What is NAPLAN and what do I need to do as a parent to help prepare my child for this?
NAPLAN can be a source of stress for many parents and students alike. This doesn’t have to be the case for you! We are going to go through everything you need to know to help prepare your child as best as possible for this assessment.
1. Why do students do NAPLAN?
NAPLAN is the only national assessment that all Australians have the opportunity to undertake. It is an assessment that assesses the numeracy and literacy levels of students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9.
As a student moves through their academic journey, it is important to assess how well they are learning all the essential skills like reading, writing, and numeracy.
NAPLAN is only one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process but doesn’t replace those of the teachers, but rather assists teachers by providing extra information about the student’s academic progress.
2. Where does the NAPLAN take place?
Schools have transitioned from paper-based to computer-based assessments. All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.
Using online NAPLAN tests gives more accurate results and can be more engaging for students. It is tailored to present questions based on the student’s previous response.
Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based on both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.
3. What does NAPLAN assess?
NAPLAN is designed to assess the literacy and numeracy skills that students are meant to learn throughout their academic journey.
Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics.
4. Who writes the NAPLAN?
NAPLAN is for everyone. Adjustments are available for students with disability who have diverse functional abilities and needs. Adjustments should reflect the support generally provided for classroom assessments.
In exceptional circumstances, a student with a disability that severely limits their capacity to participate in the assessment, or a student who has recently arrived in Australia and has a non-English speaking background, may be granted a formal exemption.
5. What if my child is absent from school on NAPLAN days?
Schools may arrange for an absent student to complete the NAPLAN at another time.
6. Where can I get a report on my child’s performance?
Each student’s performance is shown on a national achievement scale for every assessment. This is to determine whether or not the student is meeting expectations. A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided by your child’s school later in the year.
7. How are NAPLAN results used?
- NAPLAN results can be used by students and parents/carers to discuss progress with teachers.
- Teachers can use the results to identify students that need more support or that need to be challenged more.
- Schools use the results to determine the strengths and weaknesses and to set goals for numeracy and literacy.
8. What can I do to support my child?
Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. One of the best ways to support your child is simply to remind them that this is part of the schooling curriculum and that all they need to do is their best.
Alchemy Tuition provides support and guidance in preparing for the NAPLAN and we have skilled tutors that can assist your child in performing to their highest potential. Book now to see how we can assist you!
