NAPLAN Reading

NAPLAN is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, undertaken nationwide every year. It tests the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills every child needs to become a successful learner in school and beyond. It is not an exam that students opt into individually; it runs through schools.

Reading is one of the four domains, alongside writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The tests assess the sorts of skills essential for every child to progress through school and life. Use the public demonstration site to see the types of questions used in a NAPLAN test.

NAPLAN has moved to an online assessment. ACARA conducted research and development from 2012 to inform the transition from paper-based to computer-based assessment, and the NAP website carries information, resources and parent information on online assessment, including technical requirements and accessibility.

From 2023, education ministers agreed NAPLAN will be held in March. Before that, from 2008 to 2022, it was held in May. Schools can run practice tests beforehand. Check your school's advice for the exact days your child sits each domain within the test window.

NAPLAN is not about passing or failing, but about assessing learning progress. Children should simply do the best they can on the day. Results are reported using proficiency standards from 2023, which describe attainment rather than a pass or fail outcome, and sit alongside the school's other assessments.

ACARA states the best preparation for NAPLAN is teaching and learning the curriculum. Beyond that, children can familiarise themselves with the question types using the public demonstration site, and families can review past test papers and answers published on the ACARA website for earlier years.

No. Proficiency standards are reported on a reset NAPLAN measurement scale, and a new time series was established from 2023. Results from 2023 on cannot be directly compared to results from 2008 to 2022. A student's raw score is placed on a measurement scale using score equivalence tables.

No. NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality. They are one aspect of each school's assessment and reporting process and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments teachers make about each student. Each teacher has the best insight into their students' educational progress.

Results let parents and carers see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time - individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards. Use the report alongside other school assessment reports to discuss strengths and areas for improvement with your child's teacher.

The NAP website (nap.edu.au) hosts key dates, what's in the tests, the public demonstration site, information on understanding online assessment, accessibility, and FAQs covering general matters, participation, results and reports, performance and the writing test. ACARA's site publishes national results and past papers.