NAPLAN – The Definitive Guide for Parents & Students [+Free Download of NAPLAN Past Papers]

Assessing school students is as important as quality education. Australia is known for its excellent educational system and student curriculum. NAPLAN is one of the most important school assessment tests to provide as a performance test for students. 

You’ve come to the right place if you’re a student or parent looking for advice on how to prepare for the NAPLAN exam.

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN stands for National Assessment Program–Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). It is a series of tests conducted for the skill assessment of students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. This standardized test examines the literacy and numeracy skills of the students. It was introduced in 2008, and since 2010, ACARA has been conducting the tests.

About NAPLAN – Top 7 things to know as a student/parent

1. NAPLAN is a computer-based test for the skill assessment of students in years 3, 5, 7, and 9. However, students in year 3 are required to write the answers in the pen-and-paper mode for the writing section.
2. The NAPLAN exam pattern consists of four sections, namely: reading, writing, conventions of language, and numeracy.
3. What is NAPLAN used for?
   The purpose of NAPLAN is to examine the growth of students and make them future-ready. This standardized test examines the literacy and numeracy skills of the students. It is a snapshot of the current ability of the students. However, NAPLAN does not assess higher-order thinking skills or creativity.
4. NAPLAN is a tailored testing assessment exam that tests each student differently based on their response to answering the questions with accuracy. Tailored testing tests students’ responses in real-time.
5. NAPLAN is conducted within a 9-day test window. Schools are responsible for conducting the tests within the window period.
6. From 2023, NAPLAN exams will be conducted in the month of March every year. Upcoming dates are as follows: 
   • 2023: 15 Mar-27 Mar
   • 2024: 13 Mar-25 Mar
   • 2025: 12 Mar-24 Mar
7. Students with physical disabilities(like hearing disabilities, vision impairments, dysfunctional limbs, etc.) are given special assistance and arrangements. The arrangements must be made by the schools.

Before going further let’s see how tailored testing works:

Related NAPLAN test prep resources

Download NAPLAN past papers

Year 3 NAPLAN Guide

Year 5 NAPLAN Guide

Year 7 NAPLAN Guide

Year 9 NAPLAN Guide

NAPLAN Results 2022

NAPLAN 2023

How does tailored testing work?

Tailored testing adapts to student responses in real time. NAPLAN analyses each student differently based on their response to accurately answer the question. The adaptive nature of the tests means students are more likely to stay engaged with the tests as they receive questions better suited to their ability. This gives students more opportunities to show what they know and can do.

Who can participate in the NAPLAN test and its purpose?

NAPLAN is designed to test students of year 3, year 5, year 7, and year 9. Hence, only students of years 3, 5, 7, and 9 can participate in NAPLAN.

Its purpose is to examine the growth of students and make them future-ready. It is a snapshot of the current ability of the students. However, NAPLAN does not assess higher-order thinking skills or creativity. It can be looked at as a tool for analyzing school performance.

NAPLAN test structure

The NAPLAN exam pattern consists of four sections, namely: reading, writing, conventions of language, and numeracy. Each section in the NAPLAN test is called a “Test Domain”. 

The test structure for each test domain is as below:

Test Domain	Year 3	Year 5	Year 7	Year 9
Writing	40 mins(on paper)	42 mins	42 mins	42 mins
Reading	45 mins	50 mins	65 mins	65 mins
Convention of Language	45 mins	45 mins	45 mins	45 mins
Numeracy	45 mins	50 mins	65 mins	65 mins

A brief description of each of the test domains is as follows:

• Writing: In the writing test, students are provided with a ‘writing stimulus’ (also called a ‘prompt’ – an idea or topic) and asked to write a response in a particular text type. The text type – which could be narrative or persuasive – is revealed on the day of the assessment. 

• Reading: In the tests, students are provided with a range of texts that illustrate different writing styles. Students read the texts and answer related questions. The format can be sentence-based, short paragraphs, etc. As there is a very wide range of reading ability levels at each school year level, the texts range from short and simple to longer and more complex.

• Convention of languages: The conventions of language tests assess spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Literacy knowledge and skills are essential to effective communication across all learning areas. The tests contain multiple-choice, text entry, and technology-enhanced questions such as drag-and-drop and hot-text.

• Numeracy: The NAPLAN numeracy tests measure the achievement of students in numeracy, including mathematical knowledge, skills, and understanding as outlined in the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. The numeracy tests contain multiple-choice, text entry, and technology-enhanced questions such as drag-and-drop and hot-text. Students are allowed to access online numeracy tools like a ruler, calculator, protractor, and graphs as required.

How to register for the NAPLAN test?

The official website nap.edu.au is to be used for registration. The NAPLAN test is conducted online mode. The test can be accessed both through school and through parental guidance. The registration process of both the school and under parental guidance is separate. Test administration authorities are responsible for the implementation and administration of the NAPLAN tests in their jurisdiction.

NAPLAN test dates 2023:

From 2023, NAPLAN exams will be conducted in the month of March every year. The dates for NAPLAN 2023 are as follows:

Assessment Type	Description
NAPLAN 2023 Test Date	15 March–27 March
NAPLAN practice tests 2023	Schools can complete practice tests in the assessment platform from the beginning of Term 1(**information regarding term dates is given below).
National Assessment Program- 2023 Sample assessment.	The National Assessment Program will conduct sample assessments. The assessment dates will move from October to Term 2(**information regarding term dates is given below).

**what are ‘Terms’?
According to Australia’s Department of Education, each assessment year for the schools of Australia has been divided into 4-terms i.e. one year of schooling will comprise of 4-terms from the month of January to December. The term dates of schools for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 are as follows:

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
2023	30 Jan to 14 Apr	1 May to 7 Jul	24 Jul to 29 Sep	16 Oct to 15 Dec
2024	29 Jan to 12 Apr	29 Apr to 5 Jul	22 Jul to 27 Sep	14 Oct to 13 Dec
2025	28 Jan to 11 Apr	28 Apr to 4 Jul	21 Jul to 26 Sep	13 Oct to 12 Dec

Understanding NAPLAN online assessment

As with most online tests, NAPLAN online tests include different types of question formats such as multiple choice questions, text-based response questions, audio prompts, or interactive tools.

Students answer the questions by clicking on the right answer, dragging some objects, or typing in their text responses.

NAPLAN allows students to flag an unanswered question and returned to answer it later.

Accessibility:
All the students of Year 3, Year 5, Year 7, and Year 9 are eligible to appear for the test. The test accommodates children with physical disabilities as well. 

Tailored Testing:
NAPLAN tests are tailored or adaptive. Depending on each student’s answer, the next set of questions may be easier or more difficult, giving students greater opportunities to demonstrate what they know.

Keyboard Shortcuts:
The test interface allows keyboard shortcuts. Students can get familiar with the shortcuts and attempt the test.

Audio:
Headphones are required for some questions to test audio dictations. Students with hearing disabilities have been exempted from this section and provided with alternative questions.

Timer:
The timer on the screen keeps showing the time remaining for the test during the ongoing exam.

Numeracy Tools:
The exam interface allows the user to access online tools for some of the questions like a protractor, ruler, or calculator.

Zooming tools:
The exam interface allows the user to access the zooming tools with zoom-in and zoom-out options.

Progress Summary:
The exam has been designed in sections. Navigability through each section depends on the student’s ability to answer correctly. The level of the questions depends on the accuracy of the answers the student is providing.

How to prepare for NAPLAN Test?

The best way to practice for NAPLAN online test is to keep developing literacy and numeracy skills. Here are some tips to prepare for NAPLAN Test:

1. Get familiar with the exam structure, question patterns, and level of difficulty. 
2. Assess your current skills by attempting NAPLAN past papers
3. Identify your weak areas and create a specific study plan to improve performance.
4. Take time-based NAPLAN practice tests.
5. Get comfortable with online-based exams.

Let us look at what is tested in the different test domains along with some examples.

NAPLAN Reading test:

In the reading section, the students are tested for literacy proficiency. The test focuses on the ability to read written English, interpret sentences and understand the context.

The NAPLAN reading section consists of two types of responses. Let’s look at some examples to understand this better:

NAPLAN Writing test:

The test consists of the writing stimulus also known as a prompt-an idea or topic. To test the student’s capabilities, all the students of year 3, year 5, year 7, and year 9 participating in the NAPLAN are given a writing stimulus (a prompt). The writing stimulus can be in two formats either:

1. Persuasive writing, and
2. Narrative writing 

For NAPLAN Persuasive Writing, the preparation strategy should be as follows:

In Persuasive writing, the writing content must address a question like: What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? 

Your goal is to write to convince a reader of your opinion. To practice for such questions, you can analyze the topic. The main structural components of the persuasive text are the introduction, development of the argument (body), and conclusion. Let’s understand the persuasive writing question format better with an example:

NAPLAN Persuasive Writing example 1:

The question below is from the NAPLAN 2015 Writing Test for Year 3 & Year 5

NAPLAN Persuasive Writing example 2:

The question below is from the NAPLAN 2015 Writing Test for Year 7 & Year 9

For NAPLAN Narrative Writing, the strategy should be as follows:

A narrative is a time-ordered text that is used to narrate events and to create, entertain and emotionally move an audience. Other social purposes of narrative writing may be to inform, persuade and socialize. The main structural components of a narrative are orientation, complication, and resolution. Let’s understand the narrative writing question format better with an example:

NAPLAN Narrative Writing example 2:

The question below is from the NAPLAN 2016 Writing Test for Year 7 & Year 9

10 criteria to be assessed in writing are as follows:

1.	Audience engagement	Writer’s capacity to engage, orient, and affect the readers.
2.	Text structure	The choice of words, phrases, etc. to add emotions to the text.
3.	Idea	Built of a narrative.
4.	Character and setting	Building a character and the environment, place, and time of the play.
5.	Vocabulary	Language usage.
6.	Cohesion	Use of word association, threads, referring words, and substitution.
7.	Paragraphing	To segment different topics and guide users.
8.	Sentence structure	Framing grammatically correct, meaningful, and structurally sound sentences.
9.	Punctuation	Current usage of punctuation.
10.	spelling	Accuracy of spelling.

Tips and Tricks for the “Writing” section:

• Practice past papers
• Keep developing a grammatical understanding
• Read articles of interest to understand language proficiency
• Refer to standard textbooks

NAPLAN Conventions Of Language test:

Literary knowledge and skills are essential for effective communication across all learning areas. The tools in the English language play an essential role in communication and understanding the context of the communication. Hence, this section is designed to check spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage with accuracy. The content of this section is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: English.

The tests contain

• Multiple-choice questions
• Text entry questions
• Technology-enhanced questions
• Drag-and-drop, and 
• Hot-text

Let’s understand the conventions of the language section better with examples:

NAPLAN Conventions of Language example 1:

The question below is from the NAPLAN 2016 Conventions of Language Test for Year 3

NAPLAN Conventions of Language example 2:

The question below is from the NAPLAN 2016 Conventions of Language Test for Year 7

Tips and Tricks for the convention of languages:

• Read articles on a wide range of subjects to understand the rules of the English language.
• Refer to standard textbooks.

NAPLAN-Numeracy test:

The purpose of this section is to evaluate students’ numeracy and mathematical abilities. The section’s subject matter, mathematics, is in line with the Australian curriculum.

The section on Numeracy is in three parts namely:

1. Problem-solving

2. Understanding fluency

3. Reasoning ability

• Numbers and algebra
• Measurement and geometry
• Statistics and probability

Let’s understand the numeracy section better with examples:

NAPLAN Numeracy test examples:

The questions below are from the NAPLAN 2016 Numeracy Test for Year 3

The questions below are from the NAPLAN 2016 Numeracy Test for Year 5

The questions below are from the NAPLAN 2016 Numeracy Test for Year 7

The questions below are from the NAPLAN 2016 Numeracy Test for Year 9

Tips and tricks for numeracy:

• Build fundamental understanding through standard textbooks 
• Analyze past question papers to understand the format
• For numerical ability, practice is the key. Take timed sample tests

NAPLAN past papers:

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority(ACARA) maintain the collection of past question papers for the test.

Refer to our curated resource for downloading all available NAPLAN past papers for Years 3, Year 5, Year 7 & Year 9 from 2008 to 2016.

Note: ACARA does not provide past test papers after 2016.

The past papers can also be downloaded through the website of ACARA.

NAPLAN public demonstration site

The NAPLAN public demonstration site is a platform created by ACARA to help students familiarize themselves with the exam. Students can access the public demonstration site for their respective grades. The site enables the demonstration of the 4 NAPLAN test domains in three formats:

• Standard tests
• Visual alternative questions (These include simplified images for numeracy and reading)
• Audio alternative questions (These include text-based questions instead of audio for conventions of language)
• Colour theme tests (These include brighter fonts and easier visual backgrounds)

Links for the NAPLAN public demonstration site

NAPLAN has separate public demonstration sites for each testing year

NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site	Access Link
Year 3 NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site	Year 3
Year 5 NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site	Year 5
Year 7 NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site	Year 7
Year 9 NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site	Year 9

NAPLAN Exam Rules

• The NAPLAN test window is 9 days. 
• The test is being handled by schools within the 9-day window and guides the children participating in the test. 
• The exam makes required arrangements in case of any physical disability as well. Students who are absent when their class participates in the tests can sit later in the test window. 
• The integrity of the tests must be maintained at all times and cheating is not permitted. 
• No electronic items must be found with the students during the test period like pen drives, earphones, Bluetooth devices, phones, etc.
• The security and confidentiality of the tests must be maintained from the time they are accessed to the end of the test security period.
• Principals are responsible for ensuring that students sitting the tests are appropriately supervised. Appropriate supervision during test administration includes the delivery of the test administration script. 
• Principals must notify their Test Assessment Authority (TAA) immediately if test material security has been breached.
• Due to copyright, there are restrictions on how NAPLAN test materials may be used after the end of the test security period. These restrictions apply to all NAPLAN test materials from 2008 onwards.
• Catch-up or rescheduled tests are not permitted for students who abandon the tests due to illness or injury.

How are the NAPLAN online tests Marked?

As we know that NAPLAN is a tailored test. So, the student’s answers to multiple choice questions are scanned and the data is captured electronically. All other responses and the writing task will be marked by trained and independent markers.

NAPLAN results

Results of the tests for the National Assessment Program are reported in many ways, including national reports, individual student reports, and school-level reporting as well. The steps to download are as follows:

Step 1: Go to the NAP website. Step 2: Visit the section “Results and Reports” Step 3: On the left side of the page access, the result is based on different criteria. Step 4: Interpret the result based on the scales and the performance standards.

The scales are based on a 10-scale band. A national minimum standard is being provided and assigned to students on the assessment scale for each year level based on their performance. The chart of the assessment is as below:

Understanding the NAPLAN Result Bands

Year 3:

Band 1	Students are below the national minimum standard.
Band 2	Students are at national minimum standards.
Band 3 and above	Students are above national minimum standards.

Year 5:

Band 3	Students are below the national minimum standard.
Band 4	Students are at national minimum standards.
Band 5 and above	Students are above national minimum standards.

Year 7:

Band 4	Students are below the national minimum standard.
Band 5	Students are at national minimum standards.
Band 6 and above	Students are above national minimum standards.

Year 9:

Band 5	Students are below the national minimum standard.
Band 6	Students are at national minimum standards.
Band 7 and above	Students are above national minimum standards.

Benefits of appearing in the NAPLAN exam:

• The data obtained from the NAPLAN tests are collated and used to show all schools’ average performance against other schools in the country.
• The NAPLAN test program’s whole set of data is kept up to date in my school portal.
• According to ACARA, the main purpose of the NAPLAN tests is to measure literacy and numeracy skills and knowledge that provide the critical foundation for other learnings and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.
• The NAPLAN test results will be used to assist students and parents in discussing students’ progress with teachers and identifying students who require “additional support or greater challenges”.
• The NAPLAN test results will also help in identifying teaching program strengths and weaknesses and allow for school program review and support.
• The purpose is to examine the growth of the students and make them future-ready.
• Worth mentioning, NAPLAN does not assess higher-order thinking skills or creativity. It is just a snapshot of students’ current progress and abilities of the students in reading, writing, and numeracy.

What’s changing from 2023: NAPLAN is moving from May to March 

This means results will be available to education authorities earlier in the year. The changes are as follows:

Events	Dates	What’s changing
Practice testing for schools	Beginning from Term 1, 2023 for NAPLAN pattern familiarity	Do practice testing in the NAPLAN training environment
School access to student data in the Online National Assessment Platform	Monday 6 – Monday 13 March 2023	Schools will have 6 days to complete their test preparation activities in the platform
NAPLAN 2023 test window	Wednesday 15 – Monday 27 March 2023	NAPLAN begins on Wednesday in 2023
Writing test schedule	Wednesday 15 – March 2023	All years (3, 5, 7, and 9) will commence writing on day 1 of the NAPLAN test window

Roles and responsibilities for schools:

S.NO	ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR SCHOOLS
1.	Tests must be scheduled as soon as possible within the test window, prioritize scheduling in week 1 over week 2 and the morning over the afternoon.
2.	Year 3 writing is done on paper by all students and must be scheduled for day 1.
3.	Year 5, Year 7, and Year 9 writing must be scheduled on day 1, with day 2 only used where there are technical/logistical limitations.
4.	In each jurisdiction, the test administration authority is responsible for the overall administration of the NAPLAN tests.
5.	Each school principal is responsible for the administration of the test in their school and is a key participant in any investigation of an alleged breach in that school.
6.	For the purposes of test incident management and investigation, responsible entities are individuals, such as principals, or organizations, such as school boards or system authorities
7.	Students with disabilities will be given special assistance for appearing on the test.

NAPLAN online test technical requirements for schools:

1. Technical readiness:

Schools must be technically ready with suitable hardware and reliable access to the internet connection. Lockdown browser systems must be installed to prevent students from accessing the internet and other tools like spell check etc.

1. Bring your device:

Schools need to be prepared with their own devices and hardware requirements like PCs and laptops. Students must be familiar with the tools and their usage.

Process for appearing on the NAPLAN online test through Parental Mode:

The steps to register through parental mode are as follows:

Step 1: Go to the ACARA website for registering your child.

Step 2: Follow the guidelines given for registering as an open school or independent applicant.

Step 3: Register with the TAA(Test Administering Authority) of the district for allotment of the exam center.

Step 4: In the 9 days window make your child appear for the test on the date and venue provided by the TAA.

Parents are always welcome to examine their child’s progress and performance. Parents/carers may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

NOTE:

Students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parents for reasons such as religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school. A formal application in the manner specified by the relevant test administration authority must be received by the principal before testing.

How to download NAPLAN past papers

Past papers serve as key resources for students as well as teachers who teach for NAPLAN. Past papers reveal the exam pattern, level of questions, and types of questions asked. Also, attempting past papers can help students to analyze the preparation level for the NAPLAN exams.

Wiingy provides you with a directory of past papers for free.

Download NAPLAN past papers from Wiingy in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Click on the link- “NAPLAN Past Papers“, which will redirect to a new page.

Step 2: Select the desired year (Year 3, 5, 7, or 9) to get NAPLAN past papers.

Step 3: Click on the desired section of reading, writing, numeracy, and language convention to get the section-wise NAPLAN past papers.

How to download NAPLAN sample papers from the official website

You can also download NAPLAN sample papers from the official website if you do not want to download sample papers from the Wiingy website. The steps to download are as follows:

Step 1: Visit the ACARA’s official website (Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority).

Step 2: Browse the website’s Assessment section.

Step 3: Navigate to the NAPLAN section on the page’s left side.

Step 4: Use the link on the page to download the NAPLAN test papers.

Who marks NAPLAN?

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is responsible for the administration and marking of the Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests.

FAQs on NAPLAN test

How does the NAPLAN test window work?
The NAPLAN test window is a 9-days window. For these 9 days, students can appear for the NAPLAN tests if any student missed the NAPLAN test conducted in their school. These tests are called “catch-up tests”. Students who are absent during the test period for their class can take catch-up tests later in the test window.

How do schools schedule the NAPLAN test?
Schools can book the test dates through the NAPLAN test window. The NAPLAN test window is a 9-day test window within which schools can schedule the test dates for the respective years(i.e Years 3, 5, 7, and 9). Schools must prioritize the following:
1. The morning scheduling of tests should take priority over the afternoon scheduling inside the test timeframe.
2. A break of at least 20 minutes must be provided for students who take more than one test on a single day.

Schools should get in touch with the appropriate state/territory Test administration authority(TAAs) if they have any questions about the test schedule that do not meet their needs

How to download NAPLAN practice papers?
For a free download of the NAPLAN, practice papers visit our NAPLAN test resources.
Here is the link to download: “DOWNLOAD PRACTICE PAPERS”.

How can I download the Year 7 practice test online?
For a free download of the Year-7 practice test online visit our NAPLAN test resources.
Here is the link to download: “DOWNLOAD YEAR-7 PRACTICE TEST”.

How can I download Year 9 practice test online?
For a free download of the Year-9 practice test online visit our NAPLAN test resources.
Here is the link to download: “DOWNLOAD YEAR-9 PRACTICE TEST”.

What’s NAPLAN?
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, and is the only nationwide assessment that all Australian children undertake. The test is to examine literacy and numeracy skills.

Why is NAPLAN test Australia?
The NAPLAN acts as a snapshot of the student’s present skills in literacy and numeracy. The assessment results are used by the schools and also for the governmental data collection for a better educational track. NAPLAN also allows parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards.

What year levels do NAPLAN tests conduct?
All students of grade 3, grade 5, grade 7, and grade 9 can appear for the NAPLAN test. The test also has special arrangements for physically disabled students.

What does NAPLAN test?
The designed pattern tests reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy. The content of each test is informed by the Australian Curriculum. The literacy tests are based on content in the English learning area, and the numeracy tests draw content from the Mathematics learning area.

What is the format of the test?
The test requires different responses based on the questions. The response can be multiple choice or Technology-enabled type( like drag and drop) or require a short written response.

Can students with disabilities appear for the test?
Absolutely. ACARA and all Australian governments have committed to promoting maximum participation of students in the national assessment program. ACARA has implemented a range of adjustments to support students with disabilities.

How can schools and students get familiar with the exam process?
NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site allows for test takers to get familiar with the exam process. ACARA also conducts frequent training programs. Both site assistance, as well as online support systems, are being provided to the schools as well as the students.

Is there staff training and readiness activity provided?
Yes, through NAPLAN Public Demonstration Sites the staff training and readiness activities are being assisted.

Where can the queries regarding the test be resolved?
The queries can be resolved by the Test Administering Authority of your district.

For how many days the test can be conducted?
The test window is open for 9 days. The schools can arrange for the test within 9 days of the closing window.

If the school has poor internet connectivity, what can be done?
The schools should be technically ready with proper internet connectivity before the exam. If in case of difficulty, the school authority can contact the Test administrator authority of the district.

How does tailor testing work?
Tailored testing adapts to student responses in real time. NAPLAN analyses each student differently based on their response to answering the question with accuracy. The adaptive nature of the tests means students are more likely to stay engaged with the tests as they receive questions better suited to their ability. This gives students more opportunities to show what they know and can do.

How does the test undergo with the internet connection on the system?
The locked-in application software installed in each of the systems prevents students from using autocorrect applications during the test.

How is spelling tested with spell check already on the computer system? 
Spelling is assessed as a part of NAPLAN. A general requirement of NAPLAN is that the student’s device must be secured (using a locked-down browser) so they cannot access unauthorized websites, applications, and spell-checking features.

Are the standard editing tools available?
Standard editing tools will be available during the NAPLAN writing assessment, so students will be able to copy, cut, paste, and move text.

Will all the students be given the same questions?
No, NAPLAN uses tailored testing, which means the test automatically adapts to student performance and presents questions that match student achievement levels, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge.

How secure is the online assessment platform?
The online assessment platform has state-of-the-art security protections. It is designed and has been extensively tested to be compliant with government and industry standards for security, interoperability, privacy, and accessibility.

Is the NAPLAN platform secure from a personal data breach?
Student background information (including student identifier, sex, date of birth, and language) and test participation and performance data are collected as part of the National Assessment Program. This information is treated confidentially and held securely to ensure that every student’s right to privacy is maintained.

What would happen if the device stopped working during the test?
In the event, the device stops working, all responses will have been saved and the student can complete their test on another device or in a rescheduled test session.

Can the students use paper to come up with the answer?
Yes. Use of paper as rough sheets is allowed to the students.

Can the NAPLAN test be given from home?
No. The home application is not allowed to appear for the NAPLAN test. The students can appear for the test within the test window of 9 days at the venue provided by TAAs for independent students and only at schools through the school curriculum.

How can homeschooled students and distant studies students attend the NAPLAN test?
Yes, options are available for home-schooled and distance-educated students. Each state/territory test administration authority (TAA) will determine the appropriate arrangements for testing students who are registered as undertaking non-school-based education.

Can schools provide copies of NAPLAN tests? 
No. Schools are prohibited from giving copies to anyone unauthorized including the media or parents of students who completed the NAPLAN tests.

How can I help my child prepare for the NAPLAN test?
NAPLAN should not be viewed as a test of intelligence. Rather it is just the assessment to check on the progress of the child. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day.

Can students use their laptops/ PCs to appear for the NAPLAN test?
Yes. NAPLAN supports BYOD (bring your device) for students. BYOD devices must be secured so students do not have access to unauthorized websites, applications, and spell-checking features. NAP locked-down browser applications are available to support schools in ensuring online assessments run smoothly.

How are NAPLAN tests developed? 
The development of NAPLAN tests takes 18 months and involves experts from across Australia. Specialist writers are engaged to develop test questions (items), and possible questions are carefully considered to make sure curriculum coverage is appropriate for the relevant year levels.

Which organization is responsible for conducting NAPLAN? 
Education Services Australia, ACARA, and State and territory school authorities are responsible for ensuring their schools are technically and logistically prepared to undertake the test.

Who administers the NAPLAN tests? 
The conducting schools are responsible for conducting the test. It is administered by classroom teachers, school deputies, or principals.

How are the tests marked?
As the NAPLAN is a tailored test. So, Student answers to multiple choice questions are scanned and the data is captured electronically. All other responses and the writing task will be marked by trained, independent markers.

Who invented NAPLAN?
NAPLAN, the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy, has been a prominent part of Australia’s education landscape since 2008 when it was introduced by then-education minister Julia Gillard.

Who made NAPLAN?
The development of the NAP tests began in 1999 when the Australian ministers of education worked together to produce the Adelaide declaration on national goals for schooling in the 21st century which sought to make all young Australians successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens.

Is NAPLAN only in Australia?
Yes. NAPLAN is conducted only in Australia.