The NAPLAN Quiz That Stumped Aussie Parents

We recently put parents to the test with a sample NAPLAN-style quiz — and the results may surprise you. In the lead-up to this year’s assessments, over 600 people took our online quiz featuring questions similar to those students will face. The verdict? Many parents found it tougher than expected, with one-third scoring six or fewer out of 10.

While the average score was seven correct answers, 15 participants didn’t get a single question right.

Interestingly, the biggest discussion on our Facebook page wasn’t about the results, but about NAPLAN itself — and whether it’s even necessary.

One parent commented, “NAPLAN is nothing but stress for students and teachers. That money could be better spent on education rather than testing.”

Another wrote, “Honestly, I don’t care about NAPLAN. I’ve been told it has nothing to do with my child’s grades — it’s just about measuring how well the curriculum is working. It’s for data collection.”

Some also questioned whether preparing for NAPLAN was worthwhile. “Prepping for a test doesn’t prove what a child is capable of. Let them sit it, then work on the gaps if needed.”

More Than Just a Benchmark

According to Aussie Edu Hub Chief Learning Officer, Dr Selina Samuels, NAPLAN is not just a benchmarking tool.

“Yes, it helps us understand student progress nationally, but it also gives teachers and parents insight into how an individual child is learning. That means we can better support and challenge them so they build confidence and achieve stronger results in schoolwork overall,” Dr Samuels explained.

She added that critics of NAPLAN preparation often overlook the fact that the skills practised in the lead-up are genuinely useful — and won’t disappear once the tests are done.

“I agree that unnecessary stress is counterproductive. But this can be avoided by giving students enough practice so they feel confident, understand the format, and know how to approach test questions.”

Practical Skills Beyond NAPLAN

For younger students, especially in Years 3 and 5, Dr Samuels highlighted the importance of learning how to manage time under test conditions.

“We also teach students how to navigate multiple-choice questions and how to unpack questions that may be phrased in unfamiliar ways. These are essential test-taking skills that go far beyond NAPLAN,” she said.

Ultimately, she stressed that literacy and numeracy are foundational for future education and employment.

“The skills tested in NAPLAN are skills we want all children to have — they’re not just for passing a test, they’re for life.”