Inside the Marker's Mind: What Examiners Really Look For
A Parent's Guide to Understanding the NSW Selective Writing Rubric
Quick Summary (Read This First!)
The NSW Selective Writing Test is marked out of 50 by two independent examiners. Here's how they break down your child's score:
- Content & Style: 15 marks (60% of the score) - Ideas, structure, audience awareness, vocabulary
- Technical Skills: 10 marks (40% of the score) - Grammar, punctuation, spelling
The bottom line? Both matter. A wonderfully creative story with spelling mistakes won't score as high as a well-structured, polished piece. But flawless grammar with a boring, off-topic response won't score well either.
What Markers Are REALLY Looking For
1. Does It Address the Task? ⭐ This is CRITICAL
Before they even look at how beautiful the writing is, markers ask: *"Did the student answer the question correctly?"*
What this means:
- Your child must follow the format instructions (if they say "write an email," it should be an email, not a story)
- Cover all required elements (if the prompt lists bullet points, hit them all)
- Write in the appropriate style for that text type
- Stay ON TOPIC (going off-topic = instant mark drop)
Real example: A student wrote a fantastic essay about why superheroes are important, but the prompt asked for a description of a specific superhero character design. No matter how well-written, they lost marks for not addressing the actual task.
Parent tip: Always read the prompt together with your child. Make sure they understand *exactly* what they're being asked to do before they start writing.
2. Are the Ideas Original and Engaging? 💡
Markers don't want recycled, predictable stories. They want to see your child thinking and being creative.
Band 6 (Top 10%): Ideas are distinctive, imaginative, and unexpected. The piece makes the marker think "Wow, that's clever!"
Band 5 (Next 15%): Ideas are good and interesting, but maybe more predictable or less developed.
What this means:
- Encourage your child to brainstorm BEFORE writing
- Look for unique angles (instead of "a superhero who fights crime," maybe "a superhero who heals broken relationships")
- Add specific, unexpected details that make the story memorable
- Avoid clichés like "The End" or "It was all a dream"
Parent tip: Ask your child: "What would make this story surprising to someone reading it? What detail could you add that would make someone say 'I didn't expect that'?"
3. Is It Well-Organized and Structured? 📋
Even the best ideas fall flat if they're presented as a jumbled mess.
What markers look for:
- Clear beginning, middle, end (even in creative writing)
- Proper paragraphing (each new idea gets its own paragraph)
- Logical flow (ideas connect to each other)
- Connective words that help readers follow along ("However," "Meanwhile," "As a result")
- A proper conclusion or ending (not just stopping mid-sentence)
Real example from a Band 6 response: The piece had clearly organized paragraphs, each with its own point. Sentences connected smoothly, and it was easy to follow the story from start to finish.
Parent tip: Before writing, encourage your child to spend 2-3 minutes jotting down a simple outline:
- What's my main idea?
- What's happening first, second, third?
- How will I wrap it up?
This prevents the "mind dump" problem where ideas are all over the place.
4. Is the Vocabulary Well-Chosen? 📚
"Sophisticated vocabulary" sounds intimidating, but it just means using the right word for the job.
NOT this: "The girl was very very very sad and very upset and very down."
This: "The girl felt devastated as she watched the rain streak down the window."
What markers look for:
- Precise word choices (not just "good" but "excellent," "outstanding," or "remarkable")
- Varied vocabulary (not repeating the same words over and over)
- Some flair if appropriate (a well-placed simile or metaphor, like "The night was as quiet as a sleeping cat")
- Natural-sounding language (not forcing weird words just to sound fancy)
Important: A few ambitious words used correctly are better than 10 fancy words used wrong.
Parent tip: When your child says "The day was long," ask: "What word could we use instead? Slow? Endless? Tedious?" This teaches them to think about word choice.
5. Is the Sentence Structure Varied? 🔤
Readers get bored with all short sentences. They get confused with all long sentences. The best writers mix it up.
NOT this:
"I went to the beach. It was sunny. I saw a crab. The crab was big. I took a photo."
This:
"I went to the beach on a sunny morning, hoping to find shells. When I spotted a huge crab scuttling across the sand, I quickly snapped a photo."
What markers look for:
- A mix of short, punchy sentences AND longer, flowing ones
- Sentences that start different ways (not all starting with "I" or "The")
- Complex sentences that show how ideas connect ("Because the rain started, we went inside")
Parent tip: Try this game: Have your child read their work aloud. If it sounds boring or choppy, help them combine or break apart sentences to make it flow better.
6. Is the Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation Correct? ✓
This is the "polish" that separates good from excellent.
What markers look for:
- Almost all words spelled correctly (especially the ambitious ones they chose)
- Correct punctuation (capitals, full stops, commas, question marks)
- Consistent tense (not jumping randomly between past and present)
- Subject-verb agreement ("She runs" not "She run")
Important: A Band 6 response can have 1-2 tiny mistakes. But patterns of errors drop the score. For example:
- One missing comma? Fine.
- Missing commas everywhere? Problem.
- One spelling error in a harder word? Okay.
- Multiple errors in basic words? Not okay.
Parent tip: Help your child proofread by looking for one thing at a time:
- First pass: Does each sentence start with a capital and end with a full stop?
- Second pass: Check for tricky words like "their/there/they're"
- Third pass: Read aloud—does it sound right?
7. Appropriate Tone for the Audience 🎭
Different writing needs different voices.
- A diary entry should sound personal and reflective ("I felt...")
- A newspaper report should sound factual and objective ("The incident occurred...")
- An email to a company should be friendly but respectful
- An advice sheet should sound warm and helpful
Real example: A Band 6 advice sheet for new students used a warm, friendly tone with direct language ("You'll probably feel nervous, but here's how to handle it"). It felt genuine, not stiff or formal.
Parent tip: Ask your child: "If you read this aloud, would someone know what type of writing it is? Does it sound like a story/email/report?"
Band 6 vs. Band 5: What's the Difference?
| Aspect | Band 6 (Top 10%) | Band 5 (Next 15%) |
|---|---|---|
| Ideas | Distinctive, inventive, surprising | Interesting but sometimes predictable |
| Structure | Perfectly organized, easy to follow | Well-organized but maybe less polished |
| Vocabulary | Ambitious & well-chosen | Precise and mostly well-selected |
| Originality | Clearly stands out | Good but not exceptional |
| Errors | Almost none (maybe 1-2 tiny slips) | Few, but occasional mistakes |
| Engagement | Makes the reader think "Wow!" | Reader thinks "This is good" |
Common Mistakes That Lower Scores
❌ Going Off-Topic
Writing a great story when they asked for a report = automatic mark drop. Always read the prompt carefully.
❌ No Clear Ending
Running out of time and stopping mid-story = loses structure marks. Plan time for a proper conclusion.
❌ One Giant Paragraph
All the text smooshed together = hard to read. Break it into paragraphs. Each new idea = new paragraph.
❌ Repetitive Words
"And then... and then... and then..." or "The girl was sad. Her friend was sad. The day was sad." = boring.
Vary your vocabulary and sentence starts.
❌ Ignoring Required Elements
Prompt says "include three things" and they only include two = incomplete. Make a checklist of requirements.
❌ Too Many Grammar Errors
Constant misspellings, missing punctuation, or tense jumping = confusing. Proofread carefully.
What This Means for Your Child's Preparation
- Read diverse examples - Show them what different text types look like
- Practice with variety - Don't just do stories; try emails, reports, speeches
- Emphasize completing the task - Addressing the prompt correctly matters most
- Balance creativity with accuracy - Ideas should be original AND polished
- Practice under time pressure - Timed writing reveals real issues
- Focus on proofreading - 5 minutes of checking catches most errors
The Bottom Line
A Band 6 response shows:
- ✅ Perfect understanding of what was asked
- ✅ Original, engaging ideas
- ✅ Clear, well-structured organization
- ✅ Sophisticated but natural language
- ✅ Virtually error-free writing
- ✅ Appropriate tone for the audience
Your child doesn't need to be a literary genius. They need to write a complete, thoughtful, well-organized response with minimal errors. That's achievable with the right practice.
Quick Parent Checklist
When reviewing your child's practice writing, ask:
- [ ] Does it answer the question asked?
- [ ] Is the organization clear (beginning, middle, end)?
- [ ] Are there interesting, specific details?
- [ ] Is the vocabulary well-chosen (not repetitive)?
- [ ] Is the tone appropriate for the text type?
- [ ] Are sentences varied in length and structure?
- [ ] Is spelling, punctuation, and grammar mostly correct?
- [ ] Does it have a proper ending?
If they're hitting 6-7 out of 8, they're on track for a strong score!
Related Guides:
- NSW Selective Writing Test Format 2024 - Understand the full test structure
- Master Your 30 Minutes - Manage the writing component timing
- Selective Writing Test Topics 2024 - Practice with real exam topics
- Selective Writing Past Papers & Practice Tests - Access sample tests