Is NAPLAN compulsory?

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to take part. Parents can apply to the school for an exemption or withdrawal in limited circumstances.

Does NAPLAN affect my child's school grades?

No. NAPLAN results don't appear in school reports or affect grades.

How long does NAPLAN take?

Each test takes roughly 40 to 65 minutes, depending on the test and year level, and they are spread across several days within the testing window.

Can I see my child's NAPLAN results?

Yes. Schools give families an individual student report showing results against the proficiency levels.

NAPLAN guidesUpdated 24 September 2026Super Sheldon academic team

What Is NAPLAN? A Parent's Guide for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9

If your child is in Year 3, 5, 7 or 9, NAPLAN is coming in March. Here's what it is, when NAPLAN 2027 happens, what each test covers and how to read the results.

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN (the National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy) is a national test taken every year by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It checks the reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy skills every child needs, and shows how your child is tracking against national standards.

NAPLAN doesn't count towards school grades or reports. Think of it as a health check: it tells families and schools where a child is strong and where support could help.

NAPLAN 2027 dates

The NAPLAN 2027 testing window runs from Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027. The writing test comes first, and schools schedule the other tests within the window. Future windows are 15 to 27 March 2028 and 14 to 26 March 2029.

Source: National Assessment Program key dates (nap.edu.au).

What NAPLAN tests

Test	What it covers
Writing	A narrative or persuasive piece written to a prompt. Year 3 writes on paper, other years type
Reading	Understanding, inference and the author's purpose across a range of texts
Conventions of language	Spelling (including audio dictation), grammar and punctuation
Numeracy	Number and algebra, measurement and geometry, statistics and probability. Years 7 and 9 have calculator and non-calculator parts

How the online test works

NAPLAN is done on a computer or tablet and is tailored. Everyone starts with a similar set of questions. Depending on the answers, the next set becomes easier or harder. That lets each child show what they can do, and it means no two students' tests are quite the same.

Understanding NAPLAN results

Results are reported against four proficiency levels for each test:

Exceeding: achievement well above expectations
Strong: meets challenging but reasonable expectations
Developing: working towards the expected level
Needs additional support: not yet achieving the expected level and likely to need extra help

Strong or Exceeding means your child is where they should be. Developing or Needs additional support is a useful early signal, not a label, and it usually points to specific skills that can be fixed.

How to prepare (without the stress)

1Try the free NAPLAN public demonstration site so the format isn't a surprise.
2Read together daily and talk about what you read.
3Practise number facts little and often.
4Write short stories and opinion pieces at home, and praise structure, not just ideas.
5Use a practice test to find gaps. Our NAPLAN tutoring includes NAPLAN-style practice tests with a breakdown by skill.

More ideas in our guide to preparing for NAPLAN without the stress.