NAPLAN Language Conventions: Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation

The Conventions of Language test checks the technical building blocks of writing: spelling, grammar and punctuation. It is one of the more "learnable" tests, because the rules are concrete and respond well to practice.

What it covers

• Spelling — identifying and correcting misspelt words.
• Grammar — verb tense, pronouns, agreement, conjunctions and sentence structure.
• Punctuation — commas, apostrophes, capital letters and speech marks.

How to practise

• Short daily spelling using word patterns, not random lists.
• Edit real sentences — spotting errors is exactly what the test asks.
• Learn one rule at a time (e.g. apostrophes) until it is automatic.

Because conventions reward steady practice, it is often the fastest area to improve. See our NAPLAN spelling guide for a practical approach.