NAPLAN

Dear Parent/Carer

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students are held in March each year. In 2026, the NAPLAN test window is between Wednesday 11th March and Monday 23rd 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 tests are delivered in an online format. This delivers many 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.
  • an extended and more flexible test window, allowing schools greater opportunity to schedule the tests at times that suit them best therefore increasing student participation.

A public demonstration site is available for schools, teachers, parents, carers and students to familiarise themselves with the online tests. 

All eligible students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN tests. Catch up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days up to and including Monday 23rd of March 2026.

The college will be running a NAPLAN practice test session for Years 7 and 9 on Friday 27th February to ensure operational smoothness for the testing period. Students will need to bring their laptop fully charged each day of the testing period.

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. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or exemption, you should discuss this with theirteacher prior to the tests. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a student withdrawal form. You can request a withdrawal form from Karlee.Rich@education.vic.gov.au.

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.

I am confident that the information you receive because 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, please visit the VCAA website or the ACARA NAPLAN website. 

Yours sincerely,

Ethan Rahilly

NAPLAN Coordinator