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The NSW Selective High School Placement Test includes a writing component where students must complete a written response in 30 minutes. Students are given a prompt and must write in a specific genre such as creative writing, persuasive writing, or informative writing.

The writing test assesses students' ability to:

• Communicate ideas effectively and coherently
• Use appropriate language, vocabulary, and grammar
• Structure their writing appropriately for the genre
• Demonstrate creativity and critical thinking
• Write fluently under time pressure

The NSW Selective Writing Test typically includes five main genres:

Students should practice all genres as any could appear on test day. Our platform provides prompts across all five genres.

The writing component is exactly 30 minutes. This is a strict time limit - the same as practice tests on our platform.

The NSW Selective Writing Test is marked against specific criteria including:

• Ideas and Content: Quality, originality, and development of ideas
• Structure: Organization, paragraphing, and logical flow
• Language: Vocabulary, sentence variety, and expression
• Genre Conventions: Appropriate use of genre-specific features
• Mechanics: Spelling, punctuation, and grammar

Students receive a performance band which contributes to their overall selective school placement score.

Effective preparation combines regular practice with targeted skill development:

We recommend completing 20-30 timed practice tests across all genres before the real exam. However, quality matters more than quantity.

The most common mistakes students make include:

• Not planning: Jumping straight into writing without organizing ideas
• Ignoring genre requirements: Writing a story when asked for a persuasive piece
• Running out of time: Spending too long on introduction or planning
• Weak endings: Rushing the conclusion when time runs low
• Limited vocabulary: Repeating the same words and phrases
• No proofreading: Submitting without checking for errors

Building a strong vocabulary takes time but significantly improves your writing:

• Read diverse materials (fiction, news, magazines)
• Keep a vocabulary journal of new words
• Practice using new words in sentences
• Use our Vocabulary Trainer tool for daily practice
• Learn synonyms for commonly overused words

Our AI feedback system analyzes your writing against NSW Selective Test criteria:

1. You submit your timed writing response
2. Our AI (powered by advanced language models) analyzes your work
3. You receive a performance band estimate and detailed feedback
4. Feedback covers structure, language, ideas, and genre conventions
5. Specific suggestions help you improve for next time

We offer 6 specialized writing tools to help you improve specific skills:

Our timer replicates the real exam experience:

• Timer starts when you begin a practice session
• Countdown displays prominently while you write
• You can submit early if you finish before time expires
• Work auto-submits when the 30 minutes are up
• This builds time management skills essential for test day

After you submit your writing, it's sent for AI analysis. This typically takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the length of your response.

The status will change to "Feedback Ready" once analysis is complete. You can refresh your dashboard to check. If processing takes longer than 5 minutes, please contact support.

Yes, Selective Writing works on all devices including tablets and phones. However, we recommend practicing on the same device type you'll use for the real test.

If your selective test is computer-based, practice typing on a keyboard to build fluency and muscle memory.

All plans include core features:

• Unlimited timed practice tests across all 5 genres
• Instant AI feedback on every submission
• Progress tracking and performance history
• Access to all 6 writing improvement tools

Higher tier plans include additional features like detailed analytics, priority support, and more comprehensive feedback. View all plans →

You can cancel anytime from your Account Billing settings. Your access continues until the end of your current billing period.

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with the platform.

Visit your Billing settings to update your payment method. You can change your card details securely through our payment provider (Stripe).

Yes, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied within the first 30 days, contact us at support@selectivewritingtest.com.au for a full refund.