NSW Education Standards Authority

Minimum Standard Writing Test

The Writing Achievement Level Descriptions, derived from the Australian Core Skills Framework, describe
typical performance at each of four levels. These descriptions are holistically applied in the process of
reviewing student responses. Experienced teachers are trained to make professional judgements about the
merit of each student’s response in accordance with the Achievement Level Descriptions, and to align each
response to the appropriate level. The communication of ideas and the mechanics of writing are of greater
significance than the ideas themselves in the assessment of student responses for the HSC Minimum
Standard Writing test.

The following sample answers are reflective of responses constructed under test conditions. An annotation
provides information about the qualities of the response consistent with the Writing Achievement Level
Descriptions.

These work samples illustrate that there are a variety of ways in which students can demonstrate
performance at Level 3 (minimum standard). There is a common feature in these responses: the relevance
of the writing to address the prompt; the structuring and sequencing of ideas; and, the control of language.
Note that it is not necessary to write over 500 words and part of the allocated 45 minutes can be used for
planning and editing purposes.

In applying the Writing Achievement Level Descriptions, responses to each question are assessed on the
following rubric:

• relevance of writing to the topic

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Sample answer: Snacks

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

Should school canteens be encouraged to sell healthy food and snacks?

Sample answer: Snacks

Should schools be encouraged to sell healthy food and snacks. It is really important to eat healthy. If
canteens sold heathy treats it would mean that kids whose diet at home is bad have an oppornity to
became more fiter. Eating healthy can help you be more fit, get you moving and could help you live
longer. Kids at school need food that is going to give them a energy source that is going to get them
through the day. It would help them concentrating more in class. For that reason schools should be
encouraged to sell healthy food and snacks.

Something that makes it hard to be heathy is that it takes more time to make heathy food and it costs
more too. Some kids find it hard to get ready for school and dont have much time. Prepareing healthy
foods adds to the time needed to get ready cause often you need to bake or cut up ingedients. Since
people do not have much time they just pick up whats in the kitchen rather then getting something
healthy. Bying the ingredients to make the heathy food costs quiet a bit more then it does to buy high-
fat processed foods. This is a major barrier for people to be healthy. If the cantteen sold healthy foods
it would help people that need to substitoot high fat high sugar foods.

School canteens should think about whatever assist kids to be healthy. Kids at school dont really think
about the side affects of eating high sugary foods as they usually just like the taste. They do no relise
that they can make them hyper and they just end up hungry with a bad intension span. The health food
will help them be more focus in class and make less mistakes in there school work. That is why
canteens should be encouraged to sell the right foods.

I have made lots of points about why schools should sell healthy foods and I really think the
adventages
Sample areSnacks
answer: worth considering.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text, the student presents an argument in favour of schools selling healthy food. The content is
appropriate and there is an awareness of the audience evident in the writing conventions used. An
appropriate structure is used with a clear introduction and conclusion, and ideas are sequenced using
appropriate paragraphing. Appropriate vocabulary and language modality is evident but there are some
minor flaws in expression. Simple, compound and complex sentences are used but some sentences are
poorly constructed and the control of expression is variable. Basic sentence punctuation is correct, and
there are attempts at using punctuation to aid understanding. An apostrophe is used correctly for a
common contraction. There are some errors in the spelling of frequently used words but reasonable
approximations of misspelt words have been made.

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: Flexibility

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

In Australia, young adults can obtain a P-plate driver’s licence from the age of 17.

Should this driving age be raised to 21?

Sample answer: Flexibility

17 is the current age to obtain a p-plate drivers licence in NSW. Should this be changed to 21? many
reasons relate to why it wouldn’t be a good idea to change the age for getting a P-plate, such as, flexibility,
responsibility and assessibility.

Most people who are 17 are either doing the HSC or are in year 11. They are just about adults and maybe
at the start of an indepenant life. Since they are needing to go to different places and do things without
there parent they need to have the flexibility to go places on there own not needing to have a adult drive
them. By being able to drive on their own they have the flexibility to get to where they need to go.

With the idea of helping 17 year olds become more responsible young adults, having a drivers license can
help. It is not very often that you hear of someone at 17 living out of home so they need some help in
learning how to be an adult, taking on some responsibility in some areas of life can be a good thing. Maybe
they need to help there parents by picking up some milk at the shops or going to training on their own and
going to events without their parent. Having the responsibility of driving can be good to help them become a
adult.

Wouldnt we all like to have less hassles in life? if a 17 year old has a party on a saturday night, that ends at
1am, the parents dont really want to go get out of bed, to pick up the kid. What a hassle! wouldnt it be so
much better if the 17 year old had access to a car saving the parents from needed to go out in the middle of
the night especially, at their age. Having the accessibility of being able to drive will take away some of the
hassles.

Overall there are many reasons why you should be able to obtain your p-plate at 17 and it shouldn’t be
raised to 21 such as it helps young people be more responsible, helps families and reduces complecations.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text arguing against the change suggested in the prompt, ideas are sequenced using paragraphing.
There is evidence of an understanding of appropriate grammatical conventions. Attempts are made to vary
language to suit audience and purpose and vocabulary choices are relevant. Tense is maintained
consistently throughout the text. Sentence construction issues are evident; particularly due to the incorrect
use of commas and apostrophes and poor placement of full stops. There are reasonable approximations
for the correct spelling of words.

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: Creative

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

Look at the words on the signpost below.

Choose a word on the signpost or another word that best describes you.

Give reasons to support your choice.

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Sample answer: Creative

Creative

I think its really important to have creative people in our lives. If we didnt have creative people around the
world would be boring and no one would want that. If people werent able to be creative then there’d be no
new inventions. Creative people make this world turn. The bring new ideas to problems even when it
seams like there is no solution. Im not really that creative, but i enjoy the benefits of having people around
that have imagination.

Being creative can take many forms like being a painter, a sculpter, an inventer, a chef, even designing the
shape of glass can be creative. Being creative is about people using their imagination to make things
different, improve how things look and to solve problems. Creativity is every where. Being creative means
leaving a peace of yourself behind.

The human race wouldnt be how it is today if we diddnt have creative people. Nobody wouldve
experimented with fire and we’d all be stuck in the stone age. We would all be eating grass, living in caves
and we’d be cold, because no one wouldve thought about making clothes.

Wear all in a better place because the world has creative people. We get to injoy the fantastic designs
people have made, we get to use the inventions creative people have made, experience the beutiful
paintings people have made, and even relax in places made by people with creativeity.

I believe we must have creative people you dont want to live in a boring world because creative people
arent there to brighten it up.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text about creativity, appropriate grammatical structures are used to sequence ideas and there is a
degree of logic in the structure of the response. Language variation is a key feature of the response and
these selections create meaning and assist in the communication of ideas. Precise vocabulary is used to
support communication. Control of sentence formation is demonstrated with compound and complex
sentences formed with some success. Punctuation is used correctly at times despite there being some
instances where the required punctuation marker is not used. Reasonable spelling approximations are
made.

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: Pros and cons

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

In Australia, young adults can obtain a P-plate driver’s licence from the age of 17.

Should this driving age be raised to 21?

Sample answer: Pros and cons

Cons:
If you were 17 and had to get to work and had your ps then there would be no worries with getting there but
if the age for having your ps was 21 there would be lots of problems with people getting to work and there
would be lots more unemployment. Young people without their ps would need to get their parents to take
them places it would mean that the parents would be more busy and maybe they’d go less places.

Its a good age at 17 to be able get you Ps cause if you want to get to work or go some place with your
friends you dont need to bother someone to drive you but if they pushed it back to 21 then youd have to
hassle your parents, catch the bus or you’ll have to rely on a friend who’s got their Ps to drive you around.

It is better to get your ps at 17 then 21 it would be hard to afford to get a licence and you would have to pay
rent and bills for mutliable things and your still living with your parents.

Pros:

If the age for getting your ps was 21 then you would have had much more time to save up alor more cash
and what you could buy would be better then buying a old car thats maybe unsafe to drive and you’d need
to spend money on repareing the car so its ok to drive. Also 17 year olds could just take the bus.

I believe the age for getting your ps should be 21 since then the roads would be safer and there would be
less accidents and there would be less drivers driving carelessly and would be less drink driving because
young adults experimenting with alcohol wouldnt be able to drive.

There would be more time to learn the road rules and prepare for getting your licence

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text about driving, the response is purposely structured to convey a two-sided argument. An
understanding of grammatical conventions is evident in the sequencing of the text. Formal and
informal language is used to construct a coherent response. The student attempts complex
sentences with some success and displays a reasonable control of tense in the communication of
their ideas. Suitable vocabulary and relevant joining techniques are used. The use of punctuation
to form sentences is hampered by a lack of commas and in some places, full stops. Familiar words
are spelt accurately.

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: Essential abilities

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

Look at the photograph below.

Compose a piece of writing about the importance of teamwork.

Sample answer: Essential abilities

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: Essential abilities

An essential ability that all people need in this day and age is that you can work in a team. Teamwork is
important to get many tasks done.Teamwork relies on people working together to get jobs done and where
you need to be confident in your partners.

Good communication is needed to make teamwork work and it allows people to understand what there
expected to do. If your able to talk about the tasks involved, you can brake up the tasks so that you can get
the jobs done.

Teamwork is important in many sports and they use these abilities to compete. Basketball teams show that
ability to work together by having positions and roles to play on the court. Often when people get together
to play basketball when they dont know each other as soon as they make a shot they loose the ball cause
noone wants to play defence and everyone thinks they can shoot but they cant. Once they start to know
each other they learn that its best for people to play postions depending on what there good at.

Communication in a team is also not as simple as youd think. A player might be getting ready to pass the
ball thinking that there teammate is open but not knowing that the opposition is getting ready to steal the
ball, there teammates could tell them what’s about to happen. Good communication is important to help the
team win.

In all places, you see teamwork being used everyday, then how often do you see that its not working.
Teamwork happens in the home, with your friends, at school and in workplaces.

Think of what would happen in your family if you dont have teamwork, one person would need to do all the
work and they would be angry. If you didn’t help out and lend a helping hand you would look back and say
your selfish i should have helped out. Teamwork is really important so that you love your family.

Imagine what could happen to your friend or family member if you dont help them, that person could slip
and fall and you would be scared for life because you could have gave them a hand. You will be looking
back and be saying i should have done better than what they did. Losing a member of the friendship is like
losing a brother and i love my family just like every other person.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text about teamwork in sport, the response is structured logically and ideas are cohesively
presented. There are some errors in the pluralisation of words and in choosing the appropriate
word form for the context. Paragraphing is used effectively, and tense is consistently maintained.
Relevant and precise vocabulary is used to support meaning. Sentence formation is satisfactory;
however, there are errors with complex sentences and in posing questions. Simple punctuation is
used correctly at times but there are instances where apostrophes are missing and some errors in
the use of commas and question marks. Reasonable spelling accuracy is demonstrated

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: First job

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

The photograph below shows people enjoying themselves.

Write about an enjoyable day in your life.

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Sample answer: First job

The best day was when I got my first job

About a year ago, I started looking for a part time job. I looked online, in the local paper and asked
around at shops in my local area. After many attempts I had some success. I got a call from the
manager at the local Bunnings in the last week of the January holidays asking me to come in for
an orientaion, to meet the crew, after being told what was involved, I then gave in my uniform size
so they could put in an order, then I went to tell my parent and what the manager had said and,
amazinly, the already knew as the manager had called them before calling me.

After about a week I was getting ready for the training day (I was really nervous cause I did’nt
know anyone). I was told to go to the “training room” when I got there, (this was a really small
room with space for about 5 of us), in there we got a training folder and they got us to sign
employment forms and answer questions about how much we knew about the buisness and/or
working in a hardwear store. We then had WHS accreditation training. After that they took us
around the site, showing us what is where and whats involved in each section. We got to take the
folder home and had to read it and that was the end of the day.

I had been waiting to be called about when I would have my first full day on the job and got a call
after 4 weeks (that was sooner than I expected) and I was told that I had 2 shifts in the next week.
On my first shift I had training in working the register and everything involved with serving
customers. At my second shift I was put into the tool department and the trainer spent time
teaching me about all the tools and what they do, after that I was shown some of the safety
products. My next shift was about the same but the trainer gave me some more space which I was
good.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text about getting a job, ideas are sequenced using appropriate paragraphing and evidence
of an understanding of grammatical structures is present. Words to indicate time and place and
vocabulary of personal relevance are selected to construct a response appropriate to audience
and purpose. Tense is manipulated effectively to support the development of ideas. There are
errors in the formation of sentences and punctuation to support sentence formation is inconsistent.
Attempts at punctuation to clarify meaning are present. Some complex words are spelt correctly.

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Sample answer: Nutrients

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

Should school canteens be encouraged to sell healthy food and snacks?

Sample answer: Nutrients

School canteens should be encouraged to sell healthy foods and snacks.

When canteens sell products that are good for your health, they encourage students to adopt
a healthier lifestyle, become familiar with the foods which include necessary vitamins
(essteneial nutritns) and assist in avoiding health issues, such as coronry issues and diabetes.

Canteens that encourage people to have a healthy diet, help students to make choices about
the foods they eat and what’s good for you. When healthy foods are sold, students are more
likely to gave a well balanced diet. By helping students to buy healthy foods and snacks, they
support students health, by thinking of the esstential nutrience they need to be fit.

Diabetes and heart related health issues can be reduced if people eat healthy foods. These
foods can also be good for students concentration in class, and helping them to make good
life choices.

In conclusion school canteens should be encouraged to sell healthy foods, because the health
benefits that come from eating the foods with esstenial nutrients.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this text the student presents an argument in favour of schools selling healthy food and snacks. Although
the response is relatively short, it is cohesive and there is a clear sense of sequencing with a brief
introduction and conclusion. Paragraphs have been used to organise ideas, and writing conventions
appropriate to the text have been used. A range of sentence types is evident and they are generally well
formed, but there are some flaws in grammar and expression. The vocabulary choices are relevant with
some use of precise language to suit the context. There are inconsistencies in the use of tense but it is
mostly correct. Punctuation is used to aid communication but there is an overuse of commas and some
missing apostrophes and hyphens. Spelling is mostly accurate and strategies have been used to attempt to
spell unfamiliar words.

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Sample answer: Overseas

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

The best news I have ever heard.

Work sample: Overseas

The best news I had ever heard was when my mum told me we were going on a holiday to see relatives
overseas. It was going to be a shock to see some of my relatives, some of them I had never met. I was so
excited about this holiday that I couldn’t sleep waiting for the time even though it was weeks away. I kept
thinking about it all the time.

When the time came, I started to realise that I didn’t have the clothes to wear in the cold winter where we
were going. I thought my clothes were ok but i soon realised they were not suitable. We went to my cousins
house and started to meet all my family thats living over there. It was abit full on and i was tired from the
flight so i went to bed even though it was the middle of the day. Next morning the family we planning on
going skiing, they asked if i wanted to go. Of course i said yes, who wouldn’t. We went to the skiing slopes
with the chair lifts and everything, and started to do a beginners course. When i was going up the chair lift
for the second time, I heard a CRACK! and fell off the lift onto the ground landing on my butt. I managed a
few more runs after that, but it was alot in one day eventhough it was fun.

The next day we went out with the family for a day trip. We went to see some of the sites. We went to a
cathedral and took in some history. Later we went horse riding. I was allocated the most massive horse i’d
ever seen. We began a trial ride, through the forest and enjoying the scenery. We took about an hour and I
was able to get my horse to trot but while that was happening, my cousin whacked the horse on its butt and
it took off like the wind!

After spending a few weeks with my family we came back to Australia

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

In this response about a family holiday, ideas are sequenced logically and chronologically, and an
understanding of appropriate grammatical structures is evident. A recount of events using relevant writing
conventions is used to form a cohesive text. The vocabulary used is relevant and includes some precise
words suitable for the purpose of the text. Tense has been maintained correctly at times; however, there
are instances where tense is inconsistent but meaning is not impeded. There are a number of examples
where complex sentences are not formed correctly; however, simple and compound sentences are
generally correct. Punctuation to assist communication has been used with some errors in the use of
commas and apostrophes. Words are spelt with reasonable accuracy.

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NSW Education Standards Authority

Sample answer: Rapper

This sample answer demonstrates achievement at Level 3 (Minimum Standard) in response to the prompt:

What is the best book or movie you have ever read or seen? Why did you enjoy it so much?

Sample answer: Rapper

The best movie I have ever seen is 8 mile. This movie is about the life of a rapper called Eminem
and the story of how he came to be popular, he had a really tough childhood he lives in a trailer
and his mum doesnt have much going good in her life. Eminem plays a white rapper called B
Rabbit who works in a factory, also he goes in rap battles for money and this makes him often late
or miss work. I really enjoyed this movie alot but the first time I saw it, I couldn’t follow the story
line but understood the racial problems between B Rabbit and the other rappers.

B Rabbit moved in with his girlfriend who doesn’t like him getting into the rap battles. They are
pretty poor and can’t afford much, so B Rabbit asks for more shifts in the factory where he works.
Because hes not so reliable his manager doesn’t give him the shifts but his girlfriend helps him to
do better at work and he finally convinces the manager that hes reliable and then get more shifts.

Most people who watch this movie will most likely not understand what its like to be a white
rapper. I really enjoyed this movie because it shows what its like to be poor in the US and that not
all white people have it easy there are journeys they need to go through to make it in the rap
industry and that along the way there is rascism and it is hard to become famous and sometimes
family is not very supportive. I enjoyed the music in this movie and would recommend it to anyone
who likes rap.

Features that make this answer typical of Level 3:

The following comments indicate some of the features of this sample that make it typical of Level 3.

In this relatively short text about a favourite movie, ideas are presented in a logical manner. Sequencing
techniques have been used appropriately and suitable language choices are used consistent with the
purpose of the text. There is good use of relevant and precise vocabulary. Tense is used correctly, but the
formation of sentences is problematic at times due to inaccurate punctuation. Frequently used words show
mostly correct spelling with strategies to spell less familiar words employed.

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