Help your Year 5 child feel calm and confident for NAPLAN with low-pressure, exam-style practice aligned with the online format— Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy.
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Get full accessNAPLAN (the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is an annual check of literacy and numeracy for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia. It looks at four areas — Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language, and Numeracy.
NAPLAN is not a pass/fail exam and your child cannot "fail" it. It's a point-in-time snapshot to help teachers and parents see how a child is going — it is not used for selective or scholarship entry. Year 5 tests are sat online, except the Year 5 Writing test (online).
Four tests over the assessment window. Year 5 has no calculator section.
Comprehension across a range of texts — fiction, information and more.
One response to a narrative or persuasive prompt, revealed on the day.
Spelling, then grammar and punctuation, in two locked sections.
Number, measurement and problem-solving — one test, no calculator at Year 5.
Durations are from the official NAP test-window guide and can vary year to year — confirm the current figures on nap.edu.au.
Since 2023, results are reported against four proficiency levels for each area — not the old 1–10 bands (so older "band" guides are out of date):
Your school sends an Individual Student Report later in the year (NSW families also receive an Additional Student Report with more detail). Because the bar rises each year, the same level in Year 3 and Year 5 can still mean real progress.
NAPLAN runs to the same rhythm every year:
NAPLAN 2026: the tests run over about two weeks in March 2026, in the order Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language, then Numeracy. If your child is away, schools offer a catch-up within the window, and individual results reach families around the middle of the year (Term 3). Exact dates change each year — confirm the current window on nap.edu.au.
NAPLAN isn't something to cram for — the national authority discourages heavy coaching. The best preparation is gentle familiarity and confidence: a calm child who knows what the tests look like will do their best.
A free, low-pressure Year 5 diagnostic across all four areas, with an instant skills report. No payment details needed.
Try a free diagnostic See the Year 5 packageNo. NAPLAN is not a pass/fail test — it's a snapshot of progress, reported as one of four proficiency levels.
In Year 5, all tests including Writing are done online.
No. NAPLAN is a progress check, not a selection test. NSW selective and OC entry use separate tests.
Aim for "Strong" or "Exceeding" of the four levels. The old 1–10 bands are no longer used (since 2023).
Gently. The national authority discourages cramming — familiarisation and confidence matter most. A practice run helps your child know what to expect.
Individual reports reach families around the middle of the year (Term 3). Your school distributes them.
Start with a free, low-pressure diagnostic across all four NAPLAN areas — no payment details needed.
Try a free diagnosticLast reviewed June 2026. Facts are drawn from ACARA / NAP (nap.edu.au) and NESA. NAPLAN is run by ACARA; Test Magic is an independent practice provider, not affiliated with ACARA or NESA. Dates and details change each year.
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