National Literacy and Numeracy Assessments May 2009

Questions and answers

Test design and purpose

• How were the NAPLAN tests developed?
• At what time of the year do students sit NAPLAN tests?
• Who sits the tests?
• Are any students exempted from sitting NAPLAN tests?
• What is tested?
• How do students benefit from these tests?
• Instead of testing every student in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, why aren’t tests conducted on sample student populations in these years?
• Isn’t the curriculum different in each state and territory and doesn’t that mean students learn different things?
• What are the advantages of NAPLAN tests?

Test results

• What NAPLAN results are published?
• When are NAPLAN results released to the general public?
• Why are the national results released in two stages?

Student reports

• When are the results released to schools?
• What is included in the student report to parents?
• Why do the reports have different starting bands for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9?
• By the time student reports are distributed, is the information still useful for helping students?
• Is help available to interpret the NAPLAN tests results?
• Can I compare these results with my child’s results from previous years?

Integrity of test administration

• How is integrity of test administration assured?
• Are there special provisions/accommodations for students with disabilities/special needs when they sit the NAPLAN tests?
• Do NAPLAN tests encourage teaching to the test?
• How can teachers prepare students for the tests?

Reporting the range of student achievement

• How is the full range of student achievement reported?
• What does ‘national minimum standard’ actually mean?
• What does it mean if a student is in the lowest band (below national minimum standard)?