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NAPLAN 2012 Important information for parents and carers

Withdrawals and Exemptions

  • All students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN tests, and schools should not exert influence on parents to withdraw their child from the tests.
  • Parents or carers may withdraw their child from the tests to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing.  It is recommended that withdrawal be considered in consultation with your child's school. States and territories have different ways of managing student withdrawals, but formal notification must be received by the school principal prior to testing.
  • Adjustments can be provided for students with disability to enable them to access the tests on an equivalent basis as students without disability, and should be discussed with your child's school prior to the tests.
  • Some students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant co-existing conditions which severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests, may be exempted from sitting the national tests. Some students who have been attending school in Australia for less than a year before the tests may also be eligible for exemption.  Exemptions should be discussed with your child's school.

Why is it important for my child to participate?

  • NAPLAN tests are run every year to provide policy makers, schools, and parents with important information about how well students are performing in key areas of literacy and numeracy.

What else do I need to know about the tests to support my child?

  • NAPLAN tests are not a pass/fail tests. At the classroom level it is one of a number important tools used by teachers to measure student progress.
  • NAPLAN tests are constructed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate skills they have learned over time through the school curriculum, and NAPLAN test days should be treated as just another routine event on the school calendar.
  • Students should be familiar with test instructions and common forms of questions, but excessive preparation is not useful and can lead to unnecessary anxiety.
  • NAPLAN tests provide very valuable information, but there are no consequences for individual students for poor or good performance.
  • View a video that explains how NAPLAN results are reported (5 min 39 s), including the individual Student Report;
  • or click here for an Overview of the Student Report (1 min 41 s).
  • Copies of student results: ACARA encourages parents wanting further information about their child's results to contact their child's school to arrange a time for a discussion.

See also NAPLAN Frequently asked Questions

Please also use the left hand navigation menu for further information regarding NAPLAN.

Additional Information

Preparation for the tests

NAPLAN assessments are undertaken by students as a normal part of their education program. Teachers will ensure students are prepared for the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance. The use of services by coaching providers is not recommended. Copies of test papers will not be made available online, however parents wanting further information about their child's results are encouraged to contact their child's school to arrange a time for a discussion. A full set of example tests for public viewing is available to enable students to become familiar with the tests. The most effective way to prepare for the tests is to ensure that literacy and numeracy skills embedded in the normal curriculum are taught.

If your child is absent from school on test days

Wherever possible, schools will organise for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during testing week.

Reports on your child's performance

A NAPLAN report will be issued by your school later in the year. The same report format is used for every student in Australia. The school will notify you when the reports are being sent home. If you do not receive a report, you should contact the school. Individual student results are strictly confidential. ACARA encourages parents wanting further information about their child's results to contact their child's school to arrange a time for a discussion.

What is tested and how

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. Questions are multiple-choice or require a short written response. The Writing task requires students to write a persuasive text.

Who runs the tests

Test Administration Authorities are responsible for the implementation and administration of the NAPLAN tests in their jurisdiction. 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.

Measuring NAPLAN performance

NAPLAN is not a pass or fail type test. Individual student performance is shown on a national achievement scale for each test. Each test scale has ten bands and all year levels are reported on the same scale. Six bands are reported for each year level for each test. One of these bands will represent the national minimum standard for students at each year level. A result at the national minimum standard indicates that the student demonstrated the basic literacy and numeracy skills needed to participate fully in that year level. The performance of individual students can be compared to the average performance of all students in Australia.

Parents/carers can download the Student Report - information for parents brochure, which provides detailed information about how to understand your child's individual student report for 2012.

Using NAPLAN test results

Please note the 2011 NAPLAN National Report has been released.
  • Schools use results to identify strengths and weaknesses in teaching programs and to set goals in literacy and numeracy.
  • School systems use results to review programs and support offered to schools.
  • Students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.
  • Teachers use results to help them better identify students who require greater challenges or additional support.
  • The community can see average school NAPLAN results on the My School website.

More information

For more information about NAPLAN: