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VCAA Bulletin
No. 47 - April 2019
Foundation-10 Assessment

Back to VCAA Bulletin No. 47 - April 2019

Foundation–10 Assessment

NAPLAN Helpdesk

The VCAA operates a Helpdesk service to assist principals and NAPLAN coordinators with queries related to all aspects of NAPLAN 2019. Schools should contact the Helpdesk if they require assistance: 1800 648 637 (freecall) or vcaa.naplan.help@edumail.vic.gov.au.

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Student participation

With regard to student participation, the National Protocols for Test Administration state that NAPLAN:

  • is a national assessment and all students are expected to participate
  • should be accessible to all students to demonstrate their actual skills and knowledge.

It is very important that eligible Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students are given the opportunity to participate in the tests and that the program is actively promoted in school communities.

Detailed information regarding allowable disability adjustments and student eligibility is provided in Part A of the NAPLAN 2019 Handbook for Principals. Principals should ensure that parents of students who require disability adjustments are informed about, and have agreed to, the nature of the adjustments provided.

Principals are also reminded that final decisions regarding student exemption or withdrawal from NAPLAN rest with parents and carers. Under no circumstances should a student be exempted or withdrawn from NAPLAN without parental consent and signed approval.

For schools conducting NAPLAN Online in 2019, student exemptions and withdrawals must be processed before the start of the NAPLAN Online test period (Tuesday 14 to Friday 24 May 2019). Exempt and withdrawn students will not be able to access NAPLAN Online tests.

Fully signed Records of Exemption and Student Withdrawal forms, and records of parental consent for disability adjustments, must be kept at the school for at least 12 months and made available to the VCAA upon request.

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Catch-up tests for individual students who are absent on test days

Principals are requested to facilitate catch-up tests for individual students who are absent on the day of one or more scheduled test sessions.

For schools conducting NAPLAN on paper, arrangements should be made for students who are absent on one or more test days but who return to school on or before the Friday of test week to sit catch-up tests. Students can sit catch-up tests after the scheduled test times on the Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of test week. Students who are absent on all test days should not be expected to complete all tests on Friday 17 May 2019 and should be marked as absent for the tests they were unable to complete.

For schools conducting NAPLAN Online, catch-up tests can be scheduled due to absence or test disruption. Advice on catch-up tests for individual students can be found in the Handbook for Principals: NAPLAN Online 2019 or the NAPLAN Coordinator Guide: NAPLAN Online 2019.

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The NAPLAN Test Administration website

From Tuesday 23 April 2019, the NAPLAN Test Administration website will be updated with student enrolment information and released to schools to complete the following tasks related to student participation:

  • produce personalised exemption and withdrawal forms
  • request the use of a scribe and/or assistive technology
  • add details of new students
  • print student attendance forms (for paper test only).

Schools that record attendance on printed forms will need to transfer the attendance details to the website after the tests.

All test information needs to be accurately recorded on the website as soon as possible after the tests are conducted. The prompt completion of this confirmation process is integral in ensuring that NAPLAN results can be processed as quickly as possible.

A detailed instruction guide for NAPLAN coordinators can be accessed via the 'Help' function on the website.

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NAPLAN Online test session preparation

Schools conducting NAPLAN Online in 2019 are required to complete a variety of pre-test activities. Refer to the NAPLAN Online Test Administration Handbook for Teachers 2019 and the NAPLAN Coordinators Guide 2019 for a pre-test activity checklist to assist with test administration preparations.

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Delivery of the NAPLAN 2019 test packages

Schools sitting NAPLAN on paper

Delivery of the NAPLAN 2019 test packages to schools will begin on Tuesday 30 April 2019 for all schools conducting NAPLAN. Staff who have been authorised by the principal to take delivery of the tests should be briefed about the pending arrival of the test packages and sign for them on arrival. If test packages have not been received by Tuesday 7 May 2019, contact the NAPLAN Helpdesk immediately.

Test packages will include test books for all NAPLAN tests, Reading magazines, Writing stimulus materials and copies of the Test Administration Handbook. The package will also include information pamphlets (which should be distributed to parents before the commencement of the NAPLAN tests), a Test Materials Security log and a packing slip.

Secure test materials will be packed separately in tamper evident bags in the test package and schools should document the receipt, tracking, storage, distribution and collection of the test materials in the Test Materials Security log. The packing slip should be used to check that the correct quantity of materials has been provided. If insufficient quantities of materials are delivered, the principal or NAPLAN coordinator should immediately request extra NAPLAN test material via the Test Administration website.

Submit requests for extra NAPLAN test materials to the VCAA by Wednesday 8 May 2019.

Schools may retain any unused test books that do not have pre-printed student details on the front cover. All used and unused test books with student details printed on the front cover must be returned to the VCAA.

Schools sitting NAPLAN Online

In 2019 test packages will be delivered to all NAPLAN Online schools as a contingency measure. Some schools may also receive a Year 3 Writing test package and alternative test format materials. Delivery of the NAPLAN test packages will begin on Tuesday 30 April 2019. NAPLAN coordinators should brief authorised staff about the pending arrival of the test packages and record the name of the staff member who signs for receipt from the courier. The contingency test package must not be opened unless advised by the VCAA. Contingency packs will be collected by courier from Monday 3 June 2019.

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Genre for the NAPLAN 2019 Writing test

Schools are reminded that Year 3 and 5 students will receive a different topic from Year 7 and 9 students for the NAPLAN 2019 Writing test. This decision was made to ensure both maximum engagement and fairness for all students.

The genre for the NAPLAN 2019 Writing test will be either narrative or persuasive writing, and it will be the same one for all year levels. The genre for the Writing test will not be disclosed before the test period and students will not be able to choose the genre in which they write their response.

The National Assessment Program website includes further details about the Writing test and relevant FAQs.

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NAPLAN test observation visits

Each year, in order to ensure the standard administration of the NAPLAN tests, the VCAA conducts a series of test observation visits to selected schools throughout Victoria.

NAPLAN test observers visit schools on one or more days during the testing period to observe the conduct of the tests and to provide advice and assistance to schools to ensure compliance with all test administration requirements.

NAPLAN test observers do not participate in the administration of the tests and later complete a written report for the VCAA.

Feedback from principals and NAPLAN test observers in the past has been very positive and the VCAA thanks schools in advance for their cooperation in this activity.

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