The following information is for parents/guardians with a child in Year 3 or Year 5. Students will be sitting NAPLAN 2024 starting in Term 1- Week 7, Wednesday, 13th March, with the NAPLAN window open until Week 9, Monday, 25th March. In consultation with the school, students whose parents have applied for withdrawal will not be sitting all or some of the NAPLAN assessments. Confirmation of your child’s withdrawal will be sent to the parent’s email address.

NAPLAN assessments are scheduled in a specific order and held in the Library with a dedicated LAN network.

More information about NAPLAN for parents is contained below. However, all parents should have received a hard copy of “NAPLAN Online-information for parents and carers” by Week 2. You can download it here if you didn’t receive it or misplaced your document. In addition, please take your time to read the information below, with most parts taken from the NAPLAN website. You can access these documents from the following links as well.

2024 NAPLAN Parent Information Flyer

Translations of NAPLAN information brochures for parents and carers (Click Here)

Below is the mandated NAPLAN assessment sequence. The school NAPLAN schedule for individual classes is listed below.

Download the above test window infographic.

NAPLAN Online test window

The NAPLAN Online test window is nine days. Day 1 is a Wednesday (13th March), and Day 9 is the Monday of the third week of NAPLAN (25th March)

The writing test must be completed within a two-day test window, and schools must schedule writing from the first day of the appropriate two-day test window. For Year 5, the writing window is Days 1 and 2.

The tests need to be taken in a specific order.

For Years 3 and 5, the online test sequence is as follows:

1. Writing (paper for Year 3 only)
2. Reading
3. Conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
4. Numeracy.

NAPLAN Test Window

NAPLAN 2024 Timetable

Term 1, Week 7, Week Starting 13th March

Familiarising the Year 3 & 5 Students with NAPLAN

Year 3 and Year 5 students will go through a familiarisation process before the NAPLAN week; each class to complete a practice online omnibus test-no results are recorded, though if you as a parent would like to see a demonstration site of what your child will be engaging with, you can click on the public demonstration site http://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site 

Access to NAPLAN test papers and answers

• NAPLAN test papers and answers from 2012 to 2016
• NAPLAN test papers and answers from 2008 to 2011

All students in the school are familiar with online assessments as they have had experience with ACER online Numeracy and Reading assessments since Year 1- known as PAT Maths and Comprehension assessments. These are conducted annually and are part of Forest Crescent Primary School’s assessment platform for numeracy and literacy.

The demonstration tests cover a sample of possible questions and do not reflect the range of literacy and numeracy content or skills NAPLAN Online will assess.

Our NAPLAN assessment schedule at our school is listed above. Whilst previous load testing of our network has determined that our proposed schedule can be accommodated, it may end up with assessment sessions changing due to technical issues with the network or other circumstances. If this does happen, then parents will be advised of any changes.

Don’t Overprepare for NAPLAN

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students have already learnt through the school curriculum. Teachers will ensure that students are familiar with the test formats and provide appropriate support and guidance. Excessive preparation is not helpful and can lead to unnecessary anxiety. If you have any questions about your child’s preparation for NAPLAN, please make time to speak with your child’s teacher.

NAPLAN tests are constructed to allow students to demonstrate skills they have learnt over time through the school curriculum. NAPLAN test days should be treated as just another routine event on the school calendar. The best way to help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program and to advise them to do the best they can on the day.

ACARA does not recommend using commercial products, such as booklets and practice tests, to help your child prepare for NAPLAN tests. None of the commercial products currently on the market are endorsed by ACARA. The use of services by coaching providers is not recommended.

To help prepare your child, please ensure they have a good night’s sleep and a suitable breakfast and arrive on time at school, as some classes will be set up for the testing session at 8:45am in the Library.

Participating in NAPLAN

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN tests give you information on how your child is progressing against national standards. This information can be used to identify areas in which your child may benefit from additional assistance. NAPLAN does not replace but rather complements assessments run by your child’s classroom teacher throughout the year.

Adjustments can be provided for students with disability to enable them to access the tests on an equivalent basis to students without disabilities.

Some students who have been attending school in Australia for less than a year before the tests may also be eligible for exemption. Exemptions should be discussed with your child’s school.

Parents or carers may withdraw their children from the tests to address religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. It is recommended that withdrawal be considered in consultation with your child’s school. States and territories manage student withdrawals differently, but the school principal must receive formal notification before testing.

Wherever possible, schools will organise for individual students absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during the test window.

If you have any queries about NAPLAN, either have a chat with your child’s teacher or Mr Combes (Deputy Principal-Coordinator of NAPLAN 2024)