NAPLAN Reading exam-day guide
NAPLAN Reading · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your test date, session time, and venue with your school
NAPLAN is administered through schools, so your school coordinates the schedule. Confirm the exact day, start time, and room with your teacher or exam coordinator rather than relying on memory. If you are home-educated or at a non-school setting, confirm arrangements with the relevant test administration authority.
Know whether you are sitting paper or online
NAPLAN has moved largely to an online format, but some students sit paper tests, including many in Year 3 and students with approved adjustments. Ask your school which format applies to you so you practise the right way of reading and answering.
Practise the online platform or sample questions if you are sitting online
Familiarise yourself with how to navigate between questions, how to select and change answers, and how to flag or review items if the platform allows it. Your school can provide access to the public demonstration or practice materials. Confirm the exact platform and login process with your provider.
Check any approved adjustments are in place
If you usually receive adjustments such as extra time, a reader, a scribe, rest breaks, or a quieter room, confirm well in advance that these are arranged for the test session. Raise any concern with your school coordinator early rather than on the day.
Bring required stationery if you are sitting a paper test
For paper tests, bring several sharpened pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Confirm with your school exactly what is permitted, because rules on pens, highlighters, and other items vary by test and year level.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off and stored as directed
Personal devices are generally not permitted in the test room. Follow your school's instructions about where to store them. Do not assume a silent phone is acceptable; it must be out of reach unless your school says otherwise.
Get a normal night's sleep and eat a normal breakfast
There is no need for last-minute cramming. Steady sleep and food support attention and reading stamina better than late-night practice. Treat the morning as a normal school day.
Arrive early and know where to go
Allow extra time for travel and for finding the correct room. Being rushed raises anxiety and can affect your focus in the first minutes of the reading test.
Bring a water bottle if your school permits it
Confirm with your school whether water bottles are allowed in the test room. If permitted, a clear bottle is often preferred. Do not assume this; check.
Read the instructions and sample question carefully at the start
The opening instructions explain how to record answers and how much time you have. Read them fully before starting, and ask a supervisor if something is unclear before the test begins.
Plan to use the full reading time and review answers
Reading tests reward careful checking. If time allows, revisit flagged or uncertain questions and make sure every question has an answer, since unanswered items usually score zero.
Confirm with the provider any point you are unsure about
Details such as permitted items, timing, and adjustments can vary. Where anything is unclear, ask your school or the test administration authority before the test day rather than guessing.
Plan the day
Confirm the test date, time, room, and format with your school. Check that any approved adjustments are arranged. Do one or two short, low-pressure reading practices, such as reading a news article or a short story and summarising the main idea and the author's purpose. Do not cram; prioritise sleep and normal routines.
Pack what you need: pencils, eraser, sharpener, and water bottle if permitted. Charge nothing you cannot bring; instead plan to leave devices at home or stored as directed. Re-read your school's instructions about what is allowed. Go to bed at your usual time. Avoid intensive practice that could make you anxious.
Eat breakfast and arrive early. Leave phones and smart devices at home or store them as instructed. Bring only permitted items into the room. Take a few slow breaths before starting, and read the on-screen or printed instructions fully before answering.
Skim the text or texts first to get the overall meaning, then read each question and return to the relevant part of the text to check your answer. Watch the time and keep moving; do not spend too long on one hard question, but flag it and come back. For multiple-choice items, eliminate clearly wrong options. Make sure every question is answered, and use any remaining time to review flagged items.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors and your school. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask before the test rather than during it.
Personal devices such as phones and smart watches are generally not permitted in the test room. Keep them out of reach and switched off unless your school directs otherwise; confirm the exact policy with your provider.
Do not communicate with other students during the test and do not copy or share answers. Attempting to gain or give an unfair advantage can lead to consequences determined by your school or test authority.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Follow your school's rules about supervised breaks; confirm details with the provider.
If you feel unwell or unusually anxious, tell a supervisor. Schools can usually arrange support or alternative arrangements, but the exact options must be confirmed with your school.
Answer every question. Unanswered questions generally receive no marks, so make your best choice even when unsure, and review flagged items if time allows.
Use only permitted equipment. For paper tests, use pencils as directed; for online tests, use only the on-screen tools provided. Confirm permitted items with your provider.
Results are reported against national standards and are used by your school to support learning. The exact reporting format and timing should be confirmed with your school or the test administration authority.