NAPLAN

NAPLAN Practice Papers & Resources For 2026

The NAPLAN may seem daunting, but a little preparation goes a long way. Use these free NAPLAN practice tests & past papers to get you or your child exam ready!

Published 15 March 2025 • Updated 13 February 2026 • 10 min read

By Manoj Arachige

NAPLAN is a government assessment program that tests students' literacy and numeracy skills across primary and secondary schools. Students are assessed every 2 years, in Years 3,5,7 and 9. If you are looking for some extra practice papers to ensure your child is on track for the NAPLAN, read on.

Table of Content:

What is NAPLAN?
When is NAPLAN 2026?
What is the Reading Component?
What is the Writing Component?
What is in the Conventions of Language Component?
What is in the Numeracy Component?
NAPLAN Practice Papers
NAPLAN online resources
FAQs

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN stands for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. Think of it as a nationwide check-up to see how students are doing in key skill areas. It’s a consistent, national measure designed to see if students are meeting educational outcomes and to help schools understand what’s working and where they can improve.

It’s really important to remember that NAPLAN is a "point-in-time" assessment. It’s not a pass or fail exam, but more of a tool to see where a student is at on a particular day. It helps teachers, parents, and the education system get a clearer picture of how everyone is progressing.

The test covers four key areas, which are pretty much the building blocks of learning.

When is NAPLAN 2026?

The NAPLAN test window is 9 days in the middle of March every year. The official NAPLAN 2026 test window is from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March 2026.

Test	Scheduling requirements	Duration	Test description
Writing	Year 3 students complete the writing test on paper and must be scheduled on day 1 only. It is recommended that Year 3 writing tests be completed by all classes at the same time in the morning. Years 5, 7 and 9 writing tests are completed online and must be scheduled on day 1, with day 2 only used where there are technical or logistical limitations.	Year 3: 40 minutes Year 5: 42 minutes Year 7: 42 minutes Year 9: 42 minutes	Students are provided with a writing stimulus (prompt) and asked to write a response in a particular genre (narrative or persuasive writing). Year 3 is paper-based; Years 5, 7 and 9 are online.
Reading	To be completed after the writing test. All year levels complete this test online using adaptive testing.	Year 3: 45 minutes Year 5: 50 minutes Year 7: 65 minutes Year 9: 65 minutes	Students read a range of informative, imaginative and persuasive texts and then answer related questions to assess comprehension, interpretation and analysis skills.
Conventions of Language	To be completed after the reading test. All year levels complete this test online using adaptive testing.	Year 3: 45 minutes Year 5: 45 minutes Year 7: 45 minutes Year 9: 45 minutes	This test assesses spelling, grammar and punctuation. Students demonstrate their knowledge of language conventions through multiple-choice and interactive questions.
Numeracy	To be completed after the conventions of language test. All year levels complete this test online using adaptive testing. Years 7 and 9 have a non-calculator section followed by a calculator-allowed section.	Year 3: 45 minutes Year 5: 50 minutes Year 7: 65 minutes Year 9: 65 minutes	This test assesses number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. Questions test understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning skills.

What is the Reading Component?

The NAPLAN reading tests assess literacy proficiency in alignment with the Australian Curriculum. These tests focus on the reading of written English, with an emphasis on comprehension, interpretation, and language conventions in context. Many reading questions require students to demonstrate their understanding of these conventions.

Students are presented with various texts that showcase different writing styles. They read these texts and respond to related questions. The test consists of multiple-choice questions as well as interactive, technology-enhanced items such as drag-and-drop and hot text. The public demonstration site provides examples of these question formats and includes accessibility features for students with disabilities.

What is the Writing Component?

The three primary text types taught in school are imaginative (such as narrative writing), informative, and persuasive writing. During the NAPLAN writing test, all students receive the same writing task, regardless of whether they are in Year 3 completing a paper test, or in Years 5, 7, or 9 completing an online test.

In the writing assessment, students are given a 'writing stimulus' (also known as a 'prompt'), which presents a topic or idea. They must then craft a response in a designated text type. The specific prompts vary depending on the testing day and student year level, but they are designed to reflect the full range of expected student capabilities from Years 3 to 9. The assigned text type is only revealed on the day of the assessment.

Persuasive Writing

The Persuasive Writing Marking Guide and an example Writing stimulus can be downloaded by clicking on the links.

Note: The 2013 Persuasive Writing Marking Guide remains current.

Narrative Writing

The Narrative Writing Marking Guide and an example Writing stimulus can be downloaded.

Note: The 2010 Narrative Writing Marking Guide remains current.

What is in the Conventions of Language Component?

The Conventions of Language tests evaluate students’ proficiency in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The tests assess students’ understanding and application of written standard Australian English. Mastering these skills is critical for both reading and writing development. While spelling, grammar, and punctuation are explicitly assessed in the writing tests, knowledge of language conventions is also necessary for comprehension in reading. The assessment consists of multiple-choice, text-entry, and interactive technology-enhanced questions, such as drag-and-drop and hot-text.

What is in the Numeracy Component?

The NAPLAN numeracy tests evaluate students' mathematical knowledge, skills, and understanding. These tests assess proficiency in four key areas: understanding, fluency, problem-solving, and reasoning. The questions cover three major content strands: number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.

Year 7 and Year 9 Tests

For students in Years 7 and 9, the numeracy test is divided into two sections. The first section is a short non-calculator test that requires students to demonstrate their arithmetic skills. In the second section, students are allowed to use a calculator, though not all questions will require one.