Genre Guide

How to Write an Informative Essay for the NSW Selective Writing Test (With Example)

Written by Hao, a Sydney data analyst and parent of a 2025 NSW Selective student. Last updated 21 June 2026.

Informative writing tests a student's ability to explain, report, or advise clearly. This guide gives you the structure, the techniques as things you can actually do at the desk, a Band 5 example with a full score breakdown, the same topic written at Band 4 so you can see exactly what the gap is, and the mistakes to avoid.

Informative is one of three possible genres in the test (the others are narrative and persuasive). For test structure and how genres are chosen, see our comprehensive NSW Selective Writing Guide. For how each marking dimension scores informative writing, see the NSW Selective marking criteria guide. For original informative prompts (advice sheet, newsletter article, email, news report, speech), see our Selective writing topic bank.

When You Do Not Feel Like an Expert on the Topic

Informative prompts hand you a topic, so the blank page feels different: you have a subject, but you panic because you do not "know enough" to sound authoritative. You do not have to. Three moves fix it:

• Find three angles, and the one idea that connects them. For almost any topic, ask what, why, how, or before, during, after, or problem, cause, solution. Pick the three that come quickest, those are your three body paragraphs. Then ask what single idea ties them together: that is your thread (more on it in the techniques below), and it is what stops three angles from reading as a list.
• Concrete beats true-but-vague. The marker rewards the appearance of knowledge, which comes from specific detail, not from verified facts. "Study in 40-minute blocks with a traffic-light system" sounds expert. "Study smart" does not. You are allowed to invent a plausible number, tool, or example. You cannot fake authority with vague claims.
• Read the format and audience off the prompt. Advice sheet, report, speech, email, or news article, each has a different register, and who it is for (students, parents, visitors) shapes your tone. Naming both in the first ten seconds is half the Task/Form Fit mark.

Informative Writing Structure for Selective Test

A well-structured informative essay presents information clearly and logically. Students preparing for the selective school exam should learn how to write an informative essay that follows this pattern:

1. Introduction (Topic + Purpose): Clearly state what the piece is about and why it matters. If writing an advice article, address the reader directly. If writing a report, establish the context.
2. Subtopic 1: Present the first key piece of information with specific details, facts, or examples. Use a clear topic sentence at the start of the paragraph.
3. Subtopic 2: Cover a second aspect of the topic. Link it to the previous paragraph with a transition ("Another important factor is..." or "In addition to this...").
4. Subtopic 3: Address a third aspect, practical advice, or real-world application. This is where depth of knowledge shows.
5. Conclusion (Summary): Summarise the key points and end with a final thought, recommendation, or forward-looking statement.

Time tip: Spend 2 minutes listing 3 subtopics before writing. This ensures you cover the topic thoroughly without wandering.

Here is what a real 2-minute plan looks like for the prompt "Write an advice article on how to manage time during exams". It is fast notes, not a neat outline:

Two minutes of this gives you three angles and a concrete tool before you write a word. That is what separates a thorough informative piece from one that wanders.

High-Scoring Informative Features (Band 5–6)

Here is what markers look for in a high-scoring informative essay, tied to the 6 scoring dimensions used in the selective writing test:

• Content & Detail: Demonstrates genuine knowledge of the topic. Uses specific facts, examples, or practical details rather than vague statements. Covers the topic thoroughly within the word limit.
• Structure & Cohesion: Clear paragraphing with one subtopic per paragraph. Logical sequence that builds understanding. Effective transitions between sections. Introduction and conclusion frame the piece well.
• Style & Vocabulary: Appropriate formal or semi-formal register. Uses topic-specific vocabulary accurately. Maintains an objective, authoritative tone. Adjusts language for the intended audience.
• Sentence Variety & Control: Mix of simple explanatory sentences and complex sentences with embedded information. Uses subordinate clauses to add detail efficiently ("Bees, which pollinate over 80% of flowering plants, are essential for food production").
• Punctuation: Correct use of colons before explanations, commas in lists and after introductory phrases, and brackets for additional information.
• Spelling: Accurate spelling of topic-specific terminology and ambitious vocabulary.

The High-Scoring Techniques, Step by Step

Name the format and audience first

Before anything else, decide what you are writing (advice sheet, report, speech, email, news article) and who for. It sets your register and it is most of the Task/Form Fit mark. A speech can open with "Good morning, everyone"; a report cannot. Getting this wrong caps the whole piece no matter how good the content is.

Concrete beats true-but-vague (the knowledge move)

The single biggest lift in informative writing is specificity. A specific tool, number, or named example reads as expertise: "a traffic-light system, red, amber, green" lands; "prioritise your work" does not. You do not need real statistics, you need concrete detail the reader can hold onto. When a sentence feels general, ask: what is the specific version of this?

One subtopic per paragraph, announced in the first line

Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that says what the paragraph is about. A marker should be able to read only the first sentence of each paragraph and understand your whole piece. If two ideas are fighting inside one paragraph, split them.

One controlling idea that runs through all three (the Band 5 to Band 6 move)

Three angles can read as three separate facts stapled together. What lifts informative writing to the top is a single controlling idea that ties them into one piece: name it in the introduction, make every paragraph an example of it, and echo it at the end. The example below does exactly this. "Good time management is not about studying more, it is about studying smarter" is the thread, and each section, the timetable, the priorities, and the rest, is one instance of "smarter". Without the thread you get "Three things help during exams: a timetable, prioritising, and sleep." With it, three angles become one argument the reader remembers.

Pack detail with subordinate clauses (the sentence move)

The fastest way to lift Sentence control on an informative piece is to fold two facts into one sentence: "Bees, which pollinate over 80% of flowering plants, are essential to food production." One sentence, two pieces of information, no wasted words. This is the move that most reliably takes informative writing from Band 5 to Band 6.

Sound authoritative, not chatty

State, do not hedge. "Students should aim for 40-minute blocks" is authoritative; "I think you could maybe try studying in chunks" is not. Keep yourself out of it and let the information lead. The tone of a confident expert, even an invented one, is what the genre rewards.

Band 5 Informative Writing Example

Prompt: Write an advice article for students on how to manage their time during exams.

Exam time can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, students can manage their workload without burning out. Good time management is not about studying more, it is about studying smarter. The first step is to create a realistic study timetable. List every subject and the date of each exam, then work backwards to allocate study sessions. A common mistake is planning eight hours of study per day, this is unsustainable. Instead, aim for three to four focused blocks of 40 minutes each, with short breaks in between. Research shows that the brain retains information better after regular rest periods. Equally important is knowing what to prioritise. Not every topic needs the same amount of attention. Students should identify their weakest areas first and spend more time on those, rather than revising subjects they already feel confident in. A simple traffic-light system works well: red for topics that need significant work, amber for those that need some revision, and green for those that are already strong. Finally, students should not underestimate the value of sleep. Staying up late to cram may feel productive, but tired brains struggle to recall information under exam pressure. A well-rested student who has studied less will often outperform an exhausted student who has studied more. With a clear plan, smart priorities, and proper rest, exam time does not have to be stressful. Start preparing early, stay consistent, and trust that steady effort will pay off.

Score: 21/25 (Band 5)

Dimension	Score	Commentary
Content & Detail	4/5	Practical, specific advice with the traffic-light system as a concrete, memorable tool. What stops a 5 is one generic claim ("Research shows…") that could be a specific number or named study.
Structure & Cohesion	4/5	Clear three-point structure with logical progression. "The first step," "Equally important," "Finally" provide smooth transitions. Strong framing introduction and conclusion.
Style & Vocabulary	4/5	Appropriate semi-formal tone for an advice article. Direct address ("students should") is effective. Good vocabulary range ("unsustainable", "allocate").
Sentence Variety	3/4	A good mix, but more complex, clause-packed sentences would lift it. This is the clearest path to Band 6 here.
Punctuation	3/3	Colons and commas used accurately throughout. Comma placement after introductory phrases is consistent.
Spelling	3/3	Accurate throughout, including topic vocabulary like "unsustainable" and "allocate".

These scores are from EurekaWrite's own scorer, which is calibrated against 42 human-marked essays (including NSW's published samples) and runs deliberately strict on strong writing. The method and the numbers are on our accuracy page.

What Makes This Band 5 (and What Would Make It Band 6)

• One controlling idea: "studying smarter, not more" runs through all three sections and returns at the end, which is what makes three angles read as one piece rather than a list.
• Practical specificity: the traffic-light system is a concrete, memorable tool, not generic advice.
• Audience awareness: the tone and language fit a student reader.
• Clear structure: each paragraph has one focus, with transitions that guide the reader.

The clearest path to Band 6 is the sentence work: pack more into each sentence with a subordinate clause, and make the one general claim ("Research shows…") specific and picturable. Here is that same point upgraded:

To see that move sustained across a whole piece, our writing samples gallery has a full Band 6 informative response scored across all six dimensions, with commentary on exactly what lifts it past Band 5.

The Same Topic at Band 4

Managing your time during exams is very important. If you organise yourself well, you can do better and feel less stressed. The first thing to do is make a study plan. You should plan out your week and decide when you are going to study each subject. It is important not to leave everything to the last minute. You should also make sure you study the subjects you find difficult. Spend more time on the hard topics and less time on the easy ones. Finally, you need to get enough sleep and take breaks so that you do not get too tired. If you study hard, stay organised, and look after yourself, you will be ready for your exams. Good luck!

A typical Band 4 version, around 14/25. The grammar, spelling and structure are fine, so no marks are lost there. They are lost on the information itself: it stays general, gives the reader no concrete tool, and ends like a chat.

Notice the topic and the three angles are the same as the Band 5 piece. Only the moves changed. Three beats show the whole gap, and each maps to a technique above:

This is the delta that moves an informative score. The topic is rarely the problem. Concrete detail, a tool the reader remembers, and an authoritative voice are. Strip those in, on the topic you already have, and a flat Band 4 becomes a Band 5.

Common Mistakes in Informative Writing

1. Being too vague: "You should study hard" is not advice. Specific, actionable details ("study in 40-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks") score much higher on Content & Detail.
2. Sounding like a list: informative writing should flow as connected paragraphs, not dot points. Use topic sentences and transitions to link ideas.
3. Wrong register: using slang or overly casual language ("heaps of tips") in a formal report or advice article loses marks on Style & Vocabulary.
4. No clear structure: jumping between subtopics without clear paragraphing confuses the reader and loses marks on Structure & Cohesion.
5. Forgetting the audience: the prompt often specifies who the piece is for (students, parents, visitors). Ignoring this hurts the Task/Form Fit assessment.

See all 10 common mistakes with examples →

On the Day: A Quick Checklist

• Match the register to the format: formal for a report, warmer and more direct for an advice article or speech.
• Start every paragraph with a topic sentence a marker could skim and still follow the piece.
• Signpost the order with transitions: Firstly, In addition, Finally.
• Keep the last 3 minutes to proofread. A missing comma or a misspelled common word is the cheapest band to lose.