Year 5 NAPLAN: A Complete Guide For Parents

Curious about Year 5 NAPLAN? Wondering whether they impact your child’s future? We break it all down for you—so you know exactly what to expect and how to support your child through the process.

You type “Year 5 NAPLAN” into Google, realising the test is fast approaching. You want to support your child, but questions start racing through your mind. What is NAPLAN? Where do the results go? Are there Year 5 NAPLAN practice tests? And most importantly—how can I help my child feel prepared and confident?

Don’t worry! This complete Year 5 NAPLAN guide will answer all your questions and give you the tools to help your child succeed.

What is NAPLAN?

If your child is in Year 3, 5, 7, or 9, they will sit the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The NAPLAN is a nationwide test that assesses your child’s reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy skills to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

The goal of NAPLAN is to provide a snapshot of your child’s skills compared to other students across Australia. It helps parents, teachers, and schools understand how well students are meeting national literacy and numeracy benchmarks.

 

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Why does NAPLAN matter?

NAPLAN is a key tool for monitoring educational progress and performance. It benefits:

  • Your child – Helps identify strengths and areas needing extra support in literacy and numeracy.
  • Teachers – Provides insight into how students are progressing, allowing them to tailor lessons and support where needed.
  • Schools – Enables schools to evaluate teaching strategies and improve learning programs.
  • Education bodies – The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) uses NAPLAN results to monitor national education standards and ensure all students receive quality education.

While NAPLAN does not affect school grades, some selective schools and scholarship programs consider NAPLAN results as part of their admission criteria.

When is Year 5 NAPLAN?

NAPLAN is held over three days in Term 1 of the school year. In 2025, the Year 5 NAPLAN test will take place from Wednesday 12 to Monday 24 March 2025.

Since 2022, schools have fully transitioned to online testing.

What’s different about online testing?

NAPLAN online introduces adaptive testing, meaning the test adjusts to your child’s performance:

  • Personalised difficulty – If your child answers correctly, they receive slightly harder questions. If they struggle, the test offers simpler ones. This helps assess their ability more accurately.
  • Faster results – Digital testing speeds up processing, meaning you receive your child’s results sooner.
  • Greater security – Online testing minimises the risk of lost or damaged test papers.

The online format includes interactive elements, such as drag-and-drop questions, which make it more engaging and reflective of modern learning tools.

Girl in headphones studying with a worksheet and laptop.

FAQs for parents

Should my child study for Year 5 NAPLAN?

Yes! While NAPLAN isn’t a test students can “cram” for, practising literacy and numeracy skills can boost confidence and reduce stress. Encourage regular reading, writing, and problem-solving at home. Familiarising your child with the test format using past papers or online practice questions can also help them feel more prepared.

How does NAPLAN impact my child’s education?

NAPLAN doesn’t count towards school marks, but some selective schools may consider it as part of their entry process.

What if my child doesn’t perform well?

NAPLAN isn’t a pass or fail test. It’s just a tool to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Schools use the results to support students, not to judge them.

Can my child get extra support?

If you’re looking for additional academic support, Matrix’s Year 4 and 5 English and Maths courses and NAPLAN practice tests can help your child strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills ahead of NAPLAN. Our structured lessons ensure they grasp key concepts and build confidence in their abilities.

How can I help my child feel confident for NAPLAN Year 5?

Confidence comes from being prepared and having the right mindset. Encourage regular reading, writing, and maths practice at home, and reassure them that NAPLAN is just one part of their learning journey. A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast can also help them feel their best on the day.

For structured learning, Matrix’s Year 4 and 5 courses and NAPLAN practice tests help your child feel more prepared and capable when facing NAPLAN and other academic challenges.

Download your free Year 5 NAPLAN Practice Test

Free Year 5 NAPLAN Mock Test Download

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