NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skill in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals about student achievement which can be used to inform teaching and learning programs.
NAPLAN tests provide point-in-time information regarding student progress across Australia in literacy and numeracy and are intended to complement teacher judgement and the wide range of formal and informal testing programs that are already used in schools. As with all single assessments, NAPLAN test results are not intended to be used in isolation from other school-based assessment programs. Schools should ensure that, along with whole-school planning for delivery of the VELS curriculum, a variety of assessment tasks is used to assess student learning.
NAPLAN 2012 test dates for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are as follows:
* Year 3 and 5 students undertake one numeracy test. The use of a calculator is not permitted in this test. Year 7 and 9 students undertake two numeracy tests, one of which requires the use of a calculator.
Prior to 2008, States and Territories conducted their own literacy and numeracy tests, often at different times of the year. In Victoria, NAPLAN tests replaced the previous Achievement Improvement Monitor (AIM) English and Mathematics assessment program (and the earlier Learning Assessment Project) which had been in operation since 1996.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is responsible for the development of the NAPLAN test.
The VCAA is responsible for implementing NAPLAN tests for all Victorian schools.
The VCAA collects and reports on all of the results from the tests undertaken by students in Victoria.
Parents receive feedback about their child's performance, including individual reports for each child.
Schools will continue to receive results for individual students, groups of students and whole school performance.
Each child who participated in the tests will receive an individual parent report that shows performance in literacy and numeracy. The report also compares an individual to:
A pamphlet, Reporting Information for Parents will also be included with each parent report to provide assistance with interpreting the results.
Parents should contact their child’s school in the first instance regarding the distribution of parent reports.
The NAPLAN tests offer the same levels of support for students with special needs as previously existed under the AIM testing system.
All students are encouraged to take part in the NAPLAN tests. Special provisions are available to meet the needs of individual students, such as alternative versions of the tests in Large Print or Braille.
Parents should contact their child's school in the first instance regarding any special provisions for their child.
There are two types of pamphlets for parents and these are also available in languages other than English. The pamphlets for 2012 are:
Copies of these pamphlets can be found in the Parent Information Pamphlets section.