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Welcome back to NAPLAN Ready: A Parent's Guide. NAPLAN testing begins next Wednesday, 11 March. Here's everything you need to know about the test schedule and what your child can expect during the testing window.
The NAPLAN test window runs for 9 days, from Wednesday, 11 March to Monday, 23 March, 2026. Schools must schedule tests as soon as possible within this window, prioritising morning sessions and completing tests in the first week where possible.
Your child's school will communicate their specific testing schedule.
Your child will complete four tests in the following order:
When: Must be completed on Day 1 of testing
Duration:
What it involves:Students are given a topic or idea (called a writing stimulus or prompt) and asked to write either a narrative or persuasive response.
Special note: Year 3 students complete this test on paper, while Years 5, 7, and 9 complete it online.
When: Completed after the writing test
Duration:
What it involves:Students read a range of informative, imaginative, and persuasive texts, then answer related questions.
When: Completed after the reading test
Duration:
What it involves:Students are assessed on spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Important note: Once students move from the spelling section to grammar and punctuation, they cannot return to spelling questions. They'll receive a prompt to check their answers before moving forward.
When: Completed after the conventions of language test
Duration:
What it involves:Students are assessed on number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.
Special note for Years 7 and 9: The numeracy test includes a non-calculator section and a calculator-allowed section. Once students move to the calculator section, they cannot return to the non-calculator section.
Before test day:
On test day:
Schools will ensure:
Life happens, and sometimes students need to be absent during NAPLAN testing. Here's what you need to know:
Where possible, schools may arrange for students who are absent to complete missed tests at another time during the school's test schedule. These are called catch-up tests and take place within the same 9-day testing window.
If your child will be absent during their scheduled testing:
Important: Not all absences can be accommodated with catch-up tests, especially if they occur late in the testing window.
Students can use paper to:
Test administrators will collect this paper at the end of each test. The working-out paper is not marked, but students cannot take it home.
If your child has disability adjustments in place, these should already be arranged with your school.
Important: Adjustments should reflect the normal support your child receives in classroom assessments. They're designed to provide equal access to the assessment, not an advantage.
If you believe your child requires adjustments and they haven't been discussed:
As we head into test week:
Do:
Don't:
Remember, NAPLAN is just one part of your child's educational journey. Encourage them to approach it calmly and do their best.
Trusted by Australian families for over 17 years, helping students build confidence and achieve better results through targeted online practice.
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