NAPLAN Numeracy cheat sheet

Narrative structure: orientation (who, where, when), complication, rising action, climax, resolution, and optional coda.

Persuasive structure: introduction with thesis, three or more body paragraphs each with a claim, evidence, and explanation, then conclusion restating thesis.

Paragraph unity: one controlling idea per paragraph; topic sentence states it, supporting sentences develop it, concluding sentence links to next.

Cohesion devices: pronoun reference, lexical chains (repetition of key nouns), and connectives (however, therefore, in addition) to link sentences and paragraphs.

Sentence variety: simple, compound (coordinating conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), complex (subordinating conjunctions because, although, while), and compound-complex.

Show, don't tell: replace adjectives with sensory detail and action verbs (e.g., 'the floorboards creaked' instead of 'it was old').

Punctuation for effect: colon introduces a list or explanation; semicolon joins related independent clauses; dash marks an aside or emphasis.

Word choice: prefer precise verbs and concrete nouns; avoid vague words (thing, stuff, very) and clichés.

Editing checklist: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, pronoun agreement, comma splices, run-ons, and spelling of homophones.

Main idea: the central point of a text; often stated in the introduction or conclusion, or implied through repeated ideas.

Supporting details: facts, examples, or reasons that explain or prove the main idea; they answer who, what, when, where, why, how.

Inference: a conclusion drawn from evidence in the text plus background knowledge; it is not stated directly.

Author's purpose: to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct; identify by examining language, tone, and structure.

Tone: the author's attitude conveyed through word choice (e.g., formal, sarcastic, optimistic); mood is the feeling created in the reader.

Text structures: chronological, cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution, description; signal words (first, because, however, therefore) indicate structure.

Fact vs opinion: facts can be verified; opinions express beliefs, feelings, or judgments and often include evaluative adjectives.

Summarising: condense a text by stating the main idea and key supporting details in your own words, omitting minor details.

Vocabulary in context: use surrounding words, sentence logic, and word parts (prefix, root, suffix) to infer meaning of unknown words.

Subject-verb agreement: singular subject takes singular verb; plural subject takes plural verb; ignore intervening phrases (e.g., 'The box of apples is heavy').

Pronoun agreement: pronoun must match antecedent in number and gender; indefinite pronouns (everyone, each, somebody) are singular.

Tense consistency: maintain the same tense within a sentence or paragraph unless a shift is logically required.

Comma rules: use commas to separate items in a list, after introductory phrases, around non-essential clauses, and before coordinating conjunctions joining independent clauses.

Apostrophes: possessive singular adds 's (the dog's bone); possessive plural adds s' (the dogs' bones); contractions use apostrophes (it's = it is; its = possessive).

Spelling strategies: apply common rules (i before e except after c, drop e before -ing, change y to i before suffix unless preceded by vowel).

Homophones: their/they're/there; your/you're; its/it's; to/too/two; affect (verb) / effect (noun).

Sentence boundaries: avoid comma splices (joining independent clauses with only a comma) and run-ons; use period, semicolon, or conjunction.

Capitalisation: proper nouns, sentence beginnings, titles, days, months, and the pronoun I are capitalised; common nouns are not.

Order of operations: evaluate brackets first, then exponents, then multiplication and division (left to right), then addition and subtraction (left to right).

Fractions: to add or subtract, find a common denominator; to multiply, multiply numerators and denominators; to divide, multiply by the reciprocal.

Percentages: part = percent × whole; percent change = (new − old) / old × 100%; simple interest = principal × rate × time.

Ratio and proportion: set up equivalent ratios and cross-multiply to solve for unknowns.

Area and perimeter: rectangle area = length × width, perimeter = 2(l + w); triangle area = ½ × base × height; circle circumference = 2πr, area = πr².

Volume: rectangular prism = length × width × height; cylinder = πr²h.

Data: mean = sum of values ÷ number of values; median = middle value when ordered; mode = most frequent; range = maximum − minimum.

Probability: P(event) = number of favourable outcomes ÷ total number of equally likely outcomes; probabilities range from 0 to 1.

Algebra: solve linear equations by performing the same operation on both sides; expand using distributive law a(b + c) = ab + ac.