NAPLAN Aligned with the Australian Curriculum

NAPLAN Aligned with the Australian Curriculum

Since 2016, NAPLAN tests have aligned with the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. The NAPLAN Assessment Framework outlines what is assessed and how the tests are designed.

States and territories are gradually implementing Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum. In the meantime, NAPLAN tests skills aligned with both Versions 8.4 and 9.0.

The best preparation for NAPLAN is regular teaching of the curriculum. Test questions primarily assess literacy and numeracy skills taught in previous school years, with some content drawn from the current and following year, designed to be accessible based on prior learning.

For detailed descriptions of skills assessed, see Proficiency Level Descriptions.

Writing

NAPLAN writing tests assess students’ ability to write accurately, fluently, and purposefully in Standard Australian English. Students respond to a writing prompt in either a narrative or persuasive text type.

• All students write the same text type; Year 3 students complete the test on paper, while Years 5, 7, and 9 complete it online.

• Prompts vary by year level and test day but are of similar difficulty.

• Students’ writing is marked using a national 10-criteria rubric to ensure consistent assessment across Australia.

Writing marking guides and sample prompts are available for both persuasive and narrative writing.

Reading

The reading tests measure students’ literacy proficiency in alignment with the Australian Curriculum: English.

• Students read a variety of texts and answer related questions.

• Question formats include multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, hot-text, and other technology-enhanced types.

• Texts vary in complexity based on each student’s pathway through the tailored test design.

Conventions of Language

These tests assess spelling, grammar, and punctuation in alignment with the Australian Curriculum: English.

• The tests focus on the conventions of written Standard Australian English, essential for reading and writing.

• The test includes two sections: spelling, followed by grammar and punctuation.

• Question formats include multiple-choice, text entry, and technology-enhanced items.

Numeracy

The numeracy tests assess students’ application of mathematics knowledge and skills based on the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics.

• The tests cover number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.

• Question formats include multiple-choice, text entry, and technology-enhanced items.

For Years 7 and 9, the numeracy test includes two sections:

• A non-calculator section to assess mental arithmetic.

• A calculator section for the remainder of the test.

Summary

NAPLAN provides a nationally consistent assessment aligned with the Australian Curriculum, helping track students’ literacy and numeracy progress. The tests are designed to reflect the curriculum while supporting consistent evaluation across all Australian states and territories.