Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning
NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for and students are not expected to do so.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.
Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN Online can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. The number of adjustments available aim to encourage participation in NAPLAN Online for as many students as possible.
Our College will be holding Practice Tests for Year 7 students on Thursday 22nd April in Period 1 and Year 9 students on Wednesday 21st April in Period 3. The testing schedule for the College is included below this article.
Why NAPLAN online?
NAPLAN Online provides a better assessment and more precise results.
One of the main benefits of NAPLAN Online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, giving them more opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do.
Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.
Students with disability
NAPLAN Online has audio and visual alternative questions, including colour themes, that may be suitable for some students with disability.
For example, students:
- with hearing impairments receive proofreading questions (that do not depend on audio) to test their spelling rather than audio dictation items.
- with visual impairments are assisted within the platform by magnification and specially designed images, so that questions can be viewed more easily.
- who require particular contrast or colour themes access black text against a selection of five different colour backgrounds.
- receive rest breaks or extra time if required.
All questions are also keyboard accessible. This means that all students can access the online assessment without the use of a mouse or other pointing device. Using a mouse may be particularly challenging for students with motor impairments.
Check out this video about NAPLAN accessibility:
For further information about NAPLAN please see the attached information.
If you do not wish for your child to participate in NAPLAN online, please contact me via email at epren3@eq.edu.au
Emily Prenzler