National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, also known as NAPLAN, is a national assessment for Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students. Conducted in May every year over three days, schools all over Australia subject students to a NAPLAN test. The test scope includes grammar, spelling, reading, writing for Literacy, and Mathematics for numeracy. All schools should complete the tests at the end of each day. Results are compared to national standards and used to monitor a students’ improvement from his current test to the next. This gives parents, educators, government authorities, and schools an idea of measuring the students’ literacy and numeracy abilities under test conditions. This program checks the students’ literacy and numeracy skills that they have acquired and learned through their school’s curriculum and everyday interaction. It also provides important data that the government can use to identify weaknesses and strengths in the teaching curriculum and make adjustments where needed.
Who should take the test?
All Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students must take the test unless they are exempted or are withdrawn by their parents from taking the test. But since some schools use the NAPLAN test scores as part of their student selection process, it is best to prepare your child for it. Clinching and acing this test will give your child a commendable curriculum vitae in the future.
Why is tutoring beneficial to your child?
The NAPLAN test is not a fail or pass type of test but a gauge of how a student performs based on established national standards. Enlisting your child for naplan tutoring as early as possible will help you identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses, focus on specific problem areas, and enhance strengths. Some kids have ease in language and difficulty in math, others vice versa, while others struggle on both. The individualized tailor-fit lessons your child gets will ensure he gets all the attention in his private class. No heckling or disruption on instances when he cannot answer a difficult question, but rather will be taught the challenging lesson until he understands. This way, he will not be ashamed to admit his difficulties because his NAPLAN tutor is his ally. They will work together to hurdle all his literacy and numeracy challenges. While preparing for NAPLAN, your child will be equipped for his regular class. This will encourage and build confidence in your child to participate in his class because there is a possibility that your child will learn in advance.
What will be tested?
Numeracy
This test measures the child’s mathematical skills in these areas – problem-solving, reasoning, understanding, and fluency. Areas of coverage are number and algebra, measurement and geometry, statistics, and probability.
Literacy
This test covers spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This shows their reading and writing comprehension.
Writing
Students are asked to write a continuous text on three main categories – imaginative, information, and argument, to test their knowledge and control of written language.
Conclusion
Memorization and cramming are short-term. Just like how your muscles need a long-term workout to develop, lasting knowledge is long-term because a good education is a process. It cannot be rushed. It is best to start your child’s naplan tutoring as early as possible.
