NAPLAN – General
- What is NAPLAN?
- Why do students do NAPLAN tests?
- What will be tested?
- What types of questions are in the tests?
- Who will run the tests?
- If I have more questions, whom do I ask?
- Can students sit the test overseas?
- Where are the answers to the NAPLAN tests?
- Can my child be prepared for the NAPLAN tests?
- Does ACARA endorse any commercial ‘test preparation’ products or services?
- What specific skills are tested in NAPLAN?
- Who will mark the tests?
- How can I apply to be a marker?
- Can I download and print the NAPLAN tests?
- How are NAPLAN tests developed?
- Why do all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 do NAPLAN tests instead of just a small sample of students?
- Where can I get copies of previous test papers?
What is NAPLAN?
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN materials.
Why do students do NAPLAN tests?
NAPLAN is the measure through which governments, education authorities, schools, teachers and parents can determine whether or not young Australians have the literacy and numeracy skills and knowledge that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.
The tests provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. They also provide schools, states and territories with information about how education programs are working and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement.
NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process, and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance.
What will be tested?
NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. The content of each test is informed by the National Statements of Learning for English and Mathematics which underpin state and territory learning frameworks.
All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN tests.
What types of questions are in the tests?
Questions are multiple-choice or require a short written response. In 2011, the Writing task requires students to write a persuasive text. All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN tests.
Who will run the tests?
NAPLAN tests are conducted at schools and administered by classroom teachers, school deputies or the principal. Each state and territory is responsible for marking the tests in accordance with strict guidelines and processes.
If I have more questions, whom do I ask?
Parents should contact their schools with all questions to start with, or if a school is not able to help, questions can be directed to the Test Administration Authority in their state or territory.
Schools should contact the Test Administration Authority in their state or territory with any queries.
Questions about the administration of NAPLAN tests should be directed to the appropriate Test Administration Authority.
Questions about the overall National Assessment Program can be directed to ACARA.
Can students sit the test overseas?
The tests are administered by Test Administration Authority within each state or territory, and can only be sat within Australia.
Where are the answers to the NAPLAN tests?
ACARA does not supply answers to NAPLAN test questions. If you have queries about particular questions following the test, you may like to discuss them with your child’s teacher or principal.
Can my child be prepared for the NAPLAN tests?
NAPLAN is not a test of content. Instead, it tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the school curriculum, so excessive test preparation is not useful. Students should, however, be familiar with test instructions and common forms of questions. Teachers routinely prepare students for testing including, as appropriate, practice on sample tests. Adequate preparation ensures that students feel comfortable in the testing environment and are able to confidently demonstrate what they know and can do.
Does ACARA endorse any commercial ‘test preparation’ products or services?
Neither the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA), nor the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) endorses any organisation which may be offering answers to the NAPLAN sample questions, diagnostic tools or any other product or service to teachers or students in connection with NAPLAN. These organisations are not authorised by and do not represent MCEECDYA or ACARA. Teachers and students who are considering purchasing such products or services do so at their own risk and need to make their own assessment as to their suitability.
What specific skills are tested in NAPLAN?
There is no published list of specific skills that will be tested in NAPLAN tests. The development of NAPLAN tests is guided by the National Statements of Learning in English and Mathematics. The NAPLAN tests will be aligned with the Australian Curriculum once this has been substantially implemented in schools after 2013.
Who will mark the tests?
Student answers to multiple-choice questions will be scanned and the data captured electronically. All other responses and the Writing task will be marked by trained, independent markers.
How can I apply to be a marker?
Administration of the NAPLAN tests, including marking, is managed by the Test Administration Authority in each state or territory.
Can I download and print the NAPLAN tests?
ACARA has developed a set of NAPLAN Example tests available in PDF format which may be downloaded and printed for non-commercial, educational purposes. However, ACARA does not supply tests in hard copy from the website unless there are special circumstances. In such cases, please contact ACARA.
How are NAPLAN tests developed?
The development of NAPLAN tests takes a long time, 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. Many test items are trialled by small samples of students to inform decisions about which items will be used in the final tests. This process ensures the quality of the tests. The final test forms are reviewed by experts (including experienced teachers) and approved only after they meet strict criteria.
Why do all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 do NAPLAN tests instead of just a small sample of students?
Literacy and numeracy are critical elements of learning and it is important to understand how each student is progressing in establishing these foundations. The NAPLAN tests provide valuable information to all schools about the performance of their students, and support the ability of schools to focus teaching on areas of need. The tests also help parents see how their child is progressing against national standards.
Where can I get copies of previous test papers?
ACARA does not provide copies of the tests online. This is to discourage excessive test preparation. A full set of example tests for public viewing has been developed, which replace the previously available tests for 2008-2010. These sample tests enable students/teachers/parents to understand the look and feel of the NAPLAN tests and to become familiar with the type of questions that may be asked in the tests.