NAPLAN for parents: dates, format and what to expect in 2027
Checked 19 October 2026 by XReady
In short
NAPLAN is a national reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy check that every student in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sits each March. The 2027 window runs from 10 to 22 March. Students are not expected to study, and it is not used for selective school entry.
NAPLAN stands for the National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy. It is a once-a-year check of the reading, writing, spelling, grammar and number skills that students are building through the school curriculum. Because it covers every student in four year levels, it is the one assessment that children across the whole country sit in common.
What NAPLAN is for
Think of it as a snapshot. A school uses the results to see where its teaching is working and where it could do more. A teacher can use them to spot a child who needs a stretch or some extra help. A parent gets a report showing how their child is going against national standards at the time of testing.
NAPLAN is only one piece of the picture. It does not replace the judgement your child's teacher forms across the year, and it is not a school entry test (external link).
The 2027 window
The window is nine school days long and opens on Wednesday 10 March 2027, closing on Monday 22 March (external link). The window is that long so schools with limited devices or staff can fit every student in. Schools are asked to complete the tests as early in the window as they can, with the first week the priority.
Your school fixes the timetable, so the exact days for your child come from the school, not from this page.
What the four tests cover
- Writing. One prompt, answered as either a narrative or a persuasive piece. The type is revealed on the day, so there is nothing to choose or guess in advance.
- Reading. Passages come from several kinds of writing (external link), including informative, imaginative and persuasive pieces, each followed by questions.
- Conventions of language. Spelling first, then grammar and punctuation.
- Numeracy. Number, algebra, measurement, geometry, statistics and probability, pitched to the year level.
The tests are sat in that order. Writing has its own scheduling rules: the Year 3 paper writing task happens on the first day (external link), and Years 5, 7 and 9 start their writing on day one as well, with day two only used when there is a genuine technical limit.
How long each test runs
| Test | Year 3 | Year 5 | Year 7 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing | 40 min (paper) | 42 min | 42 min | 42 min |
| Reading | 45 min | 50 min | 65 min | 65 min |
| Conventions of language | 45 min | 45 min | 45 min | 45 min |
| Numeracy | 45 min | 50 min | 65 min | 65 min |
These are the times set for 2027 (external link). Schools add breaks and instructions around them, and they usually split the tests over several sessions.
Online and tailored
Apart from Year 3 writing, students sit NAPLAN on a device (external link). Three of the tests adapt to the child: reading, conventions of language and numeracy choose later questions according to earlier answers. If your child comes home saying the questions got hard, that is normal. It may simply mean they were given a more challenging pathway. See the NAPLAN FAQ for more on what to say to them. If typing is slow, XType (external link) is a typing trainer by XTutio for building keyboard comfort.
How to help without pressure
The national guidance for families is short (external link). Tell your child NAPLAN is part of the school program and ask them to do their best. A short explanation of what the screen will look like can help them feel at ease, and teachers cover the question types in class.
If you would like your child to see what online questions feel like, ACARA runs a public demonstration site where they can try the tools. Our free sample papers are NAPLAN-style practice, written by us, and entirely optional.
What happens after
Results do not arrive straight away. Your child's individual report comes through the school later in the year, usually from the start of Term 3. The guide to reading the report and results timing walks through it, and proficiency levels explained covers the wording on the page.
Checked 19 October 2026. The 2027 dates and timings above are those published by ACARA on that date.
Common questions
- When is NAPLAN in 2027?
- The test window opens on Wednesday 10 March 2027 and closes on Monday 22 March 2027. Your school chooses the actual days inside that window, so ask the school for its timetable.
- Which year levels sit NAPLAN?
- Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Every student in those years has the chance to take part.
- Is NAPLAN done on paper or on a computer?
- Online, except that Year 3 students write their writing task on paper.
- How long are the NAPLAN tests?
- For 2027 the writing task is 40 minutes in Year 3 and 42 minutes in Years 5, 7 and 9. Reading and numeracy run 45, 50, 65 and 65 minutes across Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Conventions of language is 45 minutes at every level.
- Does my child need to prepare for NAPLAN?
- No. The national authority does not expect children to study and advises against heavy preparation. A little familiarity with the format is enough.
Keep reading
- NAPLAN FAQ: opting out, missed tests, tutors and selective entryShort answers to common NAPLAN questions: withdrawing a child, missed tests, whether a tutor is needed, and whether it affects selective entry.
- NAPLAN proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing explainedWhat the four NAPLAN proficiency levels mean, why Developing is not a fail, and how to read the same level in successive years.
- Understanding your child's NAPLAN report and results timingHow a NAPLAN individual student report is laid out, what the dot, triangle and shaded box mean, when reports arrive and what to do if one goes missing.
Sources, checked 19 October 2026
- National Assessment Program: For parents and carers (external link) National Assessment Program (ACARA). Checked 19 October 2026.
- NAPLAN 2027 information for parents and carers (ACARA) (external link) National Assessment Program (ACARA). Checked 19 October 2026.
- National Assessment Program: Key dates (external link) National Assessment Program (ACARA). Checked 19 October 2026.
- National Assessment Program: What's in the tests (external link) National Assessment Program (ACARA). Checked 19 October 2026.
- National Assessment Program: NAPLAN participation FAQs (external link) National Assessment Program (ACARA). Checked 19 October 2026.
Not affiliated with ACARA or the NSW Department of Education.