ACARA, the authority that develops NAPLAN, says students are not expected to study for it, and that it “does not recommend excessive preparation for NAPLAN or the use of services by coaching providers.” Its view is that the best preparation is teaching and learning the curriculum.
General informationThis page sets out what ACARA publishes about preparing for NAPLAN, on the National Assessment Program’s page for parents and carers and ACARA’s own NAPLAN page. It is not advice about any student, and tutoring is not presented here as something NAPLAN needs: ACARA does not recommend the use of services by coaching providers.
In ACARA’s words
“The best preparation for NAPLAN is teaching and learning the curriculum. Children can be reassured that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program and they should simply do the best they can on the day.”
“Students can’t fail NAPLAN as it’s not that type of test – they should just try their best.”
“Neither education ministers nor ACARA endorse any organisation that may be offering NAPLAN-style tests and answers, diagnostic tools or any other product or service to teachers, parents, carers or students in connection with NAPLAN.”
What NAPLAN is for
ACARA describes NAPLAN as a nationwide measure through which parents and carers, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the wider community can see whether young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that lay the foundation for other learning. Results show how students are progressing over time: on their own, as part of their school community, and against national standards. In ACARA’s words, it is “a national, consistent measure to determine whether or not students are meeting important educational outcomes.” It sits alongside the ongoing assessment teachers make of each student, and does not replace it.
Why the curriculum is the preparation
Taught, then testedACARA gives its reason plainly. Questions in the reading, conventions of language and numeracy tests draw mostly on literacy and numeracy that students should already have been taught in earlier years of school. NAPLAN assesses skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum, and the standards that results are reported against are set mainly on what has been taught in previous years.
The writing test works the same way. The text type, narrative or persuasive, is revealed only on the day, and students cannot choose it. The online tests adapt too, offering harder or easier questions depending on a student’s answers, which ACARA says lets a wide range of abilities be assessed precisely. ACARA also describes the results as extra information for teachers, supporting their own professional judgement about a student’s literacy and numeracy.
What is closed to everyone
Some things a family might expect to find are not available from anyone, because ACARA and the schools do not release them.
- Recent answers. ACARA does not publish answers to recent NAPLAN test questions.
- Past tests after 2016. ACARA does not give access to them, because they are used to keep developing the National Assessment Program.
- Copies from a school. Schools cannot share NAPLAN tests with anyone, the media and parents included, by email, social media or any other way, and ACARA says there are no exceptions.
- Test material in coaching. ACARA’s copyright terms do not permit anyone to publish NAPLAN test materials, use them in coaching clinics, or upload them to a website or app, whether public or password protected, commercial or not.
- Outside help on the device. Schools must make sure the devices used for NAPLAN are secured, so students cannot reach unauthorised websites, applications or spell-checking.
- An official endorsement. Organisations offering NAPLAN-related products or services are not authorised by education ministers or ACARA, and do not represent them.
What ACARA does offer
The public demonstration site lets anyone see and try the types of questions a NAPLAN test asks. ACARA’s key dates page says the site has sample tests all year round, for students to become familiar with the tests. For NAPLAN 2027, schools can also run practice tests in the real assessment platform from Term 3 of 2026; for those, the same page points to the school or the test administration authority.
Phrases to read beside ACARA’s pages
Some phrases, each set beside what ACARA’s own pages say.
- “Official” or “approved” NAPLAN preparation
- Neither education ministers nor ACARA endorse any NAPLAN-related product or service.
- “Real” or “past” NAPLAN papers
- Recent answers are unpublished, tests after 2016 are not released, and ACARA’s terms bar its test materials from coaching clinics.
- “Pass NAPLAN”
- NAPLAN tests are not pass or fail; results are reported in four proficiency levels.
- “Lift the school’s results”
- ACARA says NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.
- “Students need to study for NAPLAN”
- ACARA’s FAQ says students are not expected to study for it.
Where tutoring fits on this site
NAPLAN Tutoring is a guide published by Dotto, to the tests and to the rules for anyone who teaches children privately. Five states’ screening checks for people who work with children, and who needs one in each, are in Working with Children Checks for tutors. When a question comes up about a particular student, ACARA’s pages point to the school: for a missing report, the school itself, and for adjustments or an exemption, the principal. What the tests cover is in what NAPLAN tests, and when.