Naplan 

Naplan testing occurs each year in term 1. Students in years 3 and 5 participate in the testing program. All tests are completed online other than the year 3 writing test which is a pencil and paper test. Please see the attached information from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment  Authority. At Carnegie PS, tests will take place on the following days:

We know our students will put in the effort required and do their individual best.

Why do students do NAPLAN? 

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and  Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy  assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each  year. It is the only national assessment all Australian  students have the opportunity to undertake. 

As students progress through their school years, it  is important to check how well they are learning the  essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. 

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that  students are learning through the school curriculum  and allows parents/carers to see how their child is  progressing against national proficiency standards. 

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment  and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing  assessments made by teachers about student  performance, but it can provide teachers with additional  information about students’ educational progress. 

NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities  and governments with information about how education  programs are working and whether young Australians  are achieving important educational outcomes in  literacy and numeracy. 

Your child will do the NAPLAN  tests online 

Online NAPLAN tests are designed to provide precise  results and are engaging for students. The tests are  tailored (or adaptive) which means that each test  presents questions that may be more or less difficult  depending on a student’s responses. This helps  students remain engaged with the assessment. 

Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities  to be assessed and measures student achievement  more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is  based on both the number and complexity of questions  they answer correctly. Your child should not be  concerned if they find questions challenging; they may  be taking a more complex test pathway. 

All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing  assessment on paper. 

What does NAPLAN assess? 

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that  students are learning through their regular school  curriculum. 

Students sit assessments in writing, reading,  conventions of language (spelling, grammar and  punctuation) and numeracy. The questions assess  content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and  Mathematics. 

All government and non-government education  authorities contribute to the development of NAPLAN  test materials. 

To find out more about NAPLAN, visit nap.edu.au. 

Participation in NAPLAN 

NAPLAN is for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students. ACARA  supports inclusive testing, so all students have the  opportunity to participate in the national assessment  program. 

Adjustments are available for students with disability  who have diverse functional abilities and needs. 

Schools should work with parents/carers and students  to identify, on a case-by-case basis, reasonable  adjustments required for individual students with  disability to access NAPLAN. Adjustments should  reflect the support normally provided for classroom  assessments. 

To help inform these decisions, you may consult the  NAPLAN public demonstration site, the Guide for  schools to assist students with disability to access  NAPLAN, and our series of videos where parents/ carers, teachers and students share their experiences  in using NAPLAN adjustments. 

In exceptional circumstances, a student with a disability  that severely limits their capacity to participate in the  assessment, or a student who has recently arrived in  Australia and has a non-English speaking background,  may be granted a formal exemption. 

Your school principal and your local test administration  authority can give you more information on adjustments  for students with disability or the process required to  gain a formal exemption. 

What can I do to support my child? 

Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You  can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN  is a part of their school program and reminding them to  simply do their best. Some explanation of NAPLAN is  useful to help students understand and be comfortable  with the format of the tests; however, it is not necessary  for parents/carers to do this. Teachers will ensure  students are familiar with the types of questions in the  tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance. 

ACARA does not recommend excessive preparation for  NAPLAN or the use of services by coaching providers. 

See the types of questions and tools available in  the online NAPLAN assessments at NAP - Public  demonstration site. 

How is my child’s performance  reported? 

From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against  proficiency standards. There is a standard for each  assessment area at each year level. Proficiency  standards provide clear information on student  achievement. They are set at a challenging but  reasonable level expected for the child at the time of  NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught  in previous years of schooling. Student achievement  is shown against 4 levels of proficiency: Exceeding,  Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. 

A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided by  your child’s school later in the year. If you do not receive  a report, you should contact your child’s school. 

NAPLAN timetable 

What if my child is absent from school  on NAPLAN test days? 

Where possible, schools may arrange for individual  students who are absent at the time of testing to  complete missed tests at another time during the  school’s test schedule. 

How are NAPLAN results used? • Students and parents/carers use individual results to  discuss progress with teachers. 

• Teachers use results to help identify students who  need greater challenges or extra support.  

• Schools use results to identify strengths and areas  of need to improve teaching programs, and to set  goals in literacy and numeracy. 

• School systems use results to review the  effectiveness of programs and support offered to  schools. 

• The community can see information about the  performance of schools over time at  

myschool.edu.au. 

Where can I get more information? 

For more information about NAPLAN: 

• contact your child’s school  

• contact your local test administration authority at  nap.edu.au/TAA 

• visit nap.edu.au 

To learn how ACARA manages personal information for  NAPLAN, visit nap.edu.au/naplan/privacy. 

The NAPLAN test window is 9 days. This is to accommodate schools that may not have the capacity to complete  the tests in a shorter time frame. 

NAPLAN Timetable

The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 13 March 2024 and finishes on Monday 25 March 2024.  Schools will schedule the tests as soon as possible within the testing window, prioritising the first week.