
NAPLAN FAQs
What is NAPLAN?
The NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is an annual, nation-wide testing regime for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. Developed by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), NAPLAN assesses the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills of students to determine whether they are meeting important educational outcomes.
What areas are assessed?
Writing
Students are provided with a ‘writing stimulus’ (sometimes called a ‘prompt’ – an idea or topic) and asked to write a response in a particular text type (narrative or persuasive writing).
Year 3 - 40 minutes
Year 5 - 40 minutes
Conventions of Language
This test assesses spelling, grammar, and punctuation as used in standard Australian English.
Year 3 - 45 minutes
Year 5 - 45 minutes
Reading
Students read a range of informative, imaginative, and persuasive texts, and then answer related questions.
Year 3 - 45 minutes
Year 5 - 50 minutes
Numeracy
This test assesses understanding, fluency, problem-solving, and reasoning across the three content strands of mathematics: number and algebra; measurement and geometry; and statistics and probability.
Year 3 - 45 minutes
Year 5 - 50 minutes
How are NAPLAN tests administered?
As of now, it is expected that all NAPLAN tests will be held online in 2022. The exception is Year 3 Writing, which will continue to be paper based. ACARA has created a public demonstration site to allow students, teachers, parents, and carers to familiarise themselves with the online format:
How can we prepare for NAPLAN?
NAPLAN is not a test that children can prepare for in the same way they might prepare for an end of term test. NAPLAN assesses skills that develop and improve over time. However, attempting the demonstration tests and past papers will prime students for the question types they may encounter in the assessments. ACARA has made available a number of full NAPLAN papers from 2016 and prior. We suggest our students attempt these papers to build confidence and maximise their potential.
Year 3 NAPLAN
Past Papers
​
​
Year 5 NAPLAN
Past Papers
​
​