How to Write a Strong Op-Ed on School Testing

A persuasive opinion piece about school testing should do more than express frustration with exams. It should show how testing affects students, families, teachers and the wider community, then connect those effects to a clear policy argument. For Australian readers, that may include NAPLAN, school-based assessments, selective-school entry tests or the growing use of data to compare schools.

A local newspaper is interested in matters that affect its readership directly. An argument about testing in Sydney should sound different from one written for a paper in regional Queensland or suburban Melbourne. Local examples, a measured tone and evidence from credible sources can turn a personal concern into a contribution to public debate.

The strongest op-ed has one central claim. It does not attempt to cover every problem in education at once. Instead, it explains what should change, why the change matters and what parents, educators, principals and elected representatives should consider.

Choose a focused local argument

Begin with a specific issue rather than a broad statement such as “standardised testing is bad”. You might argue that NAPLAN results should not be used as a simple league table, that test preparation is displacing classroom learning, or that families deserve greater transparency about how student information is collected and shared.

A local angle gives the argument urgency. Mention a school community in western Sydney, a regional town where specialist teachers are scarce, or the pressure experienced by families navigating selective-school testing in Melbourne. Avoid identifying individual children or staff without permission. The goal is to illuminate a pattern, not expose private circumstances.

Your thesis should fit into one sentence: “State education authorities should publish clearer information about the limits of NAPLAN comparisons because families need context, not rankings.” This gives every later paragraph a job.

Gather evidence readers can trust

Use a blend of evidence. A teacher’s observation can show what testing feels like in a classroom, while official assessment data can demonstrate scale. Refer to Australian education departments, parliamentary inquiries, peer-reviewed research, school reports and reputable journalism. Explain what each source proves instead of stacking up links without analysis.

Personal experience is valuable when it is precise. A parent might describe hours spent on commercial tutoring in Brisbane, or explain how test anxiety affected a child’s willingness to participate at school. Pair that account with broader evidence so the op-ed does not sound like a complaint based on one family’s experience.

International comparisons can add context, provided they are explained carefully. Information about the national curriculum debate can help Australian readers consider how curriculum decisions, assessment systems and local control interact. Make clear where the comparison differs from Australian arrangements.

Structure the argument for busy readers

Open with a vivid scene, a revealing statistic or a concise statement of the problem. A description of a family checking NAPLAN results on a kitchen table may be more engaging than a paragraph of policy history. Follow it quickly with the central claim so the editor and reader know where the piece is going.

Build the middle around two or three supporting points. For example, testing may narrow teaching time, encourage misleading school comparisons and create uncertainty about data use. Give each point its own paragraph, then connect it to a practical consequence for local families or schools.

Address a reasonable opposing view. Acknowledge that common assessments can identify gaps and help governments allocate resources. Then explain why the current use of results may still be unfair or incomplete. This approach sounds confident rather than dismissive.

Write for the newspaper’s community

Use plain English and Australian spelling. Replace technical phrases such as “psychometric validity” with an explanation of whether a test measures what it claims to measure. Keep the tone firm but civil, especially when discussing teachers, principals or public servants who may be working within rules they did not create.

Refer to local customs and reading habits where relevant. A newspaper’s weekend opinion page may favour a reflective family story, while a metropolitan daily may expect a sharper policy argument. In Australia’s local media market, council newsletters, community papers and digital suburban publications can reach audiences that national outlets miss.

Do not assume every reader already knows the difference between NAPLAN, teacher assessment and an entrance examination. A short definition creates common ground. If your argument relates to privacy, explain what information is collected, who may access it and why families should care.

Prepare and submit a credible piece

Most newspapers prefer an op-ed that is timely, exclusive and concise. Check the publication’s word limit, submission email and rules about simultaneous submissions. Include your full name, suburb or town, contact details and a brief description of relevant experience. Editors may shorten the article, so write sentences that retain their meaning when trimmed.

Before sending it, check every number, organisation name and quotation. Remove claims that cannot be supported, personal attacks and repeated points. Read the piece aloud to catch dense sentences and ensure the final paragraph returns to the main argument.

A useful final review can focus on these checks:

A submission checklist

• State one clear policy position in the opening paragraphs.
• Include local evidence from an Australian school, family or community.
• Distinguish personal experience from verified research.
• Acknowledge a credible counterargument and answer it fairly.
• End with a specific, realistic change rather than a general complaint.

Advocacy organisations can provide useful background, but an op-ed should remain your own argument. When examining political campaigns and education policy positions, a broader civic perspective may help you compare how different groups frame public responsibility and local decision-making. Check the source’s purpose and viewpoint before relying on it.

A successful submission does not need to settle the testing debate. It needs to make a complicated issue understandable, show why it matters in a recognisable Australian setting and give readers a reason to reconsider familiar assumptions. The key thing to remember is that a strong op-ed joins a personal stake to reliable evidence and a practical argument for change.