NAPLAN.
I teach this as a deliberate exception. Students use the personal voice for NAPLAN and the formal academic voice for selective tests, school essays and later exams. Knowing which test wants which voice is half the skill.
A plan that fits 42 minutes
Minutes 0 to 7: plan.
- Pick your side. Choose the one you can argue best, not the one you agree with most. See our guide to choosing a side.
- Write three reasons and one example for each.
- Note one opposing view you'll answer.
Minutes 7 to 37: write.
- Introduction (4 to 5 sentences): hook, context, your position and a preview of your reasons.
- Body paragraph 1: strongest reason, explanation and a specific example.
- Body paragraph 2: second reason, explanation and example.
- Body paragraph 3: answer the opposing view, then show why your position still holds.
- Conclusion: restate your position in new words, summarise and finish with a call to action.
Minutes 37 to 42: check. Read for missing words, comma splices, spelling and paragraph breaks.
Persuasive devices that actually work
Students often pack in devices and lose control of the argument. Choose three or four and use them well:
- Rhetorical questions: "Would you want to learn in a classroom that's 35 degrees?"
- Inclusive language: "We all want our community to be safe."
- Evidence and examples: a specific, believable example beats a vague statistic.
- Emotive language, used sparingly: one strong image is enough.
- Addressing the other side: "Some argue that... However..." This shows maturity and lifts the ideas score.
- Rule of three: "It's cheaper, safer and fairer."
Made-up statistics ("97% of people agree") don't impress markers. A real-world example from your child's own experience is more persuasive.
The mistakes that keep students out of the top band
- Five shallow points instead of three developed ones. Ideas are scored on development, not quantity.
- No real conclusion. Running out of time and stopping mid-argument costs structure and audience marks.
- Over-the-top emotion. "This is the worst idea in the history of the world" undermines credibility.
- Comma splices and run-on sentences. These cost both sentence structure and punctuation marks.
- Repetitive vocabulary. "Good", "bad", "very" and "a lot" in every paragraph.
- One giant paragraph. Paragraphing is worth 3 marks and is the easiest to secure.
How to practise
- One timed persuasive piece a week, typed, from January.
- Mark it against the criteria and pick the single weakest area to fix next time.
- Read opinion articles and identify the devices the writer used.
- Practise planning alone. Five plans in 35 minutes builds the habit of structuring quickly.
Our guide to understanding the essay question and our list of NAPLAN writing prompts will help, and our guide to marking your child's timed writing gives a quick marking method.
For the full test overview, read our Year 7 NAPLAN guide or Year 9 NAPLAN guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN writing test? 42 minutes, typed online.
Can students use "I" in NAPLAN persuasive writing? Yes. A personal, direct voice is acceptable and can be persuasive in NAPLAN.
How many paragraphs should a NAPLAN persuasive piece have? Usually five: introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. Quality matters more than count.
Do Year 7 and Year 9 get the same writing prompt? Both year levels are given a topic and a text type on the day. Check with your school for the exact arrangement in 2027.
Sources: NAPLAN Writing persuasive marking guide (ACARA); NAPLAN writing test FAQ (nap.edu.au); NAPLAN 2025 information for parents and carers (test duration).