NAPLAN 2025 testing is now complete for schools including those schools in Queensland and northern NSW that were impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has confirmed.
The large-scale operation overseen by ACARA had over 4.5 million online tests taken by more than 1.3 million students in over 9,400 campuses and schools across Australia.
ACARA CEO Stephen Gniel thanked everyone involved in the annual national NAPLAN assessments for their efforts in administering the tests this year.
"I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our students, teachers and schools across all jurisdictions and sectors for their efforts to prepare for NAPLAN, especially in those areas impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. We also appreciate the efforts of parents and carers in supporting their children during the NAPLAN tests.
"I'd also like to thank our state and territory colleagues and partners, as well as Education Services Australia who provide the assessment platform, for their close collaboration and support in delivering NAPLAN 2025."
NAPLAN is the only national assessment that helps teachers, parents and carers see how students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time.
This year, students in Years 5, 7 and 9 will complete a second NAPLAN cycle since the annual test changed from being held in March instead of May and the introduction of the new proficiency levels. While proficiency levels become more demanding as students move through the NAPLAN years, this new data will give the opportunity to see how this cohort of students have progressed between 2023 and 2025.
Once again, schools and education authorities will receive preliminary school and student results from the assessments early in Term 2, around 4 weeks after the test period ends on 24 March 2025.
"One of the most significant changes we delivered last year for the first time was to get NAPLAN results – apart from writing which takes longer to mark – back to schools within four weeks," Mr Gniel said.
"This year, school principals and teachers will now be able to compare how the same cohort of students in years 5, 7 and 9 have progressed in their NAPLAN assessment results since 2023.
"This faster turnaround and additional information on student progress means teachers can use the data more effectively to support student learning sooner. We know that early intervention is key to improving outcomes. By identifying students' strengths and areas for growth sooner, teachers and schools can implement targeted support earlier.
"However, while NAPLAN can provide important additional information about a student's educational progress, it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.
"The annual NAPLAN assessments also help government and education authorities know how education approaches are working, identify where changes and support might be needed and guide system-wide policy decisions," Mr Gniel said.
In addition to the more than 4.5 million online tests, thousands of Year 3 writing tests also took place on paper throughout the test period. Marking is now underway.
Preliminary results will be provided to schools in all domains except writing, which takes longer to mark. Schools will receive their full results, including writing, from June 2025, after which parents and carers receive their child's Individual Student Report early in Term 3. ACARA is expecting to publish the National Results in late July/early August 2025.
