Year 7 NAPLAN conventions of language practice

What the section covers

Spelling

Finding the misspelt word in a sentence, and spelling words that sound alike but are written differently.

Grammar

Clauses and phrases, modality, active and passive voice, agreement across longer sentences.

Punctuation

Commas that change meaning, apostrophes, quotation marks, colons and semicolons.

Word choice

Choosing the word that fits the sentence, and telling apart words that are close in meaning.

Sample questions

8 real questions from our Year 7 papers, covering the different ways this section asks things. Answer the ones you can click; the rest show how they work. Nothing to sign up for.

1. Question 1

   Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

   Although we left early but still missed the train.Although we left early, we still missed the train.We still missed the train although, we left early.Although we left early; we still missed the train.

2. Question 2

   Worked example

   You ____ finish your homework before watching television.

   Drag the correct modal verb to complete the sentence.

   • must
   • should
   • could
   • might

   In the test you drag the answer into place.

   Show the answer

3. Question 3

   Worked example

   After the movie [1], we [2] out for ice cream.

   Select the best words to complete the sentence.

   • 1:ending
   • 1:ends
   • 1:ended
   • 2:go
   • 2:went
   • 2:going

   In the test each gap is a dropdown you choose from.

   Show the answer

4. Question 4

   Worked example

   He returned back to the library to return the book.

   Select the word(s) that are unnecessary or incorrect in the sentence.

   • He
   • returned
   • back
   • to
   • return

   In the test this is a sentence you click a word or phrase inside.

   Show the answer

5. Question 5

   Worked example

   Suddenly, the clever fox dashed quickly across the snowy field.

   Drag each word into its correct grammatical group.

   • fox
   • dashed
   • quickly
   • clever
   • snowy

   In the test you drag each item into the group it belongs to.

   Show the answer

6. Question 6

   Choose the correct form of 'your' or 'you’re' for each sentence.

   Choose 3.

   I hope ____ enjoying the party.Please put on ____ jacket before you leave.I think ____ going to love this book.

7. Question 7

   Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

   He brought three things to the picnic: a rug, sandwiches and lemonade.He brought: three things to the picnic a rug, sandwiches and lemonade.He brought three things: to the picnic a rug, sandwiches and lemonade.He brought three things, to the picnic: a rug, sandwiches and lemonade.

8. Question 8

   Worked example

   Each of the students brought ____ own laptop.

   Drag the correct pronoun to complete the sentence.

   • his
   • their
   • her
   • its

   In the test you drag the answer into place.

   Show the answer