How to Write a High-Scoring Informative Article for the 2026 Selective Test — Selective online practice for the NSW exam

When the digital timer starts and the screen reveals the writing prompt, most students cross their fingers, hoping for a creative story or a persuasive debate. But what happens when the prompt says: "Write an article for a local community magazine explaining the benefits of a new community garden"?

Panic.

Many Year 6 students freeze because they have never been taught how to write like a journalist. They end up writing a persuasive essay pretending to be an article, or worse, a fictional story about a garden.

To achieve an exceptional, top-tier score in the 2026 NSW Selective High School Placement Test, your child needs to know how to shift into the informative gear. An article is designed to educate, report, and engage the reader without necessarily picking a fight or telling a fairy tale. Here is the ultimate guide to mastering the informative article in just 30 minutes.

1. Adopt the "journalist" mindset

The biggest difference between a persuasive essay and an informative article is the objective.

A persuasive essay says: "You must believe this because I am right."

An informative article says: "Here are the fascinating facts about this topic; let me explain them to you."

To sound like a journalist, students need to remove their personal feelings from the piece. They should avoid using "I" or "We" unless the prompt specifically asks for a personal reflection. The tone should be authoritative, clear, and highly engaging.

2. The architecture of an article

Because the 2026 test is computer-based, visual layout is incredibly important. A marker should be able to look at the screen and instantly recognise that they are reading an article, not a story.

Here is the exact structure your child should use:

The headline — Every article needs a title. It should be catchy and summarise the topic. (e.g. "Green Thumbs, Bright Futures: The Rise of Community Gardens")

The lead (the hook) — The first paragraph must contain the most important information. Journalists call this the who, what, where, when, and why. Get straight to the point to hook the reader's attention immediately.

Subheadings — This is the secret weapon for an article. Break the body of the text into two or three distinct sections, each with its own mini-title. This makes the text highly scannable and proves exceptional organisational skills.

The kicker (conclusion) — Articles don't usually end with a dramatic summary. They end with a kicker—a final, interesting thought or a look toward the future. (e.g. "As the first seeds are planted this spring, the community eagerly waits to see what will bloom next.")

3. The "invented expert" technique

How do you write an informative article when you don't actually know any real facts about the topic? You invent them.

Markers know that students do not have access to Google during the exam. They are not fact-checking the statistics; they are checking the quality of the writing. A top-scoring student will invent realistic-sounding data and quotes to give their article an authentic journalistic feel.

Average — "Community gardens are good because they help people make friends."

Exceptional — "According to Dr Sarah Jenkins, a local urban planner, community gardens can increase neighbourhood social interaction by up to forty per cent. 'It brings people together who would otherwise never speak,' Dr Jenkins noted."

By inventing a credible expert and giving them a quote, the student instantly elevates the maturity and realism of their writing.

4. Vocabulary: Keeping it professional

While creative writing relies on sensory adjectives (like gloomy, sparkling, terrifying), an informative article relies on precise, professional nouns and verbs.

Encourage your child to use transitional phrases that suit a magazine or newspaper:

Furthermore.

Recent developments indicate.

A key factor in this initiative.

Consequently.

Experts suggest.

5. The 5-20-5 digital execution

Time management remains the ultimate deciding factor. A beautifully formatted article is useless if it stops abruptly in the middle of a sentence.

0–5 minutes (the blueprint) — Read the prompt. Invent your headline and map out two subheadings on your rough-working paper. Decide on one expert quote or statistic you are going to invent to support your topic.

5–25 minutes (the draft) — Type the article. Aim for 350+ words. Focus on keeping the tone objective and informative. Make sure to use the enter key to create clear spaces between your subheadings and your paragraphs.

25–30 minutes (the polish) — Proofread. Journalists have editors; in the exam room, your child is their own editor. Check for spelling errors, ensure the punctuation within the expert quotes is correct, and confirm that the headline stands out.

The final takeaway for parents

Practising the article format is a great way to break up the monotony of exam prep. Next time your child finishes a book or watches a documentary, ask them to type a 15-minute news article reporting on what happened. It trains their brain to pull out the most important facts and present them in a clear, authoritative structure.

Informative writing wins when layout screams journalist, not essay. Rehearse headline–lead–subhead–kicker rhythms on GoTestPrep article-style prompts so markers recognise the format at a glance on the CBT screen.