Advice Sheet Writing for the NSW Selective Test 2026 — Complete Guide
The advice sheet appeared in the 2026 NSW Selective High School Placement Test. Many students had never practised this genre before. If you are preparing for the selective test, you need to be ready for it — the test can assign any text type, and advice sheet is now confirmed as one of them.
This guide breaks down exactly how to write a high-band advice sheet: what markers look for, how to structure it, what mistakes to avoid, and how it differs from every other genre you have practised.
What is an advice sheet?
An advice sheet is a practical document that gives clear, useful guidance to a specific audience about a specific topic. It is not a story. It is not an essay. It is not a list of opinions. It is a structured set of tips and recommendations that a real person could pick up, read quickly, and actually follow.
Think of the kind of information sheet you might find pinned to a school noticeboard, handed out at orientation day, or included in a welcome pack. That is the tone, format, and purpose you are aiming for.
The official NSW DoE sample advice sheet prompt is: *"Write an advice sheet for new students at your school, giving them tips on how to settle in."* This tells you everything about the genre — you are writing to help someone, not to argue, entertain, or narrate.
Why this genre catches students off guard
Most students prepare for narrative, persuasive, and maybe diary entry. These genres are story-based or argument-based — they follow a flow from beginning to end.
An advice sheet is completely different. It is organised by topic, not by time or argument. It uses headings, sub-headings, and direct address. The reader should be able to skip to any section and get value from it without reading the whole thing. Students who try to write an advice sheet like an essay will lose marks on structure and genre conventions immediately.
How the advice sheet is marked
The NSW selective writing test uses the same marking criteria for all genres. The difference is how you demonstrate those criteria within the advice sheet format. Here is what markers are looking for:
Content and relevance (part of Set A)
Your advice must be specific, practical, and genuinely useful for the stated audience. Vague advice like "be nice to people" or "try your best" scores poorly because it could apply to anything. Specific advice like "introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you in your first class — most people are too nervous to do it themselves, so they will be relieved that you did" shows real thought and practical awareness.
Every tip you include should answer the question: *would a real person actually benefit from reading this?*
Markers can tell the difference between a student who is filling space and a student who is genuinely thinking about what would help the reader. If your advice sheet reads like something you would actually give to a new student at your school, you are on the right track.
Form and organisation (part of Set A)
This is where most students lose marks. An advice sheet requires:
A clear main heading that tells the reader what the sheet is about. Not a creative title like a story — a functional one. "Your Guide to Settling In at Riverside Primary" is better than "A New Beginning" because the reader immediately knows what they are holding.
Sub-headings for each section. Group your advice into 3-5 clear topics. Each sub-heading should tell the reader what that section covers. For example: "Making Friends in Your First Week," "Finding Your Way Around," "Getting Help When You Need It."
Short, scannable sections. Each section should be a focused paragraph or a few bullet points — not a wall of text. The whole point of an advice sheet is that someone can skim it and find what they need. If your advice sheet cannot be skimmed, it is not functioning as an advice sheet.
Logical order. Think about what the reader needs to know first. If you are advising a new student, start with Day 1 concerns (finding classrooms, knowing where to go at lunch) before moving to longer-term advice (joining clubs, building study habits). The order should feel natural, not random.
Style and vocabulary (part of Set A)
Tone matters enormously in an advice sheet. You are writing to someone who is probably nervous or unsure. The tone should be warm, encouraging, and supportive — like an older student helping a younger one, not like a teacher lecturing.
Use second person throughout. "You" is your most important word. "You might feel nervous on your first day — that is completely normal" is correct advice sheet register. "Students often feel nervous on their first day" sounds like a report, not advice.
Use imperative verbs (direct commands) naturally: "Join a club in your first two weeks," "Ask your teacher if you are unsure," "Do not be afraid to sit with someone new at lunch." Imperatives are the backbone of advice writing because they tell the reader exactly what to do.
Your vocabulary should be clear and accessible for the stated audience. If you are writing for Year 6 students, do not use overly complex language. But do not write in baby language either. Aim for the tone of a helpful, slightly older friend.
Sentences, punctuation, and spelling (Set B)
The same rules apply as every other genre: accurate spelling, correct punctuation, varied sentence structures. But advice sheets have some specific requirements:
- Sub-headings should be capitalised consistently (either title case or sentence case — pick one and stick with it)
- If you use bullet points or numbered lists, punctuate them consistently
- Imperative sentences ("Join a club") are naturally short. Mix them with longer explanatory sentences to create rhythm: "Join a club in your first two weeks. It does not matter which one — the point is to meet people outside your class, which makes the school feel smaller and more familiar."
Step-by-step: writing an advice sheet in 30 minutes
Minutes 1-5: Planning
Before you write a single word, decide:
- Who is your audience? The prompt will tell you. Read it carefully — writing for new students is different from writing for parents, which is different from writing for younger children.
- What are your 3-5 topic sections? Brainstorm quickly. For a "new student" prompt, your sections might be: Making Friends, Finding Your Way Around, Classroom Tips, Getting Involved, and Looking After Yourself.
- What is your main heading? Write it now so you do not forget.
- What is your opening line? One warm, direct sentence that addresses the reader and sets the tone.
Do not skip planning. An advice sheet with clear sections always scores higher than one that rambles, even if the rambling version has better vocabulary.
Minutes 5-25: Writing
Opening paragraph (2-3 sentences). Welcome the reader and briefly explain what this sheet covers. Keep it warm and direct: "Starting at a new school can feel overwhelming, but it does not have to be. This guide has everything you need to settle in, make friends, and feel at home within your first few weeks."
Section 1: Your most important advice. Put the thing the reader needs most urgently at the top. For a new student, that is probably social — how to meet people and not feel alone. Give 2-3 specific tips with brief explanations.
Section 2-4: Remaining topics. Each section gets a sub-heading and 2-3 tips. For each tip, follow this pattern:
- The tip itself (imperative verb): "Introduce yourself to at least one new person every day."
- Why it works (brief explanation): "Most people are waiting for someone else to make the first move. Being that person is easier than it sounds, and it builds your confidence quickly."
- A specific example or scenario (optional but scores well): "At lunch, look for someone sitting alone and ask if you can join them. You will be surprised how often they say yes."
Closing paragraph (2-3 sentences). End with encouragement. Reinforce that the reader will be fine. "Everyone feels like the new kid at first, but it does not last. Give yourself time, follow these tips, and before you know it, this school will feel like home."
Minutes 25-30: Proofreading
Check three things:
- Are your sub-headings consistent? Same formatting, same capitalisation style.
- Spelling. Read each section backwards (last sentence first) to catch errors your brain auto-corrects when reading forwards.
- Does every section actually give advice? If any paragraph describes or narrates instead of advising, rewrite it with an imperative verb.
High band vs average band: what separates them
Average band advice sheet
The student understands the basic concept — they write tips and address the reader with "you." But the advice is generic ("be friendly," "work hard," "ask for help"), the structure is one long block of text without sub-headings, and the tips lack specific examples. It reads more like a list of obvious statements than a useful document.
High band advice sheet
The student has organised advice into clear, labelled sections. Each tip is specific and includes a brief explanation of why it works or a concrete example. The tone is consistently warm and encouraging without being childish. Sub-headings are used effectively, the reader could skim the sheet and still get value, and the opening and closing paragraphs frame the advice with genuine empathy for the reader's situation.
The single biggest difference: specificity. "Be nice to people" is average band. "On your first day, find one person who looks like they might be new too — they are probably just as nervous as you, and approaching them first takes the pressure off both of you" is high band. The advice is the same idea, but one version is actionable and the other is not.
Common mistakes to avoid
Writing an essay instead of an advice sheet. If your piece has no headings, no sections, and reads as one continuous flow, you have written an essay. Markers will penalise this heavily under genre conventions. Even excellent writing in the wrong format will score poorly.
Advice that is too obvious. "Be respectful to your teachers" is something every student already knows. It does not demonstrate thinking. Push past the obvious to advice that shows genuine insight: "If you do not understand something in class, write your question down instead of forgetting it. Then ask the teacher at the end — they are much more helpful one-on-one than in front of the whole class."
Forgetting the audience. If the prompt says "write for new students," your language, examples, and tone should suit someone aged 11-12 starting at a new school. If you write as though you are addressing adults, or if your advice does not match what a new student would actually need, you will lose marks on audience awareness.
No closing paragraph. Many students write their tips and then stop. A strong advice sheet has a brief, encouraging close that makes the reader feel reassured. It takes 30 seconds to write and it signals to the marker that you understand the genre completely.
Inconsistent formatting. If your first section has a sub-heading but your second section does not, it looks careless. If your first section uses bullet points but the rest uses paragraphs, it looks unplanned. Decide on a format in your planning stage and stick with it throughout.
Practice prompts to try
These are the types of advice sheet prompts that could appear in the selective test:
- Write an advice sheet for students who are about to sit an important exam, giving them tips on how to prepare and stay calm.
- A group of younger students is starting at your school next year. Write an advice sheet to help them feel ready.
- Your school is creating a guide for students about how to stay safe and responsible online. Write the advice sheet.
- Write an advice sheet for families who have just moved to your area, with tips on things to do, places to visit, and how to get involved in the community.
- Your class has been asked to create an advice sheet about looking after your mental health during busy school terms. Write the advice sheet.
For each one, practise the full process: plan your sections, write with headings, use specific tips, and close with encouragement. Time yourself to 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bullet points in an advice sheet?
Yes. Bullet points are appropriate for an advice sheet because they make the content easy to scan. However, do not write your entire piece as bullet points — mix them with short paragraphs. A bullet point for each tip, followed by a sentence or two of explanation, is an effective format.
How many sections should my advice sheet have?
Aim for 3-5 sections, each with a clear sub-heading. Fewer than 3 makes the sheet feel thin. More than 5 means your sections are probably too narrow and you are running out of time to develop each one properly. Four sections is the sweet spot for a 30-minute test.
Should I include a title?
Yes — always include a main heading. It should be functional and descriptive: "Your Guide to Starting at a New School" not "New Beginnings." The heading tells the reader (and the marker) that you understand the purpose of the document.
How is an advice sheet different from a persuasive piece?
A persuasive piece argues for a position and tries to change the reader's mind. An advice sheet assumes the reader already wants help and provides practical guidance. You do not need to convince anyone of anything — you need to help them. The tone is supportive, not argumentative.
What if I have never seen an advice sheet prompt before?
That is exactly why the selective test uses it — to see how students handle an unfamiliar genre. The key is to focus on the word "advice." If the prompt says "write an advice sheet," your entire piece should be practical tips organised under clear headings. Do not default to writing a story or an essay just because it feels more familiar.