Foundation–10 Assessment

Education State Target sample assessments – measuring excellence in Critical and Creative Thinking (CCT) and The Arts

In 2018 the VCAA will conduct sample assessment programs in CCT and The Arts with a sample of schools across Victoria. This is an exciting opportunity for schools to be involved in the collection of statewide data in CCT and The Arts. The assessments support the Education State Targets and were previously conducted in 2016 and 2017. The participation of students from sampled schools will play a significant role in the tracking of these important targets.

The assessment periods are as follows:

CCT: Monday 21 May – Friday 8 June 2018 (Term 2, weeks 6–8)

The Arts: Monday 11 June – Friday 17 August 2018 (Term 2, weeks 9–11 and Term 3, weeks 1–5)

If your school is selected to participate, your principal will be notified by email early in Term 1 with additional details about the assessment programs.

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NAPLAN 2018 test dates

Schools are reminded that NAPLAN pencil and paper testing will take place from Tuesday 15 May to Thursday 17 May 2018. Schools participating in NAPLAN Online will have from Tuesday 15 May to Friday 25 May 2018 to conduct the online assessments.

The tests must be administered in the order, on the dates and within the times specified in the timetables provided in the NAPLAN 2018 Handbook for Principals. Under no circumstances may a test be conducted before the official test date or time. Please note that the test security period has been extended in line with the NAPLAN Online test window and all tests must remain secure until Friday 1 June 2018.

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Requests to vary NAPLAN 2018 test dates

Schools with compelling reasons that are outside of their control (for example, where a local public holiday occurs during the testing period) may request permission to participate in the tests in the week after testing until Friday 25 May 2018 for pencil and paper NAPLAN and until Friday 1 June 2018 for NAPLAN Online. This option is only available for classes or groups of students, and not for individual students. As previously advised, schools that book a camp in test week will not be granted approval to vary their NAPLAN test dates.

Request to Vary Dates forms can be found in the NAPLAN 2018 Handbook for Principals. Completed forms must be returned to the VCAA by Friday 23 February 2018.

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NAPLAN Online

As part of the transition in Victoria, a group of schools will administer NAPLAN as an online test in place of the pencil and paper tests in 2018.

All other schools will receive advice early in Term 2 regarding the timing of their transition to NAPLAN Online. Further details regarding associated activities will be provided at this time.

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NAPLAN 2018 Principals' package

The NAPLAN 2018 Principals' packages were delivered to schools in the week beginning Monday 29 January 2018. If you have not received the Principals' package by Tuesday 6 February 2018 please contact the NAPLAN Helpdesk on 1800 648 637.

The package includes the NAPLAN 2018 Handbook for Principals. Part A of the handbook contains the National Protocols for Test Administration (the Protocols) and provides detailed information on all aspects of the administration of the tests. In addition, to ensure that the tests are administered fairly to all students, a NAPLAN Code of Conduct, providing a summary of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours by principals and test administrators, is also included in this section. Principals should ensure that all staff members involved in NAPLAN have read the Protocols carefully.

Part B of the handbook provides information specifically related to implementing the NAPLAN 2018 in Victoria.

Schools conducting NAPLAN Online will receive a Handbook for Principals – NAPLAN Online with specific information for administering the assessments online.

To ensure that all Australian students complete the tests under similar conditions, principals should make sure that all relevant personnel have read and understood both sections of the handbook and that, where applicable, a copy is also provided to the NAPLAN coordinator.

The NAPLAN 2018 Principals' package also includes an important information sheet for NAPLAN 2018 and login details to the Test Administration website.

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Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN Numeracy tests

As in 2017, the Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN Numeracy tests will be split into two sections: Part A, which requires calculators, and Part B, for which students are not permitted to have calculators.

While the non-calculator section of the test will be shorter, the number of questions across the entire test that require mental calculation will not change. Detailed instructions on how to administer this test session will be included in the Test Administration Handbook for Teachers.

As in previous years, calculators used for the calculator-allowed section of the Numeracy test must not be multifunction or internet-accessible devices. ACARA have confirmed that tablets (including iPads) and similar devices fall into this category and their use, therefore, is not permitted.

Schools must ensure that all Year 7 and Year 9 students have access to, and are familiar with, a suitable calculator for the NAPLAN Numeracy tests in May 2018.

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NAPLAN 2018 Writing test information

ACARA and all NAPLAN Test Administration Authorities have agreed that, as in previous years, there will be two writing prompts: one prompt for Years 3 and 5 and a different prompt for Years 7 and 9. This decision has been taken to ensure continued maximum engagement and fairness for students nationally.

The genre for the NAPLAN 2018 Writing test will be either narrative or persuasive, and it will be the same genre for all year levels. The genre for the Writing test will not be disclosed prior to the test day and students will not be able to choose the genre in which they write their response.

The Year 3 Writing test will be conducted as pencil and paper for all schools, including those schools transitioning to NAPLAN Online.

Further information on the Writing test is available on the VCAA website.

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NAPLAN Test Administration website

The VCAA provides schools with the NAPLAN Test Administration website to enable a range of administrative tasks to be completed online.

The website is currently available for the enrolment phase. During this phase all schools are asked to complete the following tasks by Friday 23 February 2018:

• Statement of Compliance
• registering authorised staff
• reviewing school contact and address details
• ordering alternative format test books (such as large print, black and white, braille and electronic).

Please note that independent schools are also required to pre-enrol students by uploading data to the website. This is to be completed by Friday 16 February 2018.

The NAPLAN Test Administration website is a secure website that requires a user ID and password to log in. The login details are provided to principals in the letter accompanying the NAPLAN 2018 Principals' package.

Detailed instructions to assist schools with completing tasks during the enrolment phase of the website are available on the VCAA website.

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Student registration for NAPLAN 2018

Students undertaking the NAPLAN 2018 tests will be registered via a pre-enrolment process prior to the tests. Pre-enrolment allows individual student details to be printed on test books and provides significant efficiencies in the administration of the tests at the school level and in the processing of test results.

As in previous years, the following processes apply for NAPLAN test pre-enrolment for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students.

Government schools

Through an agreement between the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the VCAA, all students at government schools will be pre-enrolled in the NAPLAN tests based on their enrolment status on the CASES21 system, as of the 2018 February school census day. This means that government schools do not have to manually upload their enrolment data.

Catholic schools

The Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM) will collect and provide student registration information to the VCAA on behalf of all Catholic schools, as part of their 2018 February school census process.

Independent schools

Independent schools are required to upload data files via the Test Administration website directly to the VCAA. This process must be completed by Friday 16 February 2018.

Further details regarding student registration and pre-enrolment processes will be provided by letter early in Term 1, 2018.

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Ordering alternative test formats

All NAPLAN test materials will be available in large print and braille formats. In addition, A4 size black and white materials are available. The interactive PDF, large print, black-and-white or braille materials need to be ordered online through the NAPLAN Test Administration website.

The formats available in large print are described below:

• N18A – A4 size paper, approximately three questions displayed per page
• N18 – A3 size paper, questions displayed as per standard book
• N24A – A4 size paper, approximately two questions displayed per page*
• N24 – A3 size paper, approximately two questions per page
• N36 – A3 size paper, approximately one question per page.

*The N24A – A4 size paper will be a double-sided layout in 2018, not single-sided as in previous years.

Braille versions of the NAPLAN tests can either be requested in Grade 1 uncontracted or Grade 2 contracted, single or double spacing.

An interactive PDF version of the tests is also available. This electronic format enables students to answer questions on screen and may be appropriate for students with a disability who use a computer as part of their usual adjustments when participating in classroom assessments and who are not able to otherwise access the tests through any of the other adjustments for disability.

Requests for alternative test formats must be submitted via the NAPLAN Test Administration website by Friday 23 February 2018.

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Student exemption and withdrawal forms for 2018

Personalised forms for recording student exemptions and withdrawals will be available for printing via the NAPLAN Test Administration website from mid-April, after student enrolment is completed. Further information regarding completion of these forms will be supplied in April.

Principals are reminded that final decisions regarding student exemption or withdrawal from the NAPLAN rests with parents or carers. Under no circumstances should a student be exempted or withdrawn from the NAPLAN without signed approval of the parent or carer prior to the commencement of the tests.

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Requesting permission for the use of a scribe or assistive technology

Permission for eligible students to use a scribe in the Writing test, or to use assistive technology, must be sought and approved by the VCAA prior to the NAPLAN tests.

Please note that all applications for the use of a scribe or assistive technology need to be completed via the NAPLAN Test Administration website. The website will be available for this purpose from mid-April, and applications must be lodged by Tuesday 8 May 2018.

Further information is provided in the NAPLAN 2018 Handbook for Principals.

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