NAPLAN Writing doesn't use the same genre every year — it alternates between narrative and persuasive, and the specific genre for a given year is only confirmed shortly before the test. Students who've only ever practiced one genre can walk in and freeze. The safest approach is to build both skill sets, since the underlying techniques overlap more than most families expect.
Confirm the genre, but don't only prepare for it
Check with your child's school or the current NAPLAN materials for the expected genre this year — but treat it as a starting point, not the whole plan. A student who can write a strong persuasive piece and a strong narrative is protected either way.
Persuasive writing: structure first, then conviction
A strong persuasive piece states a clear position in the opening paragraph, dedicates each body paragraph to one reason supported by an example or evidence, and closes by restating the position without introducing new ideas. Markers reward a piece that is easy to follow far more than one with strong opinions but no structure.
Narrative writing: orientation, complication, resolution
Strong narratives introduce a character and setting quickly (orientation), build a clear problem or turning point (complication), and resolve it in a way that connects back to the opening (resolution). The most common student mistake is spending too long on setup and running out of time before the resolution — teach your child to plan all three parts before writing a single sentence.
The techniques markers reward in both genres
Regardless of genre, NAPLAN markers consistently reward: paragraphing that separates distinct ideas, varied sentence openers (not every sentence starting with "I" or "The"), and cohesive devices that link ideas together ("As a result," "In contrast," "Meanwhile"). These are genre-agnostic skills worth drilling either way.
A practice schedule that covers both
Alternate practice pieces week to week — one persuasive prompt, then one narrative prompt — rather than repeating the same genre until the test. This keeps both skill sets active and reduces the shock if the confirmed genre differs from what your child assumed.
The bottom line
Betting everything on one genre is a real risk with NAPLAN Writing. A student who's practiced both structures walks in prepared no matter which prompt they get.