What is the NAPLAN testing and how does it work? Key FAQs answered

NAPLAN testing resumed for around 1.3 million Australian school students after a technical issue temporarily disrupted access to the online platform. The disruption affected the rollout of the NAPLAN tests, which are administered nationwide to measure students’ literacy and numeracy skills. Schools across the country were unable to access the digital test earlier in the day due to the unexpected problem.

According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, the technical issue began around 9:20 a.m. AEDT, preventing some students from logging into the testing platform.

ACARA Chief Executive Stephen Gniel said the organisation became aware of the issue shortly after it began. "We became aware of a technical issue which was affecting students being able to log on to the online platform to complete their NAPLAN assessments," he said.


The authority later confirmed that the problem had been resolved and testing had resumed across affected schools. "NAPLAN testing has now resumed following a widespread issue earlier this morning, which affected students being able to log on to the online platform to complete their assessments," an ACARA spokesperson said.

The organisation also apologised for the disruption caused to students and schools. "We apologise for the disruption to students and schools, and thank them for their patience. The issue has now been resolved, and schools have been informed they can resume testing."

Below is everything you need to know about the NAPLAN test.

What is the NAPLAN test?

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual nationwide test taken by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia. It measures students’ literacy and numeracy skills, including reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The assessment helps parents, teachers and schools understand how students are progressing and whether they are meeting national proficiency standards.

NAPLAN results provide insight into student learning over time and help education authorities evaluate teaching programmes and identify areas where additional support may be needed. The test is only one part of school assessment and does not replace regular evaluations by teachers.

FAQs on NAPLAN test

Why do students take NAPLAN?

NAPLAN helps assess how well students are developing key reading, writing and numeracy skills. It allows parents and teachers to track student progress and compare performance against national standards.

How is the NAPLAN test conducted?

Most NAPLAN tests are conducted online using an adaptive format, meaning the difficulty of questions may change depending on a student’s answers. This helps measure abilities more accurately. However, Year 3 students complete the writing test on paper.

What subjects does NAPLAN assess?

NAPLAN includes four main test areas: reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy

Who takes part in NAPLAN?

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate. Adjustments may be made for students with disabilities, and in exceptional cases some students may receive exemptions.

What happens if a student misses the test?

If a student is absent on the scheduled test day, schools may arrange for them to complete the test later within the testing window.

Do students need to prepare for NAPLAN?

Students are not expected to study specifically for the test. Teachers usually familiarise students with the format, and parents can support children by reassuring them and encouraging them to simply do their best.

How are NAPLAN results reported?

Results are measured against national proficiency standards and placed into four categories: exceeding, strong, developing, and needs additional support. Schools provide individual student reports to parents later in the year.

How are NAPLAN results used?

Results help parents and students track academic progress, teachers identify areas where students need support or additional challenges, schools and education systems evaluate teaching programs and improve learning outcomes

When are NAPLAN tests held?

NAPLAN tests are conducted annually in March across Australia. The testing window usually runs for about nine days to allow schools flexibility in scheduling.