The NAPLAN tests will be conducted over three days from Tuesday 12 - Thursday 14 May.

ACARA has advised of a number of significant changes regarding the administration of the Writing test in 2015.

• As in 2014, the writing genre will not be disclosed before the test. Schools are encouraged to teach a balanced writing curriculum. There is an equal possibility that the Writing test will require students to write a response in the persuasive or narrative genre. There will not be a choice of genre.

• Following extensive consultation between ACARA and all NAPLAN Test Administration Authorities, for the first time, in 2015 there will be one Writing prompt for students in Years 3 and 5, and a second, different prompt for students in Years 7 and 9. However, both prompts will be of the same genre and the results will be reported on a single NAPLAN scale. This decision has been taken to ensure maximum engagement and fairness for all students.

• The year levels will be printed on the Writing stimulus. It will be important that K-12 schools check test materials carefully to ensure that students are given the correct stimulus.

• The Test Administration Handbook for Teachers will contain instructions for teachers and students to check that the correct stimulus sheet has been provided.

• To ensure consistency of marking for each topic, the line spacing used for Year 5 Writing test booklets will be the same as is currently used for Year 3 Writing test booklets. There will be no change to Year 7 and Year 9 Writing test booklets.

Further information about NAPLAN Writing can be found on the ACARA NAPLAN website. 

For more information, contact:
NAPLAN team
naplan.nsw@bostes.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8382