If your child is in Year 3, 5, 7 or 9, you’ve probably heard about NAPLAN — Australia’s nationwide assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. But what exactly is it, how does it work, and what do the results actually mean?
What is NAPLAN?
NAPLAN stands for National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. It’s a set of standardised tests taken by all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia.
According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), NAPLAN aims to:
- Give parents and teachers a clear picture of each student’s abilities at the time of testing.
- Provide schools, states and government with data on how education programs are performing and where improvements are needed.
In simple terms, NAPLAN shows where your child sits compared to national benchmarks, and helps schools identify areas where students need more support.
When is NAPLAN 2024?
- Dates: 13–25 March 2024
- Who: All Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across Australia
- Format: Online testing, except for Year 3 Writing, which remains paper-based.
What does NAPLAN test?
1. Language Conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
- Year 3 & 5: 40 minutes
- Year 7 & 9: 45 minutes
- Format: Multiple choice and short-answer questions, tested in context.
2. Writing
- All year levels: 40 minutes
- Students receive a prompt (stimulus) and write in a required text type (narrative, persuasive, or imaginative).
3. Reading
- Year 3 & 5: 45–50 minutes
- Year 7 & 9: 65 minutes
- Students read a booklet of texts and answer comprehension questions in multiple choice or short-answer form.
4. Numeracy
- Year 3 & 5: 45–50 minutes
- Year 7 & 9: Two 40-minute sections (one with a calculator, one without)
- Format: Multiple choice, short-answer, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
Why is NAPLAN controversial?
Criticism:
- Creates unnecessary stress, particularly for younger children.
- A single test can’t capture the full picture of a child’s ability.
- Results can take up to four months to return, limiting their usefulness for immediate teaching.
Positives:
- Sets a national standard for literacy and numeracy skills.
- Holds governments and schools accountable for student progress.
- Identifies gaps so teachers can target support.
Preparing for NAPLAN
NAPLAN isn’t about rote learning — it measures skills. But because the format is different from regular schoolwork, preparation can help reduce anxiety and improve performance.
Parents can help by:
- Practising with sample tests so children recognise the question types.
- Strengthening core literacy and numeracy skills.
- Teaching time-management and test-taking strategies.
- Keeping discussions positive to avoid pressure.
Cluey’s NAPLAN Programs
At Cluey, we offer:
- One-to-one tutoring focused on key skills and strategies.
- Practice tests to build familiarity with the format.
- Confidence-building sessions in a low-pressure environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is NAPLAN compulsory?
Most students participate, but parents can withdraw their child for specific reasons by notifying the school principal before testing.
2. How are the tests taken?
All tests are online in 2024, except Year 3 Writing.
3. What kind of questions are included?
Multiple choice and short-answer questions. Sample materials are available on the NAPLAN website.
4. When will results be available?
Usually between August and September, depending on your state or territory.
