NAPLAN exam-day guide
NAPLAN · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the test schedule and format with the school or test administrator
NAPLAN is administered by schools, and the exact days, session order, and whether a session is on paper or online are set locally. Ask your child's teacher or the school's NAPLAN coordinator for the timetable rather than assuming national dates apply to your school. Confirm with the provider for anything not stated in the school's own communication.
Know which devices are used for online sessions
Most NAPLAN testing is now online, and schools usually supply devices and headphones. Check whether your child should bring anything (for example, wired headphones) or whether the school provides everything. Confirm with the provider.
Pack required stationery for paper sessions
If any session is on paper, the school will specify permitted items such as pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Do not bring extra materials unless the school confirms they are allowed.
Follow the school's rules on calculators and other aids
Numeracy rules differ by year level and session, and device functions may be restricted during online tests. Ask the school what is permitted for your child's year level. Confirm with the provider.
Check arrangements for any approved adjustments
If your child has an approved disability adjustment, confirm the logistics in advance: separate room, extra time, rest breaks, or assistive technology. The school coordinates these, so verify them before test day.
Plan transport and arrival time
Arrive at the school's stated time so your child is settled before the session begins. Allow buffer for traffic or weather, and know who to contact if something goes wrong.
Protect sleep in the days before testing
Keep bedtimes consistent and avoid late study sessions. A rested student performs better than one who crammed the night before.
Prepare a normal breakfast and water
A familiar, balanced breakfast and a water bottle (if the school allows one in the test room) help concentration. Avoid unusual foods or excessive caffeine.
Reassure your child about the purpose of NAPLAN
Explain that NAPLAN shows how the school and system are tracking, not a pass/fail judgment on the child. Reducing pressure is one of the most useful things a parent can do.
Check the school's absence and catch-up policy
If your child is unwell or misses a session, the school will explain whether a catch-up session is available. Confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Keep the morning calm and low-stress
Avoid last-minute quizzing or arguments. A calm departure and a simple reminder to read questions carefully and ask for help if instructions are unclear is enough.
Plan the day
Confirm the session timetable, device and stationery requirements, and any approved adjustments with the school. Check sleep and meal routines, and keep any home practice light and low-pressure: a short look at question types is enough. Avoid intensive cramming, which tends to raise anxiety without improving results.
Pack whatever the school has asked for, lay out clothes, and confirm transport. Keep the evening calm and insist on a normal bedtime. Remind your child that the test is a snapshot, that they can ask the teacher to repeat instructions, and that they should attempt every question rather than leaving blanks where guessing is allowed.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the school's stated time, and keep conversation positive and brief. Check that your child has any permitted items the school requested. If your child is unwell, contact the school promptly to ask about absence and catch-up arrangements.
Students should listen carefully to instructions, read each question fully, manage their time so they reach the end, flag or skip difficult items and return to them, and use any permitted rest breaks. If a device freezes or an instruction is unclear, raise a hand and tell the supervising teacher immediately rather than struggling silently.
Rules to check
Follow the supervising teacher's instructions at all times; the school sets the conduct rules for the test room and will explain them before each session.
Bring only materials the school has approved for that session. Whether calculators, notes, or certain device functions are permitted depends on the year level and session, so confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other students during a session, and do not share or discuss test content afterwards in a way the school prohibits.
If a session is online, use only the device and programs the school has authorised, and report any technical problem to the supervisor immediately.
Approved rest breaks and adjustments are arranged by the school; students should use them as agreed and tell the supervisor if they need to stop.
NAPLAN reports a student's performance against national standards rather than a pass or fail result, and results are reported to parents by the school.
If a student misses a session through illness or another valid reason, the school decides whether a catch-up session applies. Confirm with the provider.
Raise any concern about the test, the environment, or a technical problem with the supervising teacher or the school's NAPLAN coordinator rather than handling it alone.