NAPLAN: What You Need to Know
NAPLAN is an acronym that stands for National Assessment Program - Literacy And Numeracy.
It is an annual assessment that is undertaken by students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, across all schools in Australia. The purpose of NAPLAN is to provide governments, education authorities, and schools with valuable insights into the literacy and numeracy levels of young Australians, in order to identify areas for improvement and provide targeted support to those schools that need it.
The test consists of multiple choice questions and is designed to measure student skills in four key areas: reading, writing, spelling, grammar/punctuation, and numeracy. These skills are considered essential for success in schooling and beyond.
Homeschooling & NAPLAN
If you're a Homeschooling parent, you may be wondering if your child needs to sit the NAPLAN test. The answer is no - it is not compulsory for homeschoolers to sit NAPLAN. Additionally, the test cannot be completed overseas. However, if you would like to assess your child's skills to see where they stand, you can try out some free practice tests online. A quick search will bring up several options, but you can also find some examples on the ACARA website. These can give you an idea of where your child may need additional support and help you tailor your teaching to their needs.
On the other hand, if you would like your child to sit the official NAPLAN test, you will need to contact the Homeschooling unit of the Department of Education in your state. This cannot be organised directly through Euka as it is run by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
Please note that there may be timing restrictions for your application to do the NAPLAN test, so it is best to reach out to the Department of Education in your state well before the date for timely advice.
We trust this information has been valuable.