NAPLAN reading explained for parents (Years 3, 5, 7 and 9)
NAPLAN reading checks how well students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 understand what they read. This guide explains what the test looks like, what the results mean and how to help at home without adding pressure. Details change from year to year, so confirm them with your child's school or the National Assessment Program website (nap.edu.au).
When it happens
NAPLAN is held in March each year, in Term 1, for every student in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Reading is one of the tests, alongside writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. Schools tell families the timetable for their own students.
How the test is delivered
Students take the reading test on a computer. The test is tailored: after an opening set of questions, a student is given a next set that is harder or easier depending on how they went. That means two children in the same class can see different questions. This is designed so that the test can measure a wide range of ability more precisely, so a child who sees easier questions has not failed.
What students read
Students read a range of texts: informative texts such as an article, imaginative texts such as a story or poem, and persuasive texts that argue a point of view. The texts get longer and more complex in the older years.
What the questions ask
Most questions are multiple choice, and some are interactive, for example choosing or dragging words or sentences. Across the years the thinking moves from finding information that is stated, to working out the meaning of words from the sentence around them, to inference (understanding what the text suggests but does not say), and in the older years to comparing ideas and judging how a writer persuades.
How results are described
NAPLAN results are reported in four proficiency levels for each area: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. Strong means a student is meeting a challenging but reasonable expectation for their year. The results are a snapshot of how a student went on one day, so they are best used alongside what the teacher sees through the year.
Practising at home
- Read a short text together a few times a week, then ask the four kinds of question: find it, word meaning, read between the lines and sum it up.
- Always ask "how do you know?" so your child points to the words that prove an answer.
- Let your child read some texts on a screen, so the format feels familiar.
- Try the practice material and demonstration site on the National Assessment Program website, which uses the same online platform as the test.
- Keep it short and calm. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty.
On the day
Good sleep and a normal breakfast matter more than last-minute cramming. Remind your child to read every question in full, to look back at the text for the answer instead of guessing from memory, and to cross out answers that are clearly wrong before choosing.
Common questions
Does my child need to study for NAPLAN reading?
Not in a heavy way. Regular reading, talking about books and short comprehension practice are enough for most children, and the test is not a pass or fail.
Why did my child get different questions from their friend?
The online test is tailored, so the questions a student sees depend on how they answer the opening ones.
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