Earlier NAPLAN results implemented in schools

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results for reading, numeracy, spelling, and grammar and punctuation will be received by schools a year earlier than before.

Under the changes, schools and education authorities will receive preliminary school and student results from the assessments early in Term 2, around four weeks after the test period ends on 25 March 2024.

This means teachers will have more time to consider the results alongside their own assessments and then use them to inform their teaching and learning programs in the current school year.

The earlier results and these benefits to schools and students are being delivered following national agreement from all education ministers to move the NAPLAN tests to Term 1 from 2023.

Stephen Gniel, acting Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), said that providing earlier results to schools supports teachers to help every student reach their potential.

“NAPLAN is invaluable as a national assessment that allows us to see whether young Australians are developing critical literacy and numeracy skills for learning, using a national, objective scale.

“Getting the results to schools sooner is a key benefit of having moved the assessment from May to March last year, as well as delivering the tests fully online.

“It will help support schools in understanding where their students have performed well and areas for improvement, as well shape teaching and learning programs.

“Delivering on this commitment to provide earlier results is being realised thanks to the work of teachers and school leaders, as well as collaboration between all states and territories and the Commonwealth.”

NAPLAN assessments help governments, education authorities and schools see whether Australian children are reaching important literacy and numeracy goals. NAPLAN also allows parents and carers to see how their child is progressing against national literacy and numeracy standards. Students can also get an insight into where they are placed on their own individual learning journey.

Preliminary results will be provided to schools in all domains except writing, which takes longer to mark. Schools will receive their full results, including writing, from June 2024, after which parents and carers receive their child’s Individual Student Report at the start of Term 3. ACARA is then expecting to publish the National Results in August 2024.

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