Below are 25 original persuasive and discussion writing prompts for Years 3 to 9. Each one can be planned and written in 25 to 42 minutes. Below the list you'll find a simple plan, the style difference between NAPLAN and selective tests, and how to get your child's piece marked.
Want more? Get the full set of 60 persuasive prompts as a free PDF, including technology, environment and discussion topics.
How long does my child get?
| Test | Writing time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NAPLAN Year 3 | 40 minutes | Handwritten |
| NAPLAN Years 5, 7, 9 | 42 minutes | Typed |
| NSW Selective (Year 6) | 30 minutes | Typed |
| Brisbane State High HAST-P (Year 5) | 30 minutes | Written expression |
| WA ASET (Year 6) | 25 minutes | Response to a stimulus |
| QASMT / EduTest (Year 7 entry) | About 15 minutes | Plan in two minutes |
Years 3 and 4
Take a side and give two clear reasons.
- Every child should have a pet.
- Homework should be banned in primary school.
- Lunchtime should be longer.
- School uniforms are a good idea.
- Children should help with chores at home.
- Everyone should learn to swim at school.
Years 5 and 6
For selective entry, OC extension and scholarships. Answer the other side, don't just list reasons.
- Mobile phones should be banned at school.
- School holidays should be shorter.
- Every student should learn a second language from Year 1.
- Children should be paid for doing well at school.
- Students should be allowed to use AI tools for homework.
- Schools should start later in the morning.
- Every child should learn to cook before high school.
Technology and the environment
- Social media should have a minimum age of 16.
- Books will always be better than screens.
- Single-use plastic should be banned completely.
- Cities should ban cars from their centres.
Years 7 to 9
For NAPLAN Years 7 and 9, Victorian selective entry and Year 10 academy entry. These reward a nuanced position and a well-developed counter-argument.
- The voting age should be lowered to 16.
- Exams are not a fair way to measure learning.
- Being bored is good for young people.
- Failure teaches more than success.
Discussion prompts (weigh both sides)
Present both sides fairly, then give a reasoned conclusion.
- Is it ever right to break a rule?
- Is it more important to be clever or kind?
- Is technology bringing people closer together or pushing them apart?
- Is competition good for children?
A simple 5-paragraph plan
- Introduction: hook, context, your position, preview of reasons.
- Reason 1: your strongest point, explained, with a specific example.
- Reason 2: a second point, explained, with an example.
- Counter-argument: "Some people argue... However..."
- Conclusion: restate your position in new words and end with a call to action.
For 15-minute tests, cut to an introduction, two reasons and a one-sentence conclusion. Choose the side you can argue best, not the one you agree with most. See choosing a side.
NAPLAN vs selective style
- NAPLAN rewards a direct, personal voice. "I believe" and speaking to the reader as "you" are fine.
- Selective, scholarship and school essays usually expect a formal voice, where "I" and "you" are often treated as weaknesses.
Teach both, and which test wants which. See our Year 7 to 9 NAPLAN persuasive writing guide.
Has your child written one? Find out how it would score.
A persuasive piece can look convincing to a parent and still lose marks on structure, development and control. Selective markers notice things that are hard to see from home: an argument that never really answers the other side, or three paragraphs making the same point.
Have a teacher mark it for $15. Your child writes a response to one of our free sample prompts, and a human marker returns:
- rubric scores for ideas, structure, expression, and spelling and grammar
- comments written directly on your child's writing
- the one or two changes that would lift the score most
Feedback normally arrives within five business days. Start a free sample.
Want regular feedback? Our writing packs include exam-style prompts with every piece human-marked.
Related guides
- 25 narrative writing prompts
- NAPLAN writing prompts
- Understanding the essay question
- How to mark your child's timed writing
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between persuasive and discussion writing? Persuasive writing argues one side. Discussion writing presents both sides fairly before reaching a conclusion.
How many reasons should a persuasive piece have? Two or three developed reasons, plus a counter-argument, beat five short ones.
Are these real past test prompts? No. They're original practice prompts. Our paid packs use prompts written to match each specific exam.
Writing times from NAPLAN information for parents and carers, NSW Department of Education, Brisbane State High School, WA Department of Education and Queensland Academies test information. Confirm current timings with each test provider.