NSW Selective Test Writing: The 10 Text Types You Need to Master
The Selective Test writing section can ask you to write in any of 10 different text types. Here's exactly what each one requires — and how AI marking can help you practise.
Most kids preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test focus almost entirely on the topic — what to write about. That's understandable, but it's only half the picture.
The Selective Test writing section gives you two things: a topic and a text type. You can't predict the topic, and you won't have time in the exam to figure out how a news report is structured if you've never practised one. But here's the good news: there are only 10 possible text types, and every single one of them has a predictable structure you can learn in advance.
Master the formats, and on exam day all your mental energy goes toward the content — not panicking about whether a discussion needs a for-or-against introduction.
Before you write a single word, identify three things in the prompt: the text type, the audience, and the purpose. They're all there. A prompt like "Write a letter to your local council about a new park" tells you the text type (letter), the audience (formal — a council), and the purpose (persuade/request). Getting these three right before you plan is what separates a structured response from a rambling one.
The 10 Text Types
1. Advertisement
An advertisement promotes a product, place, or experience and tries to make the reader want it. The language is punchy, enthusiastic, and often uses rhetorical devices to grab attention.
Structure: Open with a rhetorical question that hooks the reader (e.g. "Ever wished you could…?"). Write three body paragraphs, each focused on a different feature or benefit. Close with a strong call to action. Selective Test tip: Don't write the whole thing in capital letters or try to mimic a real ad layout — the markers are assessing your writing, not your graphic design. Use vivid language and concrete details for each feature.2. Advice Sheet
An advice sheet walks the reader through a problem or situation with empathy and practical guidance. The tone is warm and supportive — you're helping someone, not lecturing them.
Structure: Open with an empathetic introduction that acknowledges what the reader is going through. Write three body paragraphs as chronological steps (Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 — or equivalent). Conclude with reassurance that following the advice will lead to a good outcome. Selective Test tip: The chronological order matters. Don't jumble your steps. Think: before → during → after, or immediate → short-term → long-term.3. Diary Entry
A diary entry is personal and reflective. It captures a specific period of time from the writer's point of view, including their thoughts and feelings — not just what happened.
Structure: Start with "Dear Diary" and a date. Write three body paragraphs covering three chronological events, including emotional responses to each. Conclude with a reflection on what the experience taught you or how it changed your thinking. Selective Test tip: Emotions are non-negotiable in a diary entry. If you describe events without feelings, you're writing a timeline, not a diary. Aim for at least one strong emotional response per paragraph.4. Discussion
A discussion explores both sides of an issue without initially taking a position — though it lands on one at the end. It's more balanced than a persuasive piece, and the structure reflects that balance.
Structure: Open with a neutral introduction that sets up the debate. Alternate for-and-against paragraphs in the body (for/against/for or against/for/against — pick one and stick to it). The conclusion picks a side and explains why, based on the evidence presented. Selective Test tip: Many students accidentally turn a discussion into a persuasive essay because they forget to include the opposing view. If your body paragraphs all argue one way, check your text type again.5. Guide
A guide offers suggestions to help someone do or experience something better. Unlike an advice sheet, it doesn't prescribe steps — it offers options and recommendations at a gentler pace.
Structure: Open with an introduction that names the topic and signals the three suggestions you'll cover. Write three body paragraphs, each with a main suggestion plus 2–3 sub-suggestions or elaborations. Close with an outcome-focused conclusion that describes what the reader will gain. Selective Test tip: The key difference between a guide and an advice sheet is tone — a guide says "you might consider…" rather than "you should…". It's less urgent, more exploratory.6. Letter
A letter can be personal, informal, or formal depending on the prompt. Before you write a single word, decide on the formality level — that determines everything from your greeting to your sign-off.
Structure: Include a date, then an appropriate greeting (e.g. Dear Sam for personal/informal, Dear Mr Chen for formal). Write three body paragraphs that address the purpose of the letter. End with an appropriate sign-off (Love, / Yours sincerely, / Best regards, etc.). Selective Test tip: Mismatched formality is a common mistake. If the prompt asks you to write to a younger sibling, Yours sincerely sounds wrong. If you're writing to a company, Catch ya later is a fail. Read the prompt carefully.7. Narrative / Creative Writing
A narrative tells a story. It has a beginning, middle, and end — but more importantly, it has tension, specific detail, and a character whose experience means something.
Structure: Orientation (introduce character, setting, and situation), Complication (the problem or conflict), Resolution (how it's resolved and what changes). Use figurative language throughout. Keep the time scope narrow — a few hours or one key moment works better than summarising a whole week. Selective Test tip: Put dialogue in its own paragraph, and don't rush the resolution. Many students spend 90% of the story on the complication and tack on two sentences to wrap it up. The resolution needs space too.8. News Report
A news report presents factual information clearly and objectively. It has a specific format that's different from every other text type on this list — so if you get this one, structure matters enormously.
Structure: A catchy, specific headline. A lead paragraph that answers who, what, where, and when in 2–3 sentences. Three body paragraphs with quotes, context, and detail. A tail paragraph covering what happens next or the broader implications. Selective Test tip: The lead paragraph is everything in a news report. If it's vague or buried in detail, the whole piece suffers. Write the lead last if you need to — once you know the full story, it's easier to summarise it sharply.9. Persuasive
A persuasive piece tries to convince the reader to agree with a position. It's one-sided by design, and it uses logic, evidence, and rhetoric to make its case.
Structure: An introduction that states your position clearly. Three body paragraphs, each built around one argument supported by three sub-points and specific evidence. A conclusion with a call to action — tell the reader what you want them to do or think. Selective Test tip: Each body paragraph should have one argument, not three. Students often cram multiple arguments into one paragraph and then wonder why it feels cluttered. One argument, three pieces of support, every time.10. Review
A review evaluates something — a book, film, place, event — by assessing both its strengths and its weaknesses. It's not just positive or just negative; it's honest.
Structure: Open with an introduction that includes your overall recommendation. Write body paragraphs that mix positives and negatives (you can go positive-positive-negative or negative-negative-positive — just don't do all one). End with a clear recommendation and note who would enjoy it most. Selective Test tip: A review without negatives isn't a review — it's an advertisement. Even if you loved something, find one weakness to mention. It makes your review more credible.How to Practise
Knowing the structures is step one. The real gains come from timed practice under exam conditions.
Set a timer for 30 minutes — that's the actual time allocation for the Selective Test writing section. Pick a text type, pick a topic, and write the full piece without stopping to look things up. When the timer goes off, you're done.
Then submit it for feedback. At kidswriting.ai, you can get rubric-based AI marking that covers the same criteria as the Selective Test — including Form & Structure, which is the criterion directly tied to text type conventions. Start there. If your structure is right, the rest of the mark usually follows.
Rotate through all 10 text types so you're not caught off guard on exam day.
Ready to practise?
Try a free practice mark at kidswriting.ai. Upload your writing, select Selective Test, and get detailed feedback on exactly what to improve — including whether you've nailed the text type.