The NAPLAN - Changes & Updates

The NAPLAN is a yearly national assessment program that focuses on literacy and numeracy skills for all students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9. This assessment’s purpose is to find the strengths and weaknesses in teaching programs across schools in Australia so the level of difficulty of the exam is relatively easier compared to the OC and Selective Tests. 

Updates to the Assessment

Since its introduction, the NAPLAN has been administered via a paper-based exam but from 2018, schools have been gradually transitioning to NAPLAN Online which is a computer-based version of the assessment. While some schools have continued to use the paper-based tests, most have already made the shift, with all schools scheduled to undertake NAPLAN Online by 2022.

This new format will not only allow results to be released faster but also facilitate the integration of tailored testing - an assessment system that adapts to the ability of each student. Students will be presented with questions either more or less challenging depending on how they perform which allows the exam to better assess each child’s ability and create more precise results. 

Tailored Testing Explained

NAPLAN Online is also introducing locked sections - some sections of the test will lock once a new section is started to prevent students from going back and changing their answers through information found in the new section. This will also help provide a more accurate result for students. 

Do NAPLAN Results Matter?

Since the purpose of the exam is to assess each school’s teaching program, individual student marks are generally not used. However, if your child’s school fails to create a school mark for the OC or Selective Tests, the NAPLAN results may be used instead. These results could also be requested by private schools for scholarships or for changing schools. 

More information can be found in our blog, Does the NAPLAN Actually Matter?

Published 8 May 2021.