Tailored testing adapts to student responses in real time and presents each student with questions that are more or less difficult based on the student’s answers. The adaptive nature of the tests means students are more likely to stay engaged with the tests as they receive questions better suited to their ability. This gives students more opportunity to show what they know and can do.
Branching messages (PDF 1.56 mb) between testlets advise students whether they may go back to previous testlets to change their answers, or not. Changing answers will not affect their branching but will affect their final score. For Years 7 and 9 students, the numeracy test includes a non-calculator section and a calculator section. At the end of the non-calculator section, a message will inform students that they cannot return to the non-calculator section after they select ‘next’ and move to the calculator section. For students in all years, the conventions of language test includes a grammar and punctuation section and a spelling section. At the end of grammar and punctuation, a message will inform students that they cannot return to grammar and punctuation once they select ‘next’ and move to the spelling section. Students are prompted to check their answers before moving on.
A student’s NAPLAN result is based on both the number and difficulty of questions the student answers correctly. A student who completes a more complex pathway is more likely to achieve a higher result (and a higher band placement) than a student who answers the same number of questions correctly but follows a less complex pathway.