NAPLAN

NAPLAN Practice Papers [UPDATED 2025]

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 01 October 2025 • 9 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:

When is NAPLAN 2025?
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
FAQs

When is NAPLAN 2025?

The NAPLAN test window is 9 days in the middle of March every year.

Test	Scheduling requirements	Duration	Test description
Writing	Year 3 students do a paper-based writing test (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 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’ (sometimes called a ‘prompt’ – an idea or topic) and asked to write a response in a particular genre (narrative or persuasive writing).
Reading	To be completed after the writing test.	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.
Language Convention	To be completed after the reading test.	Year 3: 45 minutes Year 5: 45 minutes Year 7: 45 minutes Year 9: 45 minutes	This test assesses spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Numeracy	To be completed after the conventions of language test.	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.

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.

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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.