NAPLAN test window

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Scheduling requirements
Catch-up sessions
Rescheduling test sessions

Scheduling requirements

The NAPLAN test window is 9 days.

Schools may schedule catch-up tests later in the test window for students who are absent when their class participates in the tests.

If schools have any questions when planning a test schedule specific to their needs, they should refer to the NAPLAN national protocols for test administration or contact the relevant state/territory test administration authority.

Schools can use the 9-day test window to schedule tests, noting the test sequence in the table below and the following:

Tests must be scheduled as soon as possible within the test window, prioritising scheduling in the morning over the afternoon.
If students do more than one test in a given day, they must be given a break of at least 20 minutes between test sessions.

Download the NAPLAN test window infographic (PDF 716 KB).

Test	Scheduling requirements	Duration	Description
Writing	Year 3 writing test sessions (on paper) must be scheduled on paper on day 1 only. Years 5, 7 and 9 writing tests must start on day 1. Schools must prioritise completion of writing 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 given an idea or topic called a writing prompt and asked to write a response in a particular text type (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.
Conventions of language	To be completed after the reading test.	Year 3: 45 minutes Year 5: 45 minutes Year 7: 45 minutes Year 9: 45 minutes	Students are assessed on 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	Students are assessed on number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability.

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Catch-up sessions

Catch-up sessions are for students who were absent for their scheduled NAPLAN tests and are to be completed within the test window.

Schools should try to schedule catch-up tests in the prescribed test sequence.

Catch-up tests for writing should be held as soon as possible within the test window. Year 3 writing catch-ups are permitted until the end of day 4, while Years 5, 7 and 9 writing catch-ups are permitted until the end of day 9.

Rescheduling test sessions

Rescheduling occurs when students or classes cannot start or complete a test due to test disruptions.

Rescheduled tests must occur as soon as possible within the test window. Schools should refer to the NAPLAN national protocols for test administration and contact their test administration authority for any questions about rescheduling.

Please also be aware:

Rescheduled writing test sessions for classes or groups of students take precedence over scheduled, rescheduled or catch-up sessions for other domains.
If writing must be rescheduled after day 1 (Year 3) or day 2 (Years 5, 7 and 9), the school must notify the test administration authority as soon as possible.