Free Year 7 The Photograph — Narrative Writing
A NAPLAN-style narrative prompt: an old photograph found in a drawer raises a question that the story must answer. Students plan point of view, structure (including the option of a flashback), a central image and a resonant ending, then write a complete story. Criteria target the higher bands: cohesion, controlled sentence variety and precise vocabulary.
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- Year
- Year 7
- Subject
- English
- Topic
- Narrative Writing
- Difficulty
- Level 2 · Standard
- Estimated time
- 45 minutes
- Curriculum
- Australian Curriculum
- Questions
- 6
- Answers
- Included, with working
- Format
- PDF (A4) + print
Students will practise
- choosing and sustaining a narrative point of view
- structuring a story with a flashback or non-linear element
- using a central image or symbol
- controlling sentence variety and precise vocabulary
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
What's next?
Completed: The Photograph — Narrative Writing
How to use this writing prompt
- Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
- Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
- Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
- Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.
Common questions
Who is this writing prompt for?
Year 7 students (typically ages 12–13) working on narrative writing. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
Are the answers included?
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
How long does it take?
About 45 minutes for 6 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
Do I need to sign up to download?
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
What should we do next?
Try Should Mobile Phones Be Banned at School? — Persuasive Writing.
Preview
Year 7 · English · Narrative Writing
The Photograph — Narrative Writing
Student name:
Date:
Plan for seven minutes, write for thirty minutes, then edit for five minutes.
The prompt
While helping to clean out a relative's house, you find an old photograph at the back of a drawer. In it, someone you know is standing somewhere you have never seen, with a person you do not recognise. On the back, in faded pen, is a single date.
Write a narrative inspired by this photograph.
A strong narrative at this level has:
• A deliberate point of view (first or third person) sustained throughout.
• A structure chosen for effect, such as a flashback, two timelines, or a story that begins at the end.
• A central image or symbol (the photograph itself, a place, an object) that carries meaning.
• Subtext: characters who do not say everything they feel.
• Controlled language: precise verbs, varied sentence lengths, and imagery that serves the story rather than decorating it.
• An ending that resonates rather than simply stops.
Plan
Plan for seven minutes. Decide your structure before you begin writing.
Write
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
Narrative Writing in other year levels
- The Difficult Choice — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 6 · Narrative Writing · Level 2 · Standard
- Nobody Believed Me — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 5 · Narrative Writing · Level 2 · Standard
About this resource
- Created by
- Success Tutoring
- Last reviewed
- 1 October 2026
- How it was made
- Written by our team
Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.