Year 9 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 9 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

   Where should the comma ( , ) go in this sentence?

   
   ABCD

2. Question 2

   Worked example

   Liam brought  ____  cookies to the picnic.

   Drag one word to correctly complete the sentence.

   • this
   • that
   • them
   • those

   In the test you drag the answer into place.

   Show the answer

3. Question 3

   Worked example

   The surface of Mars ____ covered in dust and rocks.

   Which word correctly completes the sentence?

   In the test you type the answer into the gap.

   Show the answer

4. Question 4

   Many scientists and volunteers ⬜️ efforts to protect endangered sea turtles and raise public awareness.

   Which words correctly complete this sentence? Choose three options.

   Choose 3.

   has mademakehave madeis makingmade

5. Question 5

   Worked example

   The students books were left in the classroom after the bell rang.

   Click on the highlighted word that needs an apostrophe (’).

   • The
   • students
   • books
   • were
   • left
   • in
   • the
   • classroom
   • after
   • the
   • bell
   • rang

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

   Show the answer

6. Question 6

   Worked example

   She said she could of finished the project sooner if your instructions where clearer and if they’re help had arrived on time.

   Draw lines to correct the highlighted errors in this sentence.

   • were
   • their
   • should’ve

   In the test you join each item on the left to its match on the right.

   Show the answer

7. Question 7

   Worked example

   He walked confidently into the room and slowly took a seat at the table.

   Drag the highlighted words in this sentence into the correct column.

   • confidently
   • the room
   • slowly

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

   Show the answer

8. Question 8

   Worked example

   Eli finally spotted the phone [1] had slipped behind the couch, but when he picked up [2], the screen was cracked.

   Which words correctly complete the sentence?

   • 1:that
   • 1:which
   • 1:who
   • 1:where
   • 2:where
   • 2:them
   • 2:it

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

   Show the answer