2021 NAPLAN NEWS

NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine how well young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. 

• NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. NAPLAN does not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. A child’s teacher will have the best insight into the child’s educational progress. NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.
• NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning through the school curriculum. Children can prepare for NAPLAN through learning the curriculum. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so. 
• The assessments allow parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy and over time. Along with other school assessment reports, NAPLAN supports parents in discussing with teachers their child’s strengths and areas for improvement.  
• NAPLAN results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress. 
• NAPLAN can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy.
• Both paper-based NAPLAN and NAPLAN Online test the same range of skills in literacy and numeracy taught through curriculum content. Student results continue to be measured against the one NAPLAN assessment scale, and students answer the same number of questions in both NAPLAN tests – paper and online. 
• Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN Online can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. Some past NAPLAN papers are also available. 
• The number of adjustments available aim to encourage participation in NAPLAN Online for as many students as possible.

Please click here for a detailed information guide for parents and carers.

Please click here for a detailed guide for protecting privacy.

Key Dates for New Farm Students in Years 3 and 5

NAPLAN Practice Tests

NAPLAN Official Tests

BYO iPad Information for Year 5 Students

All students require the latest version of iOS 14 and the lock down browser. Click the links below for more information.

BYO Device Parent Information Sheet

Lockdown Browser Information

https://www.assessform.edu.au/Layouts/Technology/LockedDownBrowser.aspx

Why NAPLAN is moving to online

• All schools are to transition to NAPLAN Online by 2022, as the online format improves NAPLAN. 
• NAPLAN Online provides a better assessment and more precise results. 
• One of the main benefits of NAPLAN Online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, giving them more opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do. 
• Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.
• For more information about the move to online, visit the NAPLAN Online page of the NAP website 

Research shows that parents generally accept the move to NAPLAN online and believe it will contribute to an overall improvement of NAPLAN.

In 2018 the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), which delivers NAPLAN, commissioned independent research into parent perceptions of NAPLAN, their understanding of its purpose and of the move to NAPLAN online. The research included a survey of 1,200 parents in all states and territories as well as 16 ninety-minute focus groups. 

Findings from the research show: 

The majority of parents (3 out of 5) believe that NAPLAN is valuable. NAPLAN is valued for providing parents with a snapshot of their child’s progress.   

• Some negative views remained and parents noted a lack of familiarity with the format and content of NAPLAN tests.
• Parental attitudes toward NAPLAN are influenced by the way in which the school positions the tests.
• In general, parents accept the move to NAPLAN online. The main reason for supporting the move online is as it is seen as a natural progression. 
• The majority of parents believe that moving NAPLAN online will improve NAPLAN and result in a more engaging experience for students.  
• Parents with children who have already completed NAPLAN online expressed few concerns. 

Read the Colmar Brunton: research findings in full.

ICT skills – part of the school curriculum

Students do not need to be computer experts to take the NAPLAN test online. Making sure students have computer skills is part of the school curriculum, and teachers will ensure students are familiar with the online test format and the device they will use. 

The writing test is not about handwriting skills and NAPLAN Online is not about keyboarding skills. Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.

To see the types of questions and interactive features of NAPLAN Online, try the NAPLAN Online public demonstration site, available on the NAP website.  

Students with disability

NAPLAN Online has audio and visual alternative questions, including colour themes, that may be suitable for some students with disability.

For example, students:

• with hearing impairments receive proofreading questions (that do not depend on audio) to test their spelling rather than audio dictation items.
• with visual impairments are assisted within the platform by magnification and specially designed images, so that questions can be viewed more easily.
• who require particular contrast or colour themes access black text against a selection of five different colour backgrounds.
• receive rest breaks or extra time if required.

All questions are also keyboard accessible. This means that all students can access the online assessment without the use of a mouse or other pointing device. Using a mouse may be particularly challenging for students with motor impairments.

The Guide for schools to assist students with disability to access NAPLAN Online provides an overview of the process that teachers, in consultation with parents and carers, follow to assist students with disability.

Further adjustments will be included in NAPLAN Online each year to provide improved access for students with disability.

 COVID FAQs

How does my school ensure any distancing or hygiene requirements are adhered to during NAPLAN testing, including cleaning of school devices?

Schools are supported by their respective state/territory governments to implement plans in relation to COVID-19, ensuring a safe environment for students and staff. Schools will give due consideration to the necessary distancing or hygiene requirements, including space between students and cleaning of shared devices. The measures will be directed by the requirements of COVID-safe plans in each jurisdiction. Schools may also review their test schedules to reduce the number of students in each test session and/or provide more time between tests, as necessary. 

What happens if my child is sick or quarantined during NAPLAN testing?   

For individual students who are absent at the time of testing, schools can organise for them to complete missed tests at another time during the testing window.   

What happens if my school is closed during NAPLAN testing?   

Students at schools that are closed during the test window, including the extended test security period, will not have an opportunity to sit the tests at a later date; however, schools may wish to utilise similar assessments (e.g. ACER PAT) to gauge student achievement. Students will be marked as absent and not receive NAPLAN results for any tests they are absent for. 

Can NAPLAN tests be completed at home?  

No. Students undertake NAPLAN testing at their school. Schools facing closures during the NAPLAN test window will need to contact their TAA to discuss alternative scheduling opportunities.