What NAPLAN Really Measures... and What It Doesn’t

Written by Pascal Press | 27/01/26 5:09 AM

By Pascal Press I January 27, 2026

NAPLAN can sometimes feel daunting for students and families, particularly when there’s uncertainty about what the assessment actually represents. While it’s often discussed in terms of scores and results, NAPLAN is designed to measure specific literacy and numeracy skills that students develop over time. Understanding what NAPLAN assesses- and what it doesn’t- can help place the test in perspective and reduce unnecessary anxiety.

First: what NAPLAN measures

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy through tests in:

Reading
Writing
Language conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
Numeracy

Importantly, official guidance emphasises that NAPLAN questions are based largely on skills students are expected to have been taught through the curriculum in previous years (and some content from the year of testing and the following year).

What NAPLAN doesn’t measure

NAPLAN is not a measure of:

Intelligence
Creativity
Effort or personal growth
A child’s overall potential

It’s best understood as a snapshot of performance in specific skill areas at one point in time, which schools can use alongside classroom assessment to support learning.

Why this perspective reduces stress

Test anxiety is real, and it can affect performance and wellbeing. A systematic review focusing on primary school children highlights that test anxiety varies across groups and is linked to multiple educational and psychosocial outcomes, and that intervention approaches can help.

That’s why reassurance matters:

“This is one assessment, on one set of days.”
“It helps teachers understand what to teach next.”
“Your job is to try your best, not be perfect.”

What helps students feel calm and confident

Evidence-informed approaches include:

normalising nerves (they’re common)
predictable routines and sleep
short, low-pressure practice to build familiarity
simple anxiety-reduction techniques (some brief school-based interventions have shown reductions in students’ test anxiety).

NAPLAN is just one way of understanding how students are developing key literacy and numeracy skills. It provides a snapshot at a single point in time, not a complete picture of a child’s abilities or potential. When families keep this perspective in mind and focus on steady learning and confidence-building, students are better placed to approach NAPLAN calmly and do their best. You can do it!

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