How to read NAPLAN results: a parent's guide to the student report
A NAPLAN student report can look dense the first time you see it. The good news is that it answers a small number of questions: where did my child land in each area, and what does that mean? This guide explains how to read it in plain terms. Reports change in layout from year to year, so use it alongside the explanation that comes with your child's own report, and ask the school if anything is unclear.
How to read NAPLAN results in one minute
- Find each area tested: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
- Look at the proficiency level for each one: Exceeding, Strong, Developing or Needs additional support.
- Remember that Strong means your child is meeting a challenging but reasonable expectation for their year.
- Treat the result as one snapshot from one test on one day, not a judgement of your child.
- Talk to the teacher about what they see in class, because that fills in the picture.
The four proficiency levels
Since 2023, NAPLAN has reported each area in four levels. There is no pass mark. Each level describes how a student is doing against what is expected for their year level.
- Exceeding: working above the expected level for their year.
- Strong: meeting a challenging but reasonable expectation for their year.
- Developing: working towards the expected level and likely to benefit from some support to get there.
- Needs additional support: not yet meeting the expected level and likely to benefit from extra help.
What the report shows
The individual student report shows the level your child reached in each area. It may also show where within that level they sit. The report is written for families, and it comes with a short guide to reading it. If yours includes a graph, the bands on it are the four levels.
What results can and cannot tell you
- They can show a broad area, such as reading or writing, where your child is comfortable or where extra practice would help.
- They cannot show everything your child can do. A short test on one day misses effort, creativity and progress through the year.
- A tired or anxious day can lower a result, and a lucky day can raise one, so a single result is best read alongside classwork and teacher comments.
- Year-to-year change is more useful than a single result, so keep each report to look back on.
What to do if the result is lower than you hoped
Stay calm and keep it private from your child if they are likely to be upset. Ask the teacher whether the result matches what they see in class, and which one or two skills would make the biggest difference. Then pick small, regular habits: ten minutes of reading together, a short piece of writing a week, and a vocabulary notebook. Short and regular beats long and rare.
What to do if the result is high
A high result is something to celebrate, and it does not mean there is nothing left to learn. Keep reading widely, and try writing in different forms, such as arguments, descriptions and stories, so the skills keep growing instead of settling.
Questions to take to the teacher
- Does this result match what you see in class?
- Which skill would help most at the moment: reading carefully, planning writing, spelling or something else?
- Is there anything the school is already doing, and what can we do at home to match it?
A note on feedback tools
A practice tool can show a child how their own writing or reading went and where to focus next, which is useful between tests. LiteracyLab AI gives feedback on a child's writing and reading practice, but it does not predict a NAPLAN result and is not a replacement for the school's reports or a teacher who knows your child.
Common questions
What do the NAPLAN levels mean?
There are four: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. Strong means your child is meeting a challenging but reasonable expectation for their year.
Is there a pass mark on NAPLAN?
No. Each area is described in one of four proficiency levels, and a Developing result is information about where to focus, not a failure.
When do families get the NAPLAN report?
Schools share the individual student report with families after results are released. Ask your school when to expect it if you have not seen it.
Should I worry about a Developing result?
Not by itself. It is a snapshot. Ask the teacher whether it matches what they see in class, then plan a few small, regular habits to practise at home.
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