"We were stressing about NAPLAN until we found the official practice site. Once our daughter tried the demo, she felt so much more confident — and we didn't spend a cent." — Michelle T., Parent, Northern Beaches
📌 Data Sources for This Guide
All NAPLAN information in this guide is sourced from the National Assessment Program (nap.edu.au) and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA, acara.edu.au). NAPLAN has been delivered online with adaptive testing since 2023. Year 3 Writing remains paper-based. ACARA advises against excessive test coaching for NAPLAN.
NAPLAN Practice Tests: Where to Find Free Resources and How to Use Them
Every year, students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia sit NAPLAN — the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy. Since 2023, NAPLAN has moved fully online with adaptive testing technology, meaning the test adjusts its difficulty based on each student's responses. For many families, this shift has raised a new question: where can you find reliable, free NAPLAN practice tests that reflect the actual online format?
The good news is that high-quality practice resources exist — and many of them are completely free. The even better news is that the skills your child develops through thoughtful NAPLAN preparation carry well beyond the test itself, supporting their broader academic growth and readiness for future challenges.
In this guide, you'll discover:
- The official free NAPLAN practice platform and how to access it
- Where to download past NAPLAN papers from ACARA's website
- How adaptive online testing works and what your child should expect
- Domain-by-domain preparation strategies for all four NAPLAN areas
- What ACARA specifically warns parents NOT to do when preparing for NAPLAN
- How to use practice tests effectively without over-drilling
- The connection between NAPLAN skills and selective test readiness
- A practical week-by-week approach to calm, confident preparation
Everything you need to know about free NAPLAN practice resources and effective preparation strategies.
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Understanding NAPLAN in 2026
NAPLAN (National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy) is Australia's annual standardised assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It is not a pass-or-fail exam. Instead, it provides a snapshot of how your child is tracking against national literacy and numeracy benchmarks.
Since 2023, NAPLAN has been held in March (previously May) with a nine-day testing window. The move to earlier in the school year means results reach families sooner, giving teachers more time to act on the data.
NAPLAN at a Glance
Key facts about Australia's national assessment
Test Domains
Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language, Numeracy
Year Levels
Years 3, 5, 7, and 9
Testing Window
9-day window, moved from May in 2023
Online Format
Tailored testing adjusts to each student's ability
NAPLAN assesses students across four domains:
- Reading — comprehension of literary and informational texts
- Writing — a single extended writing task (Year 3 Writing is still completed on paper)
- Conventions of Language — spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Numeracy — number, measurement, geometry, statistics, and probability
Results are reported using four proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing, and Needs Additional Support. These levels replaced the old Band system, giving families a clearer picture of where their child sits relative to national expectations.
Official Free NAPLAN Practice Resources
One of the most common questions parents ask is where to find trustworthy free NAPLAN practice materials. The answer starts with two official sources that every family should know about.
The NAP Public Demonstration Site
The National Assessment Program public demonstration site at nap.edu.au provides a free, interactive experience of the online NAPLAN platform. This is the same system students use during the actual assessment, making it the single most valuable practice resource available.
On the demo site, your child can:
- Experience the exact online interface they will encounter on test day
- Try sample questions across all four domains
- Familiarise themselves with the adaptive format, where questions adjust in difficulty
- Practise using the built-in tools (ruler, calculator for permitted sections, highlighter)
- Build comfort with typing responses for the Writing domain
💡 Why the Demo Site Matters
Many students find NAPLAN stressful not because the content is too hard, but because the format is unfamiliar. Spending even 20–30 minutes on the NAP public demonstration site can significantly reduce test-day anxiety. It's the closest thing to a "dress rehearsal" your child can get — and it's completely free.
Past NAPLAN Papers from ACARA
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) makes past NAPLAN test papers available for download on their website at acara.edu.au. These papers come from the years when NAPLAN was delivered on paper, but they remain an excellent resource for content-level practice.
Past papers are particularly useful for:
- Identifying the types of questions asked in each domain
- Practising under timed conditions at home
- Reviewing the marking guides (included with Writing tasks) to understand what assessors look for
- Tracking your child's improvement over several practice sessions
While these paper-based tests don't replicate the adaptive online format, the underlying skills they assess — comprehension, reasoning, conventions, and numeracy — remain the same.
Official NAPLAN Practice Resources Compared
Both are free, both are valuable — here's how they differ
| Feature | Option 1 | Option 2 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Online, interactive | Downloadable PDF papers | Demo site for format; papers for content depth |
| Adaptive Testing | Yes — mirrors real test | No — fixed difficulty | Demo site replicates the actual experience |
| Domains Covered | All four domains | All four domains | Both cover Reading, Writing, CoL, Numeracy |
| Marking Guides | Not included | Included for Writing | Past papers for understanding marking criteria |
| Best For | Reducing format anxiety | Content practice at home | Use both for comprehensive preparation |
How Adaptive Testing Works
Since 2023, NAPLAN uses tailored (adaptive) online testing. Understanding how this works can help both you and your child approach the test with less anxiety.
In an adaptive test, questions are presented in stages. Based on your child's responses in the first stage, the system selects a second set of questions that better match their ability level. If a student performs strongly in the initial stage, they receive more challenging questions. If they find the first stage difficult, they receive questions that are more accessible.
This means:
- Every student gets a fair assessment — the test meets them where they are
- Students shouldn't panic if questions feel harder — it may mean they performed well in the first stage
- The final score accounts for question difficulty — answering harder questions correctly is weighted accordingly
This is a crucial point to discuss with your child before test day. Many students become anxious when they encounter difficult questions, not realising that the test is designed to challenge them at the right level.
"NAPLAN is designed to assess what students know and can do. It is not designed to be a high-stakes exam, and excessive coaching is not recommended."
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Using Practice Tests Effectively
Having access to free NAPLAN practice tests is one thing — using them well is another. The goal is not to drill your child relentlessly but to build familiarity, identify areas for growth, and develop genuine confidence.
A Smart Approach to NAPLAN Practice
Start with the demo site
Let your child explore the NAP public demonstration site without pressure. Treat it as a discovery session, not a test. Let them click around, try tools, and get comfortable with the interface.
Try one domain at a time
Rather than simulating a full test day, focus on one domain per practice session. This keeps sessions short (20–30 minutes) and allows your child to concentrate without fatigue.
Review together, not just results
After a practice session, sit with your child and talk through the questions they found tricky. The learning happens in the discussion, not just the score.
Use past papers for targeted practice
If your child struggles with a specific area — say, grammar conventions or word problems — download relevant past papers from ACARA and focus there.
Simulate test conditions once or twice
Closer to the test window, run a timed session that mirrors real conditions. This builds stamina and time management, but once or twice is enough.
Keep it low-pressure
Remind your child that NAPLAN is a snapshot, not a judgement. Encouragement and a calm approach will serve them far better than stress and over-preparation.
How Much Practice Is Enough?
There is no magic number of practice tests your child should complete. A balanced approach might look like:
- Several weeks before NAPLAN: One or two sessions on the demo site to build familiarity
- Two to three weeks before: A few focused sessions on weaker domains using past papers
- The week before: One light revision session and plenty of rest
The emphasis should always be on understanding over repetition. A child who understands why an answer is correct will perform better than one who has memorised hundreds of practice questions without genuine comprehension.
Domain-by-Domain Preparation Tips
Each of NAPLAN's four domains tests different skills. Here is how to approach practice for each one.
Reading
The Reading test presents a range of texts — narratives, persuasive pieces, informational articles, and visual texts like infographics. Questions test literal comprehension, inference, and the ability to analyse an author's purpose and technique.
Effective practice strategies:
- Encourage daily reading across different genres (fiction, news articles, science magazines)
- Ask your child questions about what they read: "Why do you think the author used that word?" or "What's the main argument here?"
- Practise identifying key information quickly — skimming and scanning are valuable test skills
- Use past NAPLAN Reading papers to expose your child to the question styles
Writing
The Writing task requires students to produce a single extended piece — typically a persuasive or narrative text. Year 3 students complete this on paper; all other year levels type their response online.
Effective practice strategies:
- Practise planning before writing (a quick plan leads to better-structured responses)
- Work on paragraph structure: topic sentence, supporting detail, concluding sentence
- For persuasive writing, practise forming a clear argument with evidence
- For narrative writing, focus on character development, setting, and a clear storyline
- Review ACARA's published marking guides to understand the criteria: audience, text structure, ideas, persuasive devices, vocabulary, cohesion, paragraphing, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling
Conventions of Language
This domain covers spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Questions are typically short and targeted — identifying errors, choosing correct forms, or completing sentences.
Effective practice strategies:
- Regular reading is the best long-term strategy for conventions — students absorb correct patterns naturally
- Practise common trouble spots: homophones (their/there/they're), subject-verb agreement, apostrophes, comma usage
- Use past papers to identify which convention areas your child finds most challenging
- Short, frequent practice sessions (10–15 minutes) are more effective than long cramming sessions
Numeracy
The Numeracy test covers number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. Questions range from straightforward calculations to multi-step word problems.
Effective practice strategies:
- Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorising procedures
- Practise reading word problems carefully — many errors come from misreading the question, not from inability to do the maths
- Work on mental arithmetic and estimation skills
- Familiarise your child with the on-screen calculator (available for certain questions in Years 7 and 9) through the demo site
- Use past papers to practise under timed conditions
NAPLAN Practice Essentials
- ✓Visit the NAP public demonstration site at nap.edu.au
- ✓Download relevant past papers from acara.edu.au
- ✓Focus on one domain per practice session
- ✓Review answers together and discuss reasoning
- ✓Practise the Writing task with a plan-first approach
- ✓Build daily reading habits across different text types
- ✓Keep practice sessions short and low-pressure
- ✓Simulate test conditions once or twice before the test window
- ✓Ensure your child is comfortable typing if in Year 5 or above
- ✓Prioritise rest and wellbeing in the days before NAPLAN
What NOT to Do: ACARA's Warning on Excessive Coaching
This is one of the most important sections of this guide. ACARA explicitly advises against excessive coaching for NAPLAN. The assessment is designed to measure what students know and can do as part of their regular schooling — not what they can achieve after intensive test-specific preparation.
⚠️ ACARA's Position on NAPLAN Coaching
ACARA does not recommend that students undertake excessive coaching or preparation for NAPLAN. The best preparation is a consistent, high-quality education throughout the year. Excessive drilling can increase anxiety, reduce motivation, and may not lead to meaningful improvement in results.
Here is what to avoid:
Drilling for hours every day. Long, repetitive practice sessions are counterproductive. They increase stress, lead to fatigue, and can create negative associations with learning. Short, purposeful sessions are far more effective.
Creating a high-pressure environment. NAPLAN results are one data point among many. They do not determine your child's future schooling, and they are not used for selective school entry (separate, dedicated assessments exist for that). Communicating calm confidence to your child is the most powerful thing you can do.
Purchasing expensive "NAPLAN guarantee" programmes. Be cautious of programmes that promise dramatic score improvements. NAPLAN assesses foundational literacy and numeracy skills built over years of learning — not skills that can be manufactured in a few weeks of cramming.
Ignoring your child's wellbeing. If your child is anxious about NAPLAN, the priority should be addressing that anxiety, not adding more practice. Talk to their teacher, reassure them about what NAPLAN is (and isn't), and ensure they are sleeping well and eating properly in the lead-up.
The most effective NAPLAN preparation is not a preparation programme at all — it is a year-round commitment to reading, writing, and mathematical thinking as natural parts of your child's life.
How NAPLAN Skills Support Broader Academic Readiness
While NAPLAN itself is not a selective test and does not determine entry to selective schools or Opportunity Classes, the skills it assesses are deeply relevant to broader academic development — including readiness for competitive assessments.
The Reading comprehension skills tested in NAPLAN directly overlap with the reading components of the NSW Selective School test and the Opportunity Class placement test. Students who read widely, think critically about texts, and can identify authorial purpose are building a skill set that serves them across multiple contexts.
Similarly, Numeracy skills — particularly logical reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical fluency — form the foundation of the Mathematical Reasoning sections in both the OC and Selective tests.
Conventions of Language mastery supports the Writing component of selective assessments, where students must produce well-structured, grammatically accurate extended responses under timed conditions.
Building Skills That Last Beyond NAPLAN
Foundation Years (Years 3–4)
Objectives
- Build strong reading habits across genres
- Develop handwriting fluency (Year 3 Writing is on paper)
Key Activities
- Daily reading for pleasure
- Regular writing in different forms
- Exploring maths through real-world problems
Middle Primary (Years 5–6)
Objectives
- Strengthen comprehension and inference skills
- Develop typing fluency for online assessments
Key Activities
- Reading longer, more complex texts
- Practising persuasive and narrative writing
- Working on multi-step maths problems
Secondary (Years 7–9)
Objectives
- Refine analytical reading skills
- Build mathematical reasoning capacity
Key Activities
- Engaging with diverse text types including media and opinion
- Extended writing with clear argumentation
- Applying numeracy to real-world scenarios
If your child is also preparing for selective school entry or Opportunity Class placement, building strong NAPLAN-aligned skills provides an excellent foundation. You can explore free mock tests that help bridge the gap between general academic readiness and competitive test preparation.
The key insight is this: skills built for NAPLAN are never wasted. They are the same skills that support success in the classroom, in competitive assessments, and in lifelong learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NAPLAN compulsory?
NAPLAN is a national assessment and schools are expected to administer it to all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. Parents can apply for a withdrawal if they have concerns, but this should be discussed with the school.
When is NAPLAN held in 2026?
NAPLAN is held in March each year, within a nine-day testing window. Your child's school will confirm the specific dates.
Is NAPLAN used for selective school entry?
No. NAPLAN is a separate assessment from the NSW Selective High School Placement Test and the Opportunity Class Placement Test. Selective school entry is determined by dedicated assessments. Learn more about selective school preparation and OC preparation.
How is the adaptive test scored?
Although questions vary in difficulty between students, the scoring system accounts for this. A student who answers harder questions correctly receives credit proportional to the difficulty. All students receive a score on the same national scale.
Can my child use a calculator in NAPLAN?
Calculator access varies by year level and question type. The NAP public demonstration site shows exactly which tools are available for each domain and year level. In general, Years 7 and 9 have access to an on-screen calculator for some Numeracy questions.
What if my child has a disability or learning difficulty?
Schools can arrange disability adjustments for students who need them. These might include extra time, a reader, or assistive technology. Speak with your child's school well before the testing window to ensure appropriate support is in place.
Are there any risks to practising too much?
Yes. ACARA advises against excessive coaching. Over-preparation can increase anxiety, reduce intrinsic motivation, and give a distorted picture of your child's actual ability. A balanced, low-pressure approach is recommended.
Where can I see my child's NAPLAN results?
Results are sent to families through the school, typically by mid-year. Results show your child's proficiency level (Exceeding, Strong, Developing, or Needs Additional Support) in each domain.
The skills your child develops for NAPLAN — reading, writing, reasoning, and numeracy — are the same skills that underpin success in selective and OC assessments. Explore our structured programmes to take their learning further.
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NAPLAN Practice Resources & Next Steps
Official sources and helpful guides to support your child's preparation
NAP Public Demonstration Site
Experience the official NAPLAN online platform for free — the closest thing to a test-day dress rehearsal.
Access ResourceACARA Past NAPLAN Papers
Download past NAPLAN test papers with marking guides from the Australian Curriculum authority.
Access ResourceFree Mock Tests
Try BrainTree's free practice tests to build confidence across reading, maths, and reasoning skills.
Access ResourceSelective School Preparation
Explore structured preparation for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test.
Access ResourceOpportunity Class Preparation
Learn about OC preparation and how foundational skills connect to competitive readiness.
Access ResourceRelated Guides
Last updated: 25 January 2026