NAPLAN

NAPLAN 2026 – Information for Parents and Carers

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. In 2026, NAPLAN will take place between Wednesday 11 March and Monday 23 March.

NAPLAN helps measure how well students are developing essential skills in writing, reading, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The results give valuable information to students, parents, carers, and teachers, and help schools plan targeted support to improve learning outcomes.

NAPLAN Online

All NAPLAN tests are completed online, with the exception of Year 3 Writing. This provides several benefits:

Tailored testing: The questions adapt to a student’s responses, giving a more accurate picture of their skills.
Engaging design: The use of technology makes the tests more interactive and varied.
Flexibility: Schools have a longer testing window, making it easier to schedule the tests and maximise participation.

Families can explore the public NAPLAN demonstration site to see what the online tests look like.

2026 Test Schedule

Writing: Wednesday 11 March
Reading: Thursday 12 March
Language Conventions: Friday 13 March
Numeracy: Monday 16 March

Students who miss a test can complete catch-up sessions up to Monday 23 March, except for the Year 3 Writing test, which finishes on Monday 16 March.

Support, Exemptions and Withdrawals

Some students may be exempt from NAPLAN if they have a significant intellectual disability or are newly arrived in Australia (learning English for less than one year). If your child may require support or an exemption, please discuss this with their teacher. Parental consent is required before any adjustments or exemptions can be made.

Parents and carers also have the option to withdraw their child from NAPLAN after discussing it with the school principal. A signed withdrawal form is required, available from the school office.

NAPLAN Reports

Later in the year, families will receive a NAPLAN student report outlining their child’s performance in each test area. These results provide insight into your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy and can help guide future learning goals.

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