Skip to main content

NAPLAN (YEAR 3 AND 5)

NAPLAN (YEAR 3 AND 5)

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

It is a nationwide measure through which parents/carers, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning.

NAPLAN results allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards.

The tests support monitoring and evaluating of the performance of schools and school systems. They also provide information about how education approaches are working, areas to be prioritised for improvement.

The results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress.

NAPLAN tests are one aspect of our school’s assessment and reporting process and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. Each teacher will have the best insight into their students’ educational progress. Parents/carers can use NAPLAN reports, along with other school assessment reports, to discuss their child’s strengths and areas for improvement with their teacher.

NAPLAN is made up of tests in the 4 areas of:

  • reading
  • writing
  • conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
  • numeracy.

2024 Piara Waters Primary School Testing Schedule

Our year 3 and 5 students will be undertaking a range of practice tests, so that they are familiar with the testing platform and test format. 

Parents and students may also access the Public NAPLAN Demonstration site at home.  The public demonstration tests show the types of questions students will answer and the functionalities that are available in NAPLAN tests.

If you wish to view previous NAPLAN questions/papers you can do so on the ACARA website;

Piara Waters Primary School students in year 3 and 5 will be undertaking the assessments on the following dates.   All tests will be completed between 8:30am and 10:00am.   It is important your child is not late to school. 

Our Year 3 test schedule

Test Test duration Test date
Writing (on paper) 40 minutes Wednesday,  13 March
Reading 45 minutes Thursday, 14 March 
Conventions of language 45 minutes Friday, 15 March  
Numeracy 45 minutes Monday, 18 March 

 Our Year 5 test schedule

Test Test Test date
Writing 40 minutes Wednesday,  13 March
Reading 45 minutes Thursday, 14 March 
Conventions of language 45 minutes Friday, 15 March 
Numeracy 45 minutes Monday, 18 March 

Students who are absent will only have until the 25th March to complete the testing.  All year 3 writing tests must be complete by Monday, 18 March. 

All tests are completed using a school issued iPad.  Students may use their own headphones.  The only test not completed on an iPad is the year 3 writing test.  This is completed using pencil and paper.  

Adjustments, exemptions and withdrawals

Adjustments can be provided for students with a disability to enable them to access the tests equitably.  You can speak to your classroom teacher, Miss Ramm or Mr Voloczi about these adjustments. 

Students in the following categories may be considered for formal exemption from the testing program:

  • Students with a language background other than English, who arrived from overseas and have been attending school in Australia for less than a year before the test, should be given the opportunity to participate in testing, but may be exempted.
  • Students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant co-existing conditions that severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests may be exempted from taking NAPLAN. This is decided after the principal, student and the relevant parent/carer have consulted with each other and agreed that the student is not able to access the tests even with adjustments.

Applications for exemptions must be submitted by Friday, 1 March 2024, so please speak to Miss Ramm or Mr Voloczi prior to this date.

Students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school.

Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing.

If you do not wish your child to sit the NAPLAN assessments, please contact Miss Ramm (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Mr Voloczi (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More Information for parents

Future NAPLAN Test Dates

2023 15–27 March
2024 13–25 March
2025 12–24 March
2026 11–23 March
2027 10–22 March