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InformativeIntermediate

News Report

Learn how to organise facts, use the 5Ws and H, include quotations and maintain an objective journalistic tone.

Lesson · about 6 minPractice · about 30 min

Watch the lesson

Watch the matching Path to Selective lesson when available, then review the structure before you practise.

Purpose, audience and tone

Purpose

Inform readers about a real or imagined event clearly and accurately.

Typical audience

Newspaper readers, local community members or anyone wanting the facts.

Tone

objective, formal, informative

Core structure

Follow these steps so your response matches the expected News Report format.

  1. Headline

    Write a short headline that tells the main news in a few words.

  2. Lead paragraph

    Open with Who, What, When, Where, Why and How so readers get the key facts first.

  3. Most important facts

    Add the strongest details that expand the lead.

  4. Witness or expert quotation

    Include at least one attributed quotation to add voice and evidence.

  5. Supporting details

    Add extra information that helps the reader understand the event.

  6. Concluding sentence

    Finish with what happens next or a final key fact.

Exam time plan

A clear 30-minute plan for exam conditions.

4 minPlan
23 minWrite
3 minCheck

Example opening or extract

Sample opening

Local students raised more than $2,000 for wildlife rescue after a weekend charity fun run at Riverside Park.

Sample extract

“We wanted to help animals hurt in the storms,” said Year 6 organiser Aisha Khan. The event attracted over 120 runners and many parent volunteers.

Key features

  • A factual headline
  • A lead paragraph with the 5Ws and H
  • Objective third-person voice
  • Attributed quotations
  • Facts ordered from most to least important

Common mistakes

  • Writing a story instead of a news report
  • Leaving out Who, What, When or Where
  • Forgetting quotations
  • Adding personal opinions

Planning checklist

  • What is the main event?
  • Can I answer Who, What, When, Where, Why and How?
  • Who could I quote?
  • Which facts belong in the lead?
  • How will I end the report?

Practice options

Apply what you learned in a timed exam using the Path to Selective exam experience.

Timed Exam Practice

Complete the response under realistic 30-minute NSW Selective exam conditions.

Start 30-Minute Exam

Final editing checklist

  • Does the lead answer the 5Ws and H?
  • Is the tone objective?
  • Have I included an attributed quotation?
  • Are the most important facts near the beginning?

Continue with a nearby format to strengthen transferable skills.

Informative Report

Informative · Intermediate

Present factual information about a topic in a clear, organised and objective way.

Interview Script

Informative · Intermediate

Create a realistic question-and-answer conversation that reveals useful information.

Explanation

Informative · Advanced

Explain how or why something happens using a clear sequence of causes and effects.