NAPLAN Ultimate Cheat Sheet

⚡ Golden rule: 2–3 impressive words per paragraph, woven in naturally. Never force it.

Persuasive Writing

🔥

Opening Starters

Bold Statement

Undeniably, ... / Unquestionably, ... / Without doubt, ...

Rhetorical Question

Would you really choose ... over ...? / Can we afford to ignore ...?

Dramatic

Every single day, ... / Right now, as you read this, ...

Vivid Image

Imagine a world where ... / Picture this: ...

Shocking Fact

Studies reveal that ... / Shockingly, research shows ...

❌ Never write

"In this essay I will talk about..."

💡

Argument Paragraph Starters

Point — 1st

First and foremost, ... / Above all else, ... / The most compelling reason is ...

Point — 2nd

Furthermore, ... / In addition to this, ... / Equally important is ...

Point — 3rd

Perhaps most significantly, ... / Beyond this, ...

Explain

This is because ... / Consequently, ... / The reason is clear:

Example

For instance, ... / Research indicates that ... / Consider the case of ...

Link Back

Clearly, this demonstrates ... / It is evident that ... / This alone proves ...

🥊

Rebuttal Phrases

Introduce other side

Opponents may argue that ... / Some contend that ... / While it is true that ...

Dismiss it

However, this argument fails to consider ... / This overlooks the fact that ...

Smash it

In reality, ... / On the contrary, ... / The evidence clearly refutes this ...

Reinforce

Therefore, it remains undeniable that ... / This only strengthens the case for ...

🎯

Conclusion Starters

Restate thesis

In conclusion, it is clear that ... / Ultimately, the evidence is overwhelming ...

Call to action

It is time for us to ... / We must act now to ... / Society can no longer afford to ignore ...

Thought-provoking

The choice is ours — but the consequences are not.

Final line

The question is not whether we can — it is whether we will.

💬

Word Upgrades

❌ Basic	✅ NAPLAN-ready
good	beneficial / invaluable / advantageous
bad	detrimental / devastating / harmful
shows	demonstrates / highlights / illustrates
important	crucial / paramount / essential
says / thinks	contends / asserts / maintains
very	significantly / substantially / profoundly
big	considerable / immense / substantial
change	transform / revolutionise / reshape
problem	crisis / dilemma / challenge
help	facilitate / support / bolster
also	furthermore / additionally / moreover
but	however / nevertheless / nonetheless
so	therefore / consequently / thus
clearly	evidently / undeniably / demonstrably
people	individuals / citizens / communities
many	numerous / countless / a multitude of
because	given that / owing to / on account of
wrong	unjust / indefensible / irresponsible
stop	cease / eliminate / eradicate / abolish
start	initiate / commence / implement
try	endeavour / strive / seek to
need	require / necessitate / demand
use	utilise / employ / implement
new	innovative / pioneering / contemporary
old	archaic / antiquated / obsolete
worse	exacerbated / more detrimental
better	superior / more beneficial / enhanced
true	accurate / valid / substantiated
false	erroneous / unsubstantiated / unfounded
fast	swift / expeditious / prompt
hard	arduous / demanding / challenging
easy	straightforward / effortless / accessible
find	identify / uncover / determine
keep	preserve / safeguard / sustain

🛠️

Persuasive Techniques

Technique	What it is	Example
Rhetorical Q	Makes reader think	Can we really afford to do nothing?
Rule of Three	Three words/ideas	Dangerous, irresponsible, inexcusable.
Emotive Language	Triggers emotion	Innocent children are suffering.
Repetition	Repeats for effect	We need change. Real change. Now.
Statistics	Numbers = credibility	9 in 10 experts agree...
Direct Address	Talks to reader	You have the power to change this.
Alliteration	Same start sound	Dangerous, destructive, deadly.
Anecdote	Short story	Consider a student who...
Hyperbole	Exaggeration	We have tried a million times...
Expert Opinion	Cite authority	Leading researchers confirm that...

Narrative Writing

📖

Strong Verb Swaps

❌ Basic	✅ Vivid alternatives
walked	crept / trudged / strode / wandered / shuffled
ran	sprinted / bolted / dashed / hurtled / fled
said	whispered / demanded / muttered / exclaimed / urged
looked	gazed / peered / glanced / stared / surveyed
thought	pondered / wondered / realised / contemplated
felt	sensed / experienced / endured / perceived
saw	noticed / spotted / observed / glimpsed
went	ventured / crept toward / slipped / headed
got	obtained / acquired / discovered / secured
put	placed / positioned / rested / tucked

🎨

Descriptive Language

Instead of "dark"

pitch-black / shadowy / murky / ink-black

Instead of "scared"

paralysed with fear / heart hammering / blood running cold

Instead of "happy"

elated / overjoyed / heart soaring / grinning uncontrollably

Instead of "quiet"

eerily silent / hushed / still as glass

Instead of "loud"

deafening / thunderous / ear-splitting

Instead of "cold"

biting / bone-chilling / icy / frigid

Instead of "beautiful"

breathtaking / radiant / captivating

Instead of "angry"

seething / eyes blazing / jaw clenched

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Narrative Sentence Starters

Strong opening

The moment everything changed was ... / Nobody expected what happened next.

Build tension

Suddenly, ... / Without warning, ... / In that instant, ...

Slow down

Time seemed to stop. / Everything went quiet. / She held her breath.

Show don't tell

Her hands trembled. / His jaw tightened.

Flashback

It hadn't always been like this. / She thought back to the day when ...

Powerful ending

It was only then that she understood. / Some things, once changed, can never go back.

🌟

Literary Devices

Device	What it is	Example
Simile	Compare using like/as	Her voice was as cold as ice.
Metaphor	Say something IS something	The classroom was a prison.
Personification	Give objects human traits	The wind howled in protest.
Foreshadowing	Hint at what's to come	He didn't know this would be the last time.
Short sentences	Create tension	She stopped. Listened. Ran.
Sensory detail	Use all 5 senses	The damp smell of rain on concrete...

Structure Templates

📋

Persuasive Essay Structure

Opening (2–3 sentences)

Hook → Context → Thesis (your opinion)

Argument 1 (4–5 sentences)

Point → Explain → Example → Link back ⭐ Word upgrades here

Argument 2 (4–5 sentences)

Point → Explain → Example → Link back ⭐ Word upgrades here

Rebuttal (3–4 sentences)

Acknowledge → Dismiss → Reinforce

Conclusion (2–3 sentences)

Restate thesis differently → Powerful close

⏱ Time tip

5 min plan · 30 min write · 5 min check

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Narrative Structure

Opening

Hook immediately — start mid-action or with intrigue.

Rising action

Introduce a problem. Build tension. Short sentences speed things up.

Climax

Most intense moment. Show don't tell. Slow down time here.

Falling action

Result of climax. Character reacts or changes.

Resolution

End with impact — a realisation, twist, or lingering thought.

⏱ Time tip

Plan your ending FIRST — work backwards

AI Maths Solver — type any problem

Try: 3x + 5 = 20 Triangle area 35% of 180 Simplify 18/24 Mean of data

AI Maths Tutor — ask any question

👋 Ask me anything about maths — I'll explain it step by step!

Try: Why do we flip when dividing fractions? What is the difference between mean and median? How do I find a percentage of a number? Explain Pythagoras simply

Number & Algebra

➗

Order of Operations

Rule

BODMAS

Brackets first — always do ( ) first

Orders — powers & roots (e.g. 3², √16)

D / M

Division & Multiplication — left to right

A / S

Addition & Subtraction — left to right

Example

3 + 4 × 2 = 3 + 8 = 11 (not 14)

🔢

Fractions

Multiply

a/b × c/d = ac/bd

Divide

a/b ÷ c/d = a/b × d/c (flip & multiply)

Add/Sub

Same denominator → add tops. Different → find LCD

Simplify

Divide top & bottom by their HCF

Mixed →

2¾ = (2×4+3)/4 = 11/4

Fraction of

3/5 of 40 = 40 ÷ 5 × 3 = 24

💯

Percentages

% of amount

% ÷ 100 × amount

Increase by %

amount × (1 + %/100)

Decrease by %

amount × (1 − %/100)

% change

(change ÷ original) × 100

→ decimal

35% = 0.35

Example

15% of 240 = 0.15 × 240 = 36

⚡

Powers & Roots

Multiply

aᵐ × aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ

Divide

aᵐ ÷ aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ

Zero power

a⁰ = 1

Squares

5²=25 · 12²=144

Cubes

2³=8 · 3³=27 · 4³=64

√ Roots

√144=12 · √81=9 · √25=5

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Algebra Basics

Like terms

3x + 5x = 8x only same variables

Expand

3(x + 4) = 3x + 12

Factorise

6x + 9 = 3(2x + 3)

Solve 1-step

x + 5 = 12 → x = 7

Solve 2-step

3x − 4 = 11 → x = 5

Substitute

If x=3: 2x² + 1 = 19

📊

Ratios & Rates

Simplify ratio

12:8 = 3:2 (divide by HCF)

Share in ratio

Total parts → 1 part → multiply each

Example

$60 in 2:3 → 5 parts → $24 : $36

Rate

60km in 2hr = 30km/h

Speed

S = D ÷ T

Measurement & Geometry

📐

Area Formulas

Square

A = s²

Rectangle

A = l × w

Triangle

A = ½ × b × h

Parallelogram

A = b × h

Trapezium

A = ½(a+b) × h

Circle

A = π r²

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Perimeter & Circumference

Rectangle

P = 2(l + w)

Square

P = 4s

Triangle

P = a + b + c

Circle (C)

C = 2πr = πd

📦

Volume

Cube

V = s³

Rect. prism

V = l × w × h

Cylinder

V = π r² h

SA of cube

SA = 6s²

📐

Angles

Straight line

= 180°

Full rotation

= 360°

Triangle sum

= 180°

Quadrilateral

= 360°

Alternate

Equal — Z shape (parallel lines)

Co-interior

= 180° — same side, parallel

📐

Pythagoras

Rule

a² + b² = c²

Find hyp.

c = √(a² + b²)

Find side

a = √(c² − b²)

Example

3, 4 → c = √(9+16) = 5

Common sets

3,4,5 5,12,13 8,15,17

🔄

Transformations

Translation

Slide — same shape, new position

Reflection

Flip over a mirror line

Rotation

Turn around a centre point

Congruent

Same shape AND same size

Similar

Same shape, different size (scaled)

Statistics & Key Facts

📊

Averages

Mean

Sum ÷ count

Median

Middle value when sorted

Mode

Most frequent value

Range

Highest − Lowest

🎲

Probability

Formula

P = favourable ÷ total

Scale

0 = impossible · 1 = certain

Complement

P(not A) = 1 − P(A)

🔀

Fraction ↔ Decimal ↔ %

Fraction	Decimal	%
1/2	0.5	50%
1/4	0.25	25%
3/4	0.75	75%
1/3	0.333	33.3%
1/5	0.2	20%
1/8	0.125	12.5%
5/8	0.625	62.5%

📏

Unit Conversions

Length

1km=1000m · 1m=100cm · 1cm=10mm

Mass

1kg=1000g · 1t=1000kg

Capacity

1L=1000mL · 1kL=1000L

Time

1min=60s · 1hr=60min · 1day=24hr

❌

Common Mistakes

BODMAS

Adding before multiplying without brackets

Units

Forgetting cm², m³ in answers

Fractions

Adding denominators instead of finding LCD

Median

Forgetting to sort data first

Negatives

−×− = positive (not negative!)

🧠

Exam Strategy

Step 1

Read twice — underline key numbers

Step 2

Write the formula first, then substitute

Step 3

Show ALL working — partial marks available

Step 4

Check: does answer make sense? Right units?

Step 5

Never leave blank — always estimate