The Learning Zone

NAPLAN

Parent and carer information

NAPLAN will next take place from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March 2026.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 who are enrolled at a school are expected to participate in 4 NAPLAN tests:

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

All schools in NSW complete NAPLAN online. However, Year 3 students do the writing test on paper. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the format of the tests before the NAPLAN test window.

Supporting your child

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school.

It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing. It is about assessing learning progress.

The best approach for preparing your child for NAPLAN is to encourage your child to do the best they can on the day.

Excessive preparation or the use of coaching providers is not recommended.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance.

Public demonstration site

The public demonstration site is available for students, teachers and parents to get familiar with the types of questions, tools and functions used in the NAPLAN tests. It includes demonstration tests for each NAPLAN year level, test domain (writing, reading, conventions of language, and numeracy), and alternative tests for students with disability.

ICAS

ICAS is a historic academic competition that has been sat by over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries since 1981.

It recognises academic performance in a way similar to sports or the arts, with engaging, fun questions designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to test students’ higher-order thinking skills.

ICAS also provides rich insights into students’ strengths and weaknesses, helping teachers to accelerate learning outcomes and unlock student potential. 

Subjects that you can choose to have your child sit include:

English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, Writing or Spelling Bee.

Writing is open to Years 3 to 6. 

All other the subjects are are open to students in Year 2 to 6. 

You can choose for your child to participate in one or more of the assessments. 

There is a cost for each assessment. Prices and the dates for sitting windows are below. 

If you are interested in having your child participate in ICAS please get in touch and we will set you up in the ICAS parent payment system.