5 NAPLAN Reading Tricks to Boost

Your Child’s Comprehension

Reading comprehension is at the heart of NAPLAN. Whether your child is in Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 or Year 9, the reading section is designed to test more than just whether they can read words on a page. It checks whether they understand meaning, whether they can make connections, and whether they can think critically about what they read.

As a parent, you might be wondering how to best support your child. The good news is that you do not need to buy endless workbooks or spend hours every night doing drills. Instead, you can use simple tricks that fit naturally into everyday life. These strategies make reading fun and meaningful while also building the exact skills NAPLAN is testing.

Understanding the NAPLAN Reading Test

The NAPLAN reading assessment asks students to read a collection of texts and answer questions. These texts are not only stories. They might be information reports, newspaper articles, poems, brochures, or even advertisements. The variety is intentional. NAPLAN is testing whether children can adjust their comprehension strategies to different types of writing.

The questions themselves move through layers. Some ask for direct information, others require inference, and some ask students to evaluate the purpose or tone of a text. This means that simple word recognition is not enough. Your child needs to read actively, to think about meaning, and to connect ideas.

Trick 1: Teach Active Reading, not Passive Reading

Passive reading is when a child moves their eyes across the page without really engaging. Active reading is when they think about what they are reading as they go. NAPLAN reading requires active reading.

You can encourage this at home in simple ways. When you read together, pause and ask questions. For example, if you are reading a story, ask “Why do you think the character did that?” or “What do you think will happen next?” If you are reading an advertisement, ask, “What are they trying to get us to do?”

These small prompts train your child to read with awareness. They learn to look for clues, for meaning, and for purpose. This habit of thinking while reading makes comprehension easier and test questions less daunting.

Trick 2 Build Inference Skills Through Questions and Conversations

One of the most challenging aspects of NAPLAN reading is inference. This is when the answer is not written directly in the text but must be guessed based on evidence. For example, a passage might say “The boy slammed the door and stomped up the stairs.” The question might ask, “How is the boy feeling?” The answer is not written but must be inferred as anger or frustration.

You can build inference skills in daily life. Ask your child to guess how someone is feeling based on their tone of voice or body language. When reading a story, ask, “What can we tell about this character even if it is not written?” These conversations help children practise connecting clues to meaning.

Inference can feel tricky at first, but once your child realises it is about using clues, it becomes a powerful skill.

Trick 3 Practise Skimming and Scanning for Key Information

NAPLAN reading is timed. Students cannot afford to read every text slowly and carefully. Instead, they need to balance careful reading with efficient scanning.

Teach your child the difference between skimming and scanning. Skimming is reading quickly to get the main idea. Scanning is moving eyes quickly to find a specific detail, such as a name or a number.

You can practise this at home by giving your child a short article and asking them to find the headline idea in thirty seconds. Or give them a recipe and ask, “How many eggs do we need?” and see how fast they can find the number. These games teach them that they can read for different purposes.

Trick 4 Expand Vocabulary Through Everyday Reading

Vocabulary is one of the biggest barriers in NAPLAN reading. If a child does not know what a word means, it can block comprehension. The best way to build vocabulary is not rote memorisation but exposure to a wide range of texts.

Encourage your child to read different genres. Let them pick novels they enjoy but also read magazines, fact books, news articles and comics. When a new word appears, talk about it. Ask them to guess the meaning from context, then check together.

You can also make it fun by playing word games. Create a word jar where you add new words each week and try to use them in sentences. Over time, this expands vocabulary naturally and prepares your child for the wide range of words in NAPLAN texts.

Trick 5 Use Real Life Texts to Strengthen Comprehension

NAPLAN texts are not just stories. They are everyday texts like signs, posters and advertisements. This is why practising with real-life texts is so useful.

Next time you are at the supermarket, ask your child to read a label and tell you what it means. Look at a bus timetable together and ask which bus would get you home quickest. Read a flyer in the mailbox and ask, “What is this trying to sell us.”

These real-life practices are exactly the kinds of comprehension tasks NAPLAN includes. They help your child see that reading is a practical skill, not just something that happens in school.

Common Mistakes Parents Make in NAPLAN Reading Prep

Some parents overdo it with practice tests. This can burn children out and make reading feel like punishment. Others focus only on novels and miss the variety of texts NAPLAN uses. Another mistake is correcting every small error, which can make children fearful instead of confident.

Remember, the goal is not to perfect every answer. The goal is to build habits of active reading, inference, scanning and vocabulary growth. These habits will naturally improve scores without creating stress.

Parent Checklist for NAPLAN Reading Preparation

• 1. Does my child read a variety of texts regularly
• 2. Do we talk about meaning and purpose while reading
• 3. Have we practised inference with clues and context
• 4. Does my child know how to skim and scan
• 5. Are we expanding vocabulary with new words weekly
• 6. Have we used real life texts for practice
• 7. Am I keeping practice light and positive

How Champion Tutors Help with NAPLAN Reading Support

At Champion Tutors, we understand that reading comprehension is not about worksheets. It is about confidence. We work with children to build strategies for active reading and inference. We use practice texts under timed conditions so children feel comfortable with the format. We give feedback that is encouraging and practical so your child knows how to improve.

With centres in Canning Vale, Harrisdale, Piara Waters, Hammond Park and Kwinana, we are here for WA families who want NAPLAN preparation that is effective but stress-free.

Final Thoughts

Reading comprehension is not just a school skill. It is a life skill. NAPLAN reading tests how children use reading to understand stories, information and everyday texts. By practising active reading, building inference, skimming and scanning, expanding vocabulary, and using real life texts, you can give your child confidence and calm for test day.

The real success is not the mark on the report but the habits your child builds. Habits that will serve them through school and beyond. When you guide your child with patience, curiosity and encouragement, you are giving them skills for life.

Resources Used to Build This Guide

1. ACARA NAPLAN Reading Resources https://www.nap.edu.au

2. NSW Education Department Literacy Guides https://education.nsw.gov.au/naplan

3. University of Melbourne Education Research https://education.unimelb.edu.au

4. The Conversation Analysis of Reading Skills https://theconversation.com/au

5. My School National Reporting Data https://www.myschool.edu.au

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Helpful Links for Parents

1. ACARA NAPLAN Practice Tests https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/practice-tests

2. ACARA NAPLAN Timetable https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/timetable

3. WA Department of Education Parent Support https://www.education.wa.edu.au/naplan

4. Champion Tutors NAPLAN Support WA https://championtutors.com.au