How to Prepare for NAPLAN: 7 Practical Tips for Parents

The best NAPLAN preparation is not a frantic push in the final week — it is steady, low-pressure practice that builds genuine skill and confidence. Here are seven practical tips that work for Years 3 through 9.

1. Start early and keep sessions short

Twenty minutes, three times a week, beats a two-hour marathon every time. Short sessions hold attention, fit around busy schedules, and let learning consolidate between sittings. Begin a few months out rather than a few days out.

2. Practise the question formats, not just the content

Much of NAPLAN nerves come from unfamiliarity. When a child has seen multiple-choice numeracy, drag-and-drop, and on-screen writing tasks before, the format stops being a distraction and they can focus on the actual question. NAPLAN-style practice questions are ideal for this.

3. Target weak strands, don't re-drill strengths

It feels good to answer questions your child already finds easy — but the gains come from the strands they struggle with. Use practice that breaks results down by topic (fractions, grammar, reading inference, and so on) so you can see exactly where to spend time.

4. Build reading into everyday life

Reading widely is the single biggest lever for both the Reading and Writing tests. Fiction, non-fiction, news for kids, even recipe instructions — variety builds the vocabulary and comprehension NAPLAN rewards.

5. Do at least one full timed paper

Pacing is a skill of its own. A full, timed practice paper teaches your child to manage the clock, skip and return to hard questions, and avoid spending ten minutes on a single item. It also removes a lot of fear on the day.

6. Talk about mistakes calmly

Every wrong answer is information. Instead of marking and moving on, read the explanation together and ask "what tripped you up here?" Children who see errors as normal and fixable improve faster and worry less.

7. Protect sleep, food and perspective

In the final week, ease off practice rather than ramping up. A rested, well-fed child who feels supported will outperform a stressed, over-drilled one. Remind them NAPLAN is just a check-in, not a verdict on who they are.

A simple weekly plan

• Mon: 20 min numeracy (one weak strand).
• Wed: 20 min literacy (reading or conventions).
• Sat: one short timed section, then review answers together.

Number & Words makes this easy: choose a year level and discipline, get instant explanations in Practice mode, and run full timed papers in Test Simulation mode — with a dashboard that shows exactly which strands need work.