Around 1.4m students are set to sit down for Naplan tests today, the annual national assessment loved by statisticians and loathed by many education experts
Naplan measures how students in years 3, 5, 6 and 9 are progressing in literacy and numeracy, with this year marking the second cycle since the test was brought forward from May to March with new proficiency levels. The head of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara), Stephen Gniel, said his organisation had worked with the Islamic Schools Association of Australia, as the test window coincides with Ramadan, to help schools and teachers support affected students.
“We’re encouraging schools to schedule their tests as soon as possible in the test window and to run Naplan tests first thing in the morning to ensure fasting students’ energy levels are at their highest.”
Gniel assured students that there was no need to study for the tests.
double quotation markThe best preparation that kids can do is make sure they go to school regularly ... This is about knowing where each student is up to.
Schools and education authorities will receive preliminary results early in Term 2, with full results to be published in early August.
