Naplan 2024

NAPLAN Online

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Year 7 and 9 students will be held in March. This year, the NAPLAN Online test window is between Wednesday 13 March and Friday 22 March. 

NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement. 

NAPLAN Online delivers numerous benefits including:

-a ‘tailored test’ design that adapts to correct and incorrect student responses, providing a more precise understanding of student achievement;

-innovative use of technology, including a more engaging test design and a wider range of item types; 

-the extension of the ‘test window’ to two weeks, allowing schools greater opportunity to schedule the tests at times that suit them best and increasing student participation.

Preparation for NAPLAN Online

Over the coming weeks, students in Year 7 & 9 will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the style of the questions they will see and the functionality of the online assessment program, through an assembly and in class. Students will also have the opportunity to practice sustained typing in English. If students would like an additional opportunity to become familiar with the online platform, they are encouraged to access the NAPLAN Online Public Demonstration Site.  

NAPLAN Schedule & Equipment

A timetable for the NAPLAN testing will be available on Compass closer to the test dates. Each student’s laptop will have a ‘lockdown browser’ installed in the coming weeks which prevents internet browsing whilst the test is taking place and the students only need to activate it before the start of each test. 

For each NAPLAN test, students will need to bring to school: 

-a fully charged laptop, and 

-a set of headphones. (Please do not bring Bluetooth headphones as they tend not to work with the NAPLAN online platform).

Catch Up Tests 

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Where possible, catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days up to and including Friday 22 March. If your child is absent for one of the NAPLAN tests, please email me to discuss catch up test arrangements.

Support and Exemptions

Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. 

Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted. Please contact me to discuss supports and/or exemptions. 

Withdrawal

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for careful consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the school. If you would like to discuss this, please contact me. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you will need to sign a Student Withdrawal from, available from the College.  

If your child is eligible for support due to disability or an exemption, or you wish to withdraw your child from NAPLAN, please contact me by Friday 23 February 2024.

NAPLAN Report

Later in the year, you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia. 

We are confident that the information you receive as a result of your child’s participation in the NAPLAN tests will be valuable in helping you to assess your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy. 

For more information about NAPLAN Online, please visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au.

James Doble

Assistant Principal

dob@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au