NAPLAN: a guide for parents
What NAPLAN is, when it is held, what is tested, how results are reported, and what the official guidance says about preparing.
Facts checked against official sources on 5 November 2026.
What NAPLAN is
NAPLAN is the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia sit it each year. ACARA, the national body that runs it, says it is not about passing or failing: it shows how a student is progressing in key skills.
When it is held
NAPLAN has been held in March since 2023 (from 2008 to 2022 it was held in May). The 2026 test window was 11 to 23 March, and the 2027 window is 10 to 22 March. Schools schedule the tests within the window.
National results for 2026 were released on 5 August 2026. Your child's own report comes from their school later in the year; ACARA cannot provide individual student reports.
What is tested
In Years 7 and 9, numeracy starts with a short section without a calculator, and an online calculator is available for the rest of the test.
- Reading
- Writing: a narrative or persuasive text, and the text type is revealed on the day, with no choice
- Conventions of language: spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Numeracy: number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability
What the test is like
The tests are done online and are tailored: the questions a student sees get easier or harder depending on how they answer. Year 3 students still do the writing test on paper.
ACARA's public demonstration site shows the types of questions and the online tools, so students can see how the screen works before the day.
How results are reported
Results are reported as one of four proficiency levels, not as a pass or fail:
- Exceeding
- Strong
- Developing
- Needs additional support
About your child’s report
The individual student report summarises what each level means for the year level. If you do not receive a report, ask your child’s school, which can contact the state test authority.
Adjustments and exemptions
Schools work with parents and students to decide reasonable adjustments, case by case, for students with disability or other needs. Some adjustments need approval from the state test authority.
A formal exemption is possible only in exceptional circumstances: for a student whose disability severely limits their participation, or a recently arrived student from a non-English-speaking background. Ask your child’s principal about the process. If a student is absent, the school may arrange a make-up test.
Preparing sensibly
ACARA says students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. It says the best preparation is good teaching of the curriculum, and that it does not recommend excessive preparation or the use of coaching providers.
We agree that NAPLAN does not need cramming. Where extra help is useful, it is steady work on the skills the tests measure, so the test feels familiar and calm. At AJ Classes we start early, from Year 2, so a first NAPLAN in Year 3 is no surprise:
- Read widely and talk about what is read
- Write regularly, including planning a short piece
- Practise spelling, grammar and punctuation in context
- Build number and problem-solving skills, with and without a calculator
- Try the demonstration site once, so the online format is familiar
- Keep it short and relaxed: sleep and wellbeing matter more than extra practice
Where NAPLAN fits with other tests
NAPLAN is separate from the Victorian selective entry exam, which has its own application and is run by ACER. Some independent schools ask for NAPLAN results as part of a scholarship application.
Related guides
Official sources
Details change every year. Always confirm dates, fees and rules on the official websites below before you apply.
How AJ Classes can help
Small-group classes in Williams Landing, Truganina and Craigieburn, or online anywhere in Australia.