NAPLAN Year 3: What’s Inside the Test?

What’s Inside the Year 3 NAPLAN Test?

NAPLAN is composed of four individual exams that are undertaken separately. As of 2023, these exams are largely conducted online, however, all Year 3 NAPLAN exams remain hand-written. The contents of these exams are outlined below.

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Test 1: Writing

The Writing Exam is the first NAPLAN exam, undertaken on the very first day of the official NAPLAN exam block. Students have 40 minutes to compose a persuasive or narrative text based on a stimulus. The stimulus is usually a series of pictures and/or text that prompts students to write about a particular subject.

If your child is asked to write a narrative, they will be assessed on their ability to compose an imaginative story. This will involve elements like imagery, description, characterisation, and setting. If your child is asked to compose a persuasive piece, they will be required to offer their opinion on a given topic. In this case, they will be expected to support their opinion with evidence and persuasive techniques (such as ethos, logos, pathos, and high modal language). However, since the test is only 40 minutes, both writing modes require students to think on their feet and write quickly. Accordingly, the Year 3 NAPLAN writing test can be considered an assessment of a student’s time management skills, not just their literacy.

A past Year 3 NAPLAN Writing Exam can be viewed here.

Test 2: Reading

The Reading Exam is the second NAPLAN exam. While schedules will vary between schools, this exam us usually undertaken a few days after the Writing Exam, and must be undertaken before the Language Conventions Exam. Students have 45 minutes to read a magazine of assorted imaginative, persuasive, and informative texts and answer comprehension questions about them.

The NAPLAN reading test requires students to read a NAPLAN “magazine”. This magazine is usually around 8 pages, and contains a variety of text types. These text types can include short stories, letters, street/park signs, textbook readings, articles, newspaper clippings, and more. After reading the magazine, students will be asked comprehension questions on each of the texts. Again, this NAPLAN test is completed under timed-conditions, so students will be assessed on their ability to read and understand new texts quickly.

See a past Year 3 NAPLAN Reading Exam Magazine and Question Booklet.

Test 3: Language Conventions

The Language Conventions Exam is the third NAPLAN exam. While schedules will vary between schools, this exam us usually undertaken a few days after the Reading Exam, and must be undertaken before the Numeracy Exam. Students have 45 minutes to answer questions on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Every question in the Language Conventions Exam is either multiple choice (with four options to choose from), or will require students to correctly respell a single word in the provided text box. Common questions require students to correct spelling mistakes, or “fill in the blank” where a word has been removed from a sentence. Overall, students are assessed on their spelling, punctuation, and their understanding of simple grammar rules (including tense, correct word use, and the difference between nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs).

A past Year 3 NAPLAN Language Conventions Exam can be viewed here.

Test 4: Numeracy

The Numeracy Exam is the fourth and final NAPLAN exam. While schedules will vary between schools, this exam us usually undertaken a few days after the Writing Exam, and must be undertaken before the end of the official NAPLAN exam block. Students have 45 minutes to answer mathematics questions. Topics assessed include algebra, measurement, geometry, statistics, and probability.

The NAPLAN Numeracy Exam will assess your child’s basic mathematical ability. This will include questions on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, spacial reasoning, recognising patterns, interpreting graphs, and reading analog clocks! While every question will have a focus on numeracy, many questions are word-based. Students will be expected to be able to comprehend written questions and scenarios, as well as identify numbers represented in word form (e.g. “867” may be written as “eight hundred and sixty-seven”).

A past Year 3 NAPLAN Numeracy Exam can be viewed here.