What is NAPLAN?
NAPLAN stands for The National Assessment Program – Literacy & Numeracy. NAPLAN is a series of standardized tests given to students in Australia to assess their skills in literacy and numeracy. The tests are taken by students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9.
When does NAPLAN take place?
In 2024, the testing period spans from Wednesday 13 March 2023 to Monday 25 March 2023. This is to allow for parents, teachers, and education authorities to access the results and data earlier in the year.
What does NAPLAN assess?
The NAPLAN tests are comprised of four main components: reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The tests feature multiple choice, short answer and extended response-style questions.
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42 mins
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13th - 14th March 2024
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Respond to a narrative or persuasive writing stimulus
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65 mins
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13th - 25th March 2024
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Answer questions related to a number of reading passages
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45 mins
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14th - 25th March 2024
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Answer questions related to spelling, grammar & punctuation
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65 mins
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14th - 25th March 2024
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Answer questions related to Year 7 Maths curriculum topics
What are the results used for?
The results of the NAPLAN tests are reported using a national scale, which allows for comparison of student performance across the country. Students receive a score for each area they are assessed on. The scores are reported to schools, parents, and education authorities, and are used to help identify areas where students may need additional support.
Should a student prepare for NAPLAN?
While some schools don’t prepare their students for NAPLAN, we strongly believe doing some preparation in the lead up to the tests is crucial. This is to ensure students are confident about the test format and question-styles, thereby reducing unnecessary stress. NAPLAN tests can differ to regular classwork so we encourage students to familiarise themselves with the question types and requirements of NAPLAN tests.
How should a student prepare for NAPLAN?
We suggest you formulate study plan in the weeks leading up to NAPLAN. An effective study plan would have:
– A consistent schedule
– Revision of important literacy and numeracy concepts in the Australian curriculum
– Completion of practice tests under timed conditions
– Review of practice test results and rectifying mistakes
Saying this, there is also no need to go overboard with preparing – burnout before the test would hinder performance.
Resources to help a student prepare
The NAPLAN website (www.nap.edu.au) has sample questions and other resources that can help students understand what to expect on the tests.
EduCourse also have a range of products and resources to help students prepare. Our online courses are the most comprehensive NAPLAN preparation resource available – they include engaging video tutorials on key concepts, model examples, practice tests and personalised feedback for students who have enroled in the course.
Take a look below at our NAPLAN courses and preparation packages.