NAPLAN Persuasive Writing: How to Score High in Year 7 and Year 9

Persuasive writing is one of two text types you might face in NAPLAN — and for many students, it's the harder one. You don't just need to write well; you need to convince someone of something. That's a different skill, and the markers know what it looks like when you've got it.

This guide walks you through exactly what markers are assessing, gives you a clear structure to follow, and shows you what separates a weak opening from a strong one.

What Markers Are Looking For

In NAPLAN persuasive writing, three criteria carry the most weight:

Audience — up to 6 marks. This is the big one. "Audience" in NAPLAN doesn't just mean "you wrote to a reader." It means your writing actually works on a reader. Does the essay feel compelling? Does it draw you in and maintain that energy? A high Audience score means someone reading your essay actually feels persuaded — or at least genuinely engaged. Low Audience scores often come from essays that feel mechanical: three arguments, three paragraphs, done. Technically correct, but no pull. Ideas — up to 5 marks. Your arguments need to be developed, not just listed. "Phones are bad because they distract students" is a starting point, not an argument. A developed idea includes reasoning, elaboration, and sometimes a specific example or scenario. Markers reward depth over quantity — three well-developed arguments beat five shallow ones. Persuasive Devices — up to 4 marks. This criterion rewards deliberate use of persuasive techniques: rhetorical questions, repetition for emphasis, emotive language, inclusive language ("we", "our"), statistics or evidence, and appeals to authority or shared values. The key word is deliberate — your devices should feel purposeful, not forced.

Other criteria (Vocabulary, Sentence Structure, Cohesion, Text Structure, Paragraphing, Punctuation, Spelling) still matter, but Audience + Ideas + Persuasive Devices are where persuasive writing scores are really won or lost.

The Structure Template

Here's a structure that works reliably for NAPLAN persuasive essays. Memorise it so you don't waste planning time figuring out your shape:

Hook — A punchy opening line that grabs attention. A statistic, a rhetorical question, a bold claim, or a short vivid scenario. Position — One or two sentences stating your argument clearly. Where do you stand? Argument 1 — Your strongest point. State it, explain why it's true, give a specific example or scenario. Argument 2 — Second point. Same structure: claim, reasoning, elaboration. Argument 3 — Third point. This can also be where you escalate emotional stakes. Counter-argument + Rebuttal — Acknowledge a common objection, then dismantle it. This is what separates sophisticated essays from basic ones. It shows you've thought about the issue from multiple angles. Strong Close — Return to your position with confidence. Echo your hook if you can. End with energy, not a fade-out.

This is about 7 paragraphs — manageable in 42 minutes if you spend 5–7 minutes planning.

Weak vs Strong Opening: See the Difference

Here's where a lot of marks are lost or gained.

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Weak opening:

"I think students should be allowed to use phones at school. There are many reasons for this. In this essay I will explain why phones should be allowed."

What's wrong with this? It's flat. It signals nothing interesting is coming. The phrase "In this essay I will explain" is a Band 3 tell — it wastes your opening sentence on logistics instead of persuasion. The marker's attention is already drifting.

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Strong opening:

"Imagine being stranded in an emergency with no way to call for help — simply because your school locked your phone in a drawer. Phones are not a distraction problem; they are a safety solution, and it's time schools stopped treating students like suspects."

What's right with this? It opens with a scenario that puts the reader in a situation. It uses emotive language ("stranded," "locked in a drawer," "treating students like suspects"). It states a clear position with confidence. The marker knows immediately this student has something to say — and they'll want to keep reading.

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Annotating the strong version:

• "Imagine..." → Inclusive language, draws reader in
• "stranded in an emergency" → Emotive language, creates urgency
• "Phones are not a distraction problem; they are a safety solution" → Clear position, contrast structure
• "treating students like suspects" → Appeals to fairness and indignation

You don't need all of these in every essay. But having some deliberate devices in your opening sets the tone for everything that follows.

Day-Before NAPLAN Tips

You're not going to learn new skills the night before. What you can do is consolidate what you know.

Review your structure template. Hook → Position → 3 Arguments → Counter + Rebuttal → Strong Close. Write it out from memory. Could you produce this under pressure? Practise your opening line. Try writing a hook for three different topics: technology, school rules, environment. One sentence each. It takes 5 minutes and reminds your brain what a strong opening feels like. Read your vocabulary list. If you've been building a list of stronger words and phrases, skim it. You want them at the front of your mind. Get a good night's sleep. Genuinely. Tired writing is flat writing — and markers can tell. On the day, plan first. Even 5 minutes planning means you don't hit a wall halfway through. Know your three arguments before you write your hook.

One More Thing: Trust Your Argument

The best persuasive essays feel like someone who actually cares about their position wrote them. You don't have to personally believe what you're arguing, but you need to commit to it on the page. Hedging ("I kind of think maybe...") kills persuasion. Confidence — even performed confidence — is persuasive.

Take a position. Defend it fully. Acknowledge the other side, then knock it down. That's what high-scoring persuasive writing looks like.

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Practise Under Real Conditions

kidswriting.ai lets you submit a persuasive essay and get instant feedback scored against the actual NAPLAN criteria — Audience, Ideas, Persuasive Devices, and all the rest. You'll see exactly where your marks are going and what to work on next.

Use timed practice mode for full exam simulation: pick a prompt, set your 42-minute timer, write, and submit. Immediate results, specific feedback, no waiting. That's how you turn preparation into performance.