5 Steps to Write a 10/10 Crafting Text Response (Section B)

Section B is often seen as the most intimidating part of the English exam, largely due to its unfamiliarity within the study design. Unlike Sections A and C, which are supported by structured and comprehensive coursework, Section B lacks the same level of clarity and direction; even for teachers. As a result, it’s completely normal for students to feel lost when approaching this section. What exactly am I crafting? And how can I be sure that what I’ve created is something the examiners will actually value?

While the criteria for this assessment can still feel somewhat cryptic, the 2024 VCAA Examiners’ Report along with analysis of patterns observed within high-scoring responses has provided us with a list of five key elements that every outstanding Crafting Text response includes.

The remainder of the article will break down these 5 key elements. 

Take a look at my own Crafting Texts essay, which scored 20/20 in the 2024 final exam. 

1. Project Your Voice

It is the core of your writing. The unseen force that carries your words, gives them shape, and makes them feel alive. It is what the examiner senses beneath your sentences.

Your voice is what sets you apart.

Everyone has one. And that is what VCAA wants to see. Not a copy of someone else’s story. Not a borrowed way of thinking. But your own mind at work.

The truth is, trying to replicate another person’s writing style or ideas will not get you far in Section B. Maybe in Section A or C, but not here. Crafting Texts is about communication — your ability to express your thoughts clearly and originally.

This is where your thinking is on full display.

Examiners, who have marked thousands of papers, can immediately tell when a piece lacks voice.

They notice when the writing feels empty. They can see when:

• The purpose is vague

• The identity is missing

• The passion is not there

  
  

And they can also feel it when the writing is honest and real.

The 2024 English Examiner Report made this very clear. It warns students against

"Contorting previously prepared responses in an attempt to connect with the exam title and stimulus".

Because doing so strips the writing of life. It replaces originality with imitation. It becomes performance, not expression.

Some students think that sounding polished is the key. But the best writing is not always the most “perfect” looking one. It is the one that moves people. That makes someone stop reading and think, "That was powerful."

Students who memorise essays often fall into the same trap. On the day, they try to patch their writing to suit a new prompt. They rewrite small parts to make it fit. But the gaps show. The writing sounds forced and unnatural.

So if you are reading an exemplar, don’t try to copy the author’s voice. Study it. Understand what makes it work. Ask yourself:

• What makes this piece feel strong?

• What is the writer trying to say?

• How do they make their ideas feel personal and clear?

But never try to sound like them. You do not need to. You already have your own voice.

"How do I find my voice?"

It is something that comes with time. Through reflection. Through practice. Through experimenting and writing freely.

Begin by asking:

• What do I care about?

• What story or message do I want to share?

• How can I let a part of myself shine through this piece?

  
  

You do not have full freedom in your writing. You still have to work within the framework your school gives you. But even inside that, your voice can speak.

For example, in the Protest framework, the idea of emotional exploitation might be something you feel strongly about. That becomes your centre. That is where your personal voice can rise.

This question cannot be avoided: What is the story you believe the world needs to hear?

Forget how “nice” your writing sounds. Forget whether it looks like a high-scoring piece. Start by writing freely. Let the message come first. Let your voice guide the way.

2. Show don’t tell

Let’s talk a bit about the polish now.

Your voice is strong. That’s your foundation. But how do you elevate it? How do you express emotion, depth, or conflict in a way that truly moves your reader?

Here’s the secret: Show, don’t tell.

Want to write about your emotional dilemma? Don’t just say it. Show it. Show us the cataclysmic wave of thoughts crashing down on you, pinning your body to the ground, draining every trace of joy until your face whitens like an artist’s canvas before the first breath of colour.

Or... you could say: “I had a headache, and my face went blank.”

Which one lingers? Which one feels like something?

I’ll let you take a guess.

The truth is, when you tell rather than show, you rob your reader — or your examiner — of the chance to fully immerse themselves in your world. You mute your voice. You dim your ideas.

If you want your writing to stand out, make it visceral. Make it cinematic. One tip? Tap into the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Think of it like directing a scene. Then paint it in words.

Of course, this doesn’t always come naturally. It takes practice, a conscious effort to rewrite plain phrases into powerful ones. But with time, shows don’t tell will stop being a technique. It’ll become instinct.

Furthermore, the 2024 VCAA English Examiner's Report explicitly encourages students to “use linguistic strategies to amplify and develop ideas.” This doesn’t just mean using show don’t tell… it also refers to powerful literary tools like:

• Symbols

• Motif

• Juxtaposition

• Metaphors

• Foreshadowing

These can really elevate your writing even more and give the reader a whole lot more to think about (a lot more abstract). Do you have a go at linguistic strategies like this? If not, you clearly have something to work on. 

3. Understand your framework

It's crucial that you understand every little piece of what your framework represents. This is important because it allows you to understand what is expected of you to write about. 

And that’s also the whole reason why they make you read mentor texts. To examine those views and values in depth. For instance some views and values important in Personal Journeys is:

• Identity

• Belonging

• Adversity

• Courage

• Change

Those who understand the views and values of their framework will be able to effectively communicate these ideas expected of them, through their own crafted text. And this is the whole point of Section B.

If you fail to understand what your framework truly expects from you, then you are bound to cut short in your writing. 

Asking questions to yourself is one way of getting to the bottom of your framework, and unpack its intricate ideas. I will use personal journeys as an example.

• Why are personal journeys important in life?

• What would happen if there was no such thing?

• What personal stories do we keep from others?

• Why do we do so?

These questions are just a few examples, and you can see taking some time to ponder over these questions helps you nail down those views and values (such as change) that are imperative to include in your writing. 

So whatever your framework—Personal Journeys, Play, Protest, Country—invest your time in understanding it. That understanding is not optional; it’s part of what you're being assessed on.

4. Make it accessible to your reader

Whenever you’re creating a piece of writing, it’s essential that your ideas are accessible to the reader. That doesn’t just mean they can read the words on the page… it means they connect with what you’re saying. They understand it. They feel it.

Let’s put this into perspective. Imagine you write a speech about how much you love electric cars. Now, you might be incredibly passionate about them. Maybe you admire the innovation, the sustainability, or the sleek design. But will your reader (or examiner) feel the same? Probably not. Sure, 1 in 100 might share that passion. But as a strategy in a high-stakes writing task? It’s not reliable.

And when someone isn’t emotionally invested in a topic, they instinctively pay less attention. On the flip side, when your topic touches on something they care about, something real, you instantly have their interest.

Is that fair? Objectively, no. But it’s a fact of human psychology… we are naturally drawn to what resonates with us.

So, how do we use this to our advantage?

You need to create a piece that’s memorable, one that engages your reader emotionally, that hooks their attention and doesn’t let go. One that makes them go, “Ahh, I get it now.”

Because let’s be honest, examiners are marking hundreds of pieces a day. They’re tired. They’re overloaded. The last thing they want is to read another generic, inaccessible essay. Step into their shoes. What would you want to read after a long day?

This doesn’t mean you should abandon your interests. On the contrary , use them as a starting point. But don’t stop there. Work to bridge the gap between your world and your readers.

For instance, many examiners are adults — parents, even — who deeply value family and relationships. So, if your story touches on family bonds, sacrifice, or love, you’re speaking to something that matters to them. That’s what makes your writing powerful. That’s what makes it stick.

So here’s the tip: write with empathy. Write with the reader in mind. Make them feel something. That’s how you turn your piece from forgettable to unforgettable.

5. Be as specific as possible

Everyone choosing your same framework is given the same title and the same set of stimulus materials.

For the remaining hour you have with these, it’s up to you to decide how you will run with it.

But here’s where many students slip. The first thought that often enters the mind — even though it sounds harmless — is, “I need to write the best piece of writing I’ve ever produced.”

How could that be a bad thing?

It sounds like a great goal. And it is, in theory. But sometimes good intentions cloud what really matters — the foundational building block of your piece. And that is the stimulus.

The title and the accompanying stimulus are not just there to inspire you. They are what you are being assessed on. The entire point of the task is to see how well you can respond to the stimulus, not how impressive your writing is in isolation.

And yet, for many students, the prompt becomes their second or third priority when it should be their first.

This happens year after year, even with teachers constantly reminding students to stay focused. Still, the pattern continues.

And it makes sense. In the heat of the exam room, under pressure, with the clock ticking and your future flashing before your eyes, it’s easy to fall into frantic writing mode. You switch to autopilot, just trying to produce something that feels good.

But that’s exactly when you need to remind yourself: the stimulus is everything. It anchors your piece. Without it, you might write something beautiful, but not something relevant. And relevance is what the assessors are actually looking for.

Here are three quick tips to help you stay on track if you feel yourself drifting from the stimulus:

1. Keep looking back at the prompt. At the end of each body paragraph, take a few seconds to check that your writing still responds directly to the prompt.

2. During planning time, underline key words from the stimulus and find synonyms. This allows you to branch out while still staying within the core focus of the prompt.

3. Use symbols, imagery, and motifs that reflect the key ideas in the prompt. Weave them through the beginning, middle, and end of your writing to reinforce connection and cohesion.

   
   

The 2024 VCAA English examiner report specifically highlights “revisiting imagery from the stimulus as a way of creating cohesion through the text.” So Tip Three is not just helpful — it’s recommended. Start practising it now.

In the end, a piece of writing with little connection to the prompt, no matter how

polished or creative, will always fall short of its true potential.

Don’t let that be you!

Crafting Texts can feel like unfamiliar territory, but once you understand what the examiners are truly looking for, the path becomes much clearer. If you commit to these five steps, I can assure you your writing will stand out for all the right reasons, and you can easily set yourself ahead of your peers!