All You Need to Know About NAPLAN

What is NAPLAN?

The NAPLAN test, or the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, is a standardized test administered annually to students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 in Australia. The test measures student performance in the key areas of reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation), and numeracy. Results from the NAPLAN test are used by schools and education departments to identify areas for improvement and track progress over time. It was first established in 2008, after the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) came to the conclusion that, “national testing in literacy and numeracy would proceed for the full cohort of students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 from 2008 onward.” ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) has managed the tests from 2010 onwards. Before NAPLAN, literacy and numeracy were tested separately by each state. As globalization increased, Australia responded by making educational policy part of national economic policy. This shift led to the emergence of a national schooling system.

NAPLAN testing has been a staple in Australian primary and secondary schools for years, but its methods have recently been called into question. Some believe that the tests are putting undue stress on children and limiting what is taught in classrooms to only those skills related to the test. There is also much disagreement among educators about whether these tests are appropriate, whether teachers are adjusting their instruction methods to align with the test (forsaking other areas of educational development), and how the test results are being interpreted and used. However, CIS (Center for Independent Studies) argues that as of now, there is no valid evidence to support these criticisms. There is no strong evidence for the claim that NAPLAN harms students, harms schools, or results in an undesirably narrow curriculum. The current studies against NAPLAN are based on surveys and

small-scale research with many weaknesses.

What is the purpose of NAPLAN?

There are three main purposes of Naplan -:

Tool to improve schools and teaching. — The NAPLAN results are useful for identifying problems in the school system, this helps administrators implement solutions on a national, state, or even student level.

Transparency. — The results of literacy and numeracy tests are made transparent at the national, state, territory, and school level. This allows parents to see how their children compare to other students across the nation.

Accountability. — NAPLAN keeps schools and governments accountable for literacy and numeracy results, which is vital given the significant investment made by taxpayers and parents.

What is a good NAPLAN score?

NAPLAN results are reported on 5 different scales, one for each domain: reading, writing and numeracy, and 2 for the conventions of language (spelling and grammar/punctuation). Scores on the NAPLAN scale range from 0 to 1000 and span all year levels from Year 3 through to Year 9. It is possible to receive a negative score as well.

The NAPLAN scales are designed to ensure that a set score earned at any time reflects the same level of achievement. For example, if someone got 700 in reading in 2014, this would be equal to somebody getting 700 back in 2010. By having these stable scores, the government is able to see how different student cohorts progress over time by domain.

Every NAPLAN scale is split into 10 sections called bands, which are used to catalog a student’s progress from Years 3 through to Year 9. The lowest level, Band 1, contains the fewest points while Band 10 has the most. The equivalence tables (which can be found on ACARA’s website) can be used to convert a student’s raw score on each test to its equivalent NAPLAN scale score for each domain. The maximum number of marks on a given test varies by domain and year level and there is a national minimum standard that is located on the assessment scale. This standard represents increasingly challenging skills and requires higher scores as children get older. The minimum standards for each year are as follows: Year 3 – Band 2, Year 5 – Band 4, Year 7 – Band 5, and Year 9 – Band 6.

The table below displays the national minimum standards and common scales for NAPLAN results across all year levels:

To come to the question then. There is no set definition of a “good” NAPLAN score as it can vary based on individual student abilities and progression, school resources, and the specific year or cohort’s performance. However, a score that falls within or above the minimum standard for the relevant year and category can generally be considered satisfactory. It is important to remember that NAPLAN is just one aspect of a student’s overall academic progress and should not be used as the sole measure of their academic success. Rather, it should be used as a tool to inform teaching practices and identify areas where a student may need additional support.

Is NAPLAN compulsory?

As for the question of whether NAPLAN is compulsory, the answer is yes. According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 are  required to participate in NAPLAN testing. However, parents do have the option to withdraw their child from the assessment if they feel it is not beneficial for their child’s learning. It is important to note that a withdrawn student may still be required to attend school on NAPLAN testing days and may be given alternative tasks to complete during the testing period. Ultimately, it is up to each parent or guardian to make an informed decision about their child’s participation in NAPLAN.

What happens if you fail NAPLAN?

Students cannot fail NAPLAN. While some may view a low NAPLAN score as a failure, it is important to remember that this assessment only measures certain skills and does not reflect the full capabilities of a student. A low score does not determine future success in education or career. If a student does receive  a low NAPLAN score, it is important for their parents, teachers, and school to support them in identifying

any learning needs and developing an individualized plan to address these needs. It may also be helpful to seek additional assistance from outside resources such as tutoring programs or educational psychologists. Ultimately, it is essential for students to receive the necessary support and guidance to achieve their personal best in all areas of learning.

How do I prepare my child for NAPLAN?

One of the best ways to prepare your child for NAPLAN is by ensuring they have a consistent schedule for studying and practicing their skills in literacy and numeracy according to the Australian Curriculum. This can be done both at home and at school. It is also important to talk to your child’s teacher about their progress in these areas, as well as any concerns or areas of improvement. The teacher may be able to provide additional resources or targeted practice activities for your child. Encouraging a growth mindset and emphasizing the importance of effort over ability can also help alleviate test-related stress and nerves. Lastly, understanding and teaching the format of the test is helpful as well. Remember, NAPLAN

is just one measure of your child’s progress and should not define their self-worth. Overall, the most important thing is to support and encourage your child throughout the testing process; provide a calm and positive environment; as well as ensuring they get enough rest and nourishment. This can go a long way in helping them do their best on the day of the test.

Do NAPLAN results mean anything?

It is important to note that NAPLAN results are not the only indicator of a student’s progress or ability. There are many factors that can affect a child’s performance on standardized tests, such as their physical and mental well-being on the day of the test and potential testing anxiety. Additionally, NAPLAN does  not assess all aspects of learning and individual academic strengths may not be accurately reflected in the results. That being said, it is still important for schools and educators to analyze NAPLAN data and  use it as one tool for identifying areas where students may need additional support or resources. It can be an indicator of larger issues within a student’s educational development. This can have a detrimental effect on their studies if it remains unresolved, especially in the later years of their schooling.

It is important to note, however, that some schools use NAPLAN results to accelerate certain students  into their enrichment programs or other gifted learning streams. Some high schools also factor these test results when admitting students into the school. If your child is aiming to attend a particular high school, and they request a portfolio of your child’s achievements, it’s likely that the NAPLAN scores will be taken into consideration. However, every school has its own admission process, so make sure to contact the specific institution if you have any questions or concerns about how they choose their students (241)

Do universities look at NAPLAN results?

No, most universities do not look at NAPLAN results. However, it is essential to understand that even if the majority of universities do not factor in NAPLAN scores, many high schools will. Admission at private and specialty schools are frequently predicated on these test results.

What happens if my child misses NAPLAN?

If a student is absent during tests, schools are allowed to administer the missed test on another day. If the student is absent again, they will not be able to make up the test.

Is the NAPLAN test online now?

NAPLAN testing has moved to an online format, providing opportunities for more efficient and precise assessment of the student’s progress. The movement of NAPLAN to an online platform has several benefits, one of which is tailored (or adaptive) testing. With this type of test, the questions presented to the student change based on their performance. This is done in order to improve assessment accuracy and measure a wider range of student abilities.

A number of studies were conducted by ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) from 2012 to 2015 with the goal of eventually transitioning NAPLAN to an online platform. These studies were funded by Australia’s Department of Education and Training. The aim of this study was to see if a tailored test design would be more effective than the current design in terms of reducing standard error of measurement (SEM) for the estimate of student ability using the Rasch model. The results of the analysis showed that students who took the branching (adaptive/tailored) test had significantly lower SEM than those who took the fixed test.

Tailored/Adaptive testing works in the following way: –

All students begin with the same batch of questions (testlet A). They will then see a second set of questions that are either less complex (B) or more complex (D) depending on how they answer these initial questions. Lastly, the questions in the final testlet will be based on how the student does on the second testlet. If they do well, they’ll get more difficult questions, if average, then average complexity, and lowest scorers receive easier questions. Students who don’t do well on Test A go directly to Test C and then complete Test B. NAPLAN results are based not only on the number of questions a student answers correctly, but also on the difficulty of those questions. A student who correctly answers a more complex set of questions is more likely to achieve a higher test score than a student with the same amount of correct answers following an easier pathway.

Lastly, moving NAPLAN online also provides quicker results and more accurate scoring than

pen-and-paper versions did in the past. Plus, students find it easy to use the technology-based platform– making for an overall better testing experience. While there may be some initial challenges in

transitioning to online NAPLAN testing, the overall benefits make it a worthwhile change. The shift towards digital assessment is reflective of the modern education landscape and will ultimately lead to more effective evaluation of student learning.