Genre Guide

How to Write a Narrative for the NSW Selective Writing Test (With Example)

Narrative writing is one of the most common tasks in the NSW Selective Writing Test. In this guide, you will learn the structure of a high-scoring narrative, see a Band 6 example with score breakdown, and discover common mistakes students make.

Narrative Writing Structure for Selective Test

A well-structured narrative for the selective writing test follows a clear arc that can be completed in 30 minutes. Students preparing for the selective school exam should learn how to write a narrative that fits this pattern:

1. Introduction (Hook + Setting): Open with an engaging moment — action, dialogue, or a vivid image. Establish the character, place, and mood within the first 2–3 sentences.
2. Rising Action (Problem): Introduce a challenge, conflict, or unexpected event. Build tension through specific sensory details and character reactions.
3. Climax (Turning Point): The moment of highest tension where something changes. This should feel like the most important moment in the story.
4. Resolution (Ending): Resolve the situation and end with a reflective thought, a return to the opening image, or an emotional insight. Avoid rushing the ending.

Time tip: Spend 2 minutes planning these 4 stages before you start writing. This prevents wandering and ensures a satisfying ending.

High-Scoring Narrative Features (Band 5–6)

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

• Content & Detail: Focuses on a single event explored in depth. Uses specific sensory details — sights, sounds, textures — rather than general statements. Shows original thinking and personal voice.
• Structure & Cohesion: Clear 4-part arc (intro, rising action, climax, resolution). Smooth transitions between paragraphs. A satisfying ending that connects to the opening.
• Style & Vocabulary: Ambitious word choices that fit naturally. Uses "show don't tell" techniques — metaphor, simile, personification. Consistent narrative voice and appropriate tone.
• Sentence Variety & Control: Mix of short punchy sentences for tension and longer flowing sentences for description. Deliberate use of sentence fragments or one-word sentences for effect.
• Punctuation: Correct use of commas, dashes, and ellipses. Dialogue punctuated accurately. Internal punctuation that aids readability.
• Spelling: Accurate spelling of ambitious vocabulary. No homophone errors.

Band 6 Narrative Writing Example

Prompt: Write about a moment that changed how you saw someone.

I had always thought of Grandpa as slow. Slow to walk, slow to answer, slow to laugh. He moved through the house like a shadow that had forgotten how to leave. But that Saturday morning, everything shifted. We found him in the garage, hunched over a wooden frame, hands trembling but precise. Curls of pale timber littered the floor. He was building something — a birdhouse, I realised, with tiny carved flowers along the roof. "I used to make these for your grandmother," he said without looking up. His voice was quiet, but steady. I watched his fingers work, guiding the chisel with a patience I had never noticed before. Each cut was deliberate. Each flower was different. When he finally held it up to the light, the shadows of the carved petals danced across the wall. He handed it to me. "For your windowsill," he said. And for the first time, I saw the artist behind the silence — a man who had spent decades shaping beautiful things for people he loved, asking for nothing in return. I carried the birdhouse to my room and set it by the window. The light caught the petals every morning after that, and each time, I thought of his hands — not slow, but careful.

Score: 23/25 (Band 6)

Dimension	Score	Commentary
Content & Detail	5/5	Single event explored with depth and originality. Specific imagery ("curls of pale timber", "shadows of carved petals") creates a vivid scene.
Structure & Cohesion	5/5	Clear arc from misperception to revelation. "But that Saturday morning" pivots effectively. Circular ending connects to the opening.
Style & Vocabulary	5/5	Sophisticated word choices ("deliberate", "precise") and figurative language ("shadow that had forgotten how to leave"). Strong, consistent reflective voice.
Sentence Variety	4/4	Excellent mix: short fragments ("Slow to walk, slow to answer, slow to laugh") balanced with longer descriptive sentences. Rhythmic, controlled.
Punctuation	3/3	Dashes, commas, and dialogue punctuation all accurate. Internal punctuation enhances readability.
Spelling	1/3	Generally accurate but minor inconsistencies noted.

What Makes This Band 6

This essay demonstrates the qualities that separate Band 6 from Band 5 in narrative writing for the selective test:

• Originality: The metaphor of the grandfather as a "shadow" is unexpected and sustained throughout
• Restraint: Emotions are shown through actions and images, never stated directly
• Circular structure: The concept of "slow" is reframed as "careful" at the end, providing genuine insight
• Precise vocabulary: Every word is chosen deliberately — "trembling but precise", "guiding the chisel"

Common Mistakes in Narrative Writing

1. Starting with "One day...": Generic openings lose marks in Content and Style. Start with action, dialogue, or imagery instead.
2. Covering too much time: Trying to tell a week-long story in 200 words leads to shallow writing. Focus on a single scene or moment.
3. Telling emotions instead of showing: "I was scared" is weaker than "My hands went cold." Show the reader what fear looks like.
4. Rushing the ending: "And then I woke up" or "It was the best day ever" are weak conclusions. Plan your ending before you start writing.
5. No sensory details: Writing that lacks sight, sound, touch, or smell scores lower on Content & Detail. Use at least 2–3 senses in every scene.

See all 10 common mistakes with examples →

Tips to Improve Your Narrative Writing

• Plan 4 stages before writing: hook, problem, turning point, ending
• Focus on one event, not a whole day or week
• Use "show don't tell" — describe what characters see, hear, and feel
• Vary sentence lengths: short for tension, long for description
• End with reflection or a return to the opening image
• Include dialogue to reveal character (1–2 exchanges is enough)
• Use ambitious vocabulary that fits naturally — not forced "big words"
• Save 3 minutes at the end for proofreading