7 Tips for NAPLAN Preparation

That Actually Works

Introduction

If your child is preparing for NAPLAN in Year 3, Year 5, Year 7, or Year 9, you may already be wondering how you can support them in a calm and meaningful way. Many parents feel uncertain about how much preparation is needed and how to guide their child without creating stress. It is natural to care deeply about your child’s progress and confidence, and it is equally natural to want preparation to feel balanced rather than overwhelming.

NAPLAN is a national assessment that measures literacy and numeracy development. It is not designed to be a high pressure exam, and it does not determine your child’s future opportunities. Instead, it provides a snapshot of how your child is progressing in essential learning skills. When you understand this, preparation becomes less about pressure and more about building steady habits that support growth in reading, writing, language and numeracy.

NAPLAN preparation does not require years of advanced study. It requires a few months of thoughtful, consistent support. When children practise with purpose, read regularly, write with guidance and engage with everyday mathematics, they develop stronger skills that support both NAPLAN and their long term learning journey.

This guide will walk you through seven practical and effective tips for NAPLAN preparation. These tips reflect the experience of Champion Tutors in supporting many Western Australian families. Each tip is written in a warm and supportive tone so that you feel confident guiding your child.

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.

Understanding NAPLAN and What It Measures

NAPLAN stands for the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy. It is conducted in Years 3,5,7, and 9 across all Australian schools. The assessment evaluates four core areas of learning. These are reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy.

Reading measures comprehension skills. Children read a variety of texts which may include stories, reports, advertisements and factual information. They answer questions that require them to understand literal meaning, infer deeper meaning, interpret language and identify themes or ideas.

Writing measures the ability to communicate ideas clearly. Students respond to either a narrative prompt or a persuasive prompt. They are assessed on text structure, clarity, vocabulary, ideas, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Language conventions measure understanding of spelling rules, grammar usage and proper punctuation. This section requires careful attention to detail.

Numeracy measures mathematical reasoning. Questions cover number, algebra, measurement, geometry, statistics and probability. The emphasis is on applying thinking rather than memorising formulas.

Since twenty twenty three, NAPLAN is held in March. This means students have less time in the school year before the test, which makes early but light preparation more helpful. Most assessments are completed online and use adaptive testing. Adaptive testing means that questions adjust according to the student’s performance. This provides a more accurate understanding of the student’s capability.

With this understanding, you can begin helping your child prepare in a simple and supportive way.

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.

Tip One: Build Strong Literacy and Numeracy Habits Early

Effective NAPLAN preparation begins with daily habits rather than last-minute revision. Strong reading habits, regular writing practice and everyday numeracy thinking are the foundation of confident performance. Encourage your child to read every day. Even ten minutes of reading can make a meaningful difference. Reading a variety of texts builds vocabulary, sentence understanding and the ability to interpret meaning. Let your child choose what they enjoy reading so that reading feels natural rather than forced.

Build numeracy confidence through everyday activities. You can ask your child to measure ingredients during cooking, count items during shopping, compare prices at the supermarket or estimate the time needed to travel from one place to another. These activities help children understand numbers in practical situations.

Encourage conversations that build thinking skills. You can ask questions such as how you reached that answer, what you think this story means, or what strategy you can use to solve this problem. These questions build logical thinking and comprehension.

NAPLAN preparation takes months, not years. Begin small and stay consistent. Your child will develop confidence naturally.

Tip Two: Make Reading a Natural and Enjoyable Daily Practice

Reading is one of the most significant components of NAPLAN, and daily reading is the strongest tool for preparation. Reading builds concentration, comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking. It also supports writing and numeracy because many NAPLAN numeracy questions require reading and understanding text.

Help your child read a variety of text types. These can include storybooks, factual articles, magazines, brochures, children’s news sites or simple instructions. Variety helps them understand different writing styles and purposes.

After reading, talk to your child about the text. Ask questions such as what stood out to you, what surprised you, what you think the message is or what you think the character felt in this moment. These conversations deepen comprehension and make reading interactive.

Reading aloud together is also helpful. It improves fluency and helps your child hear natural language patterns. Even older students in Year Seven and Year Nine benefit from shared reading because it encourages discussion and builds confidence.

Reading does not need to feel like study time. It can become a special shared moment each day, which makes NAPLAN preparation feel natural rather than stressful.

Tip Three: Develop Writing Confidence Through Simple Routine Activities

Writing can feel challenging for many students. Some find it difficult to start writing, while others struggle to organise ideas. NAPLAN writing tasks require students to respond to a prompt with clarity, purpose and structure. With simple practice, your child can learn to express ideas more confidently.

In NAPLAN, students write either a narrative text or a persuasive text. A narrative text tells a story with a clear beginning, middle and end. A persuasive text argues a point of view with reasons and examples.

Encourage short writing activities at home. You can give your child a simple prompt and ask them to write for ten to fifteen minutes. The goal is not perfection. The goal is comfort with forming ideas quickly.

Teach your child to create a short plan before writing. A plan can include a beginning, a problem and a solution for a narrative text. For a persuasive text, the plan can include an opinion and three supporting reasons. Planning helps children organise ideas before they begin writing.

After writing, ask your child to read their work aloud. This helps them notice areas where the writing can be clearer. Encourage them to edit one thing at a time, such as spelling, punctuation or sentence structure.

With consistent short practice, your child’s writing will become more confident and organised.

Tip Four: Build Numeracy Strength Through Everyday Thinking

Numeracy in NAPLAN is not only about recalling formulas. It is about applying mathematical thinking to practical situations. Children often learn mathematics more effectively when it is connected to real life.

You can support numeracy through daily routines. When shopping, ask your child to estimate totals or compare product prices to find the better deal. While cooking, ask them to measure ingredients or adjust recipe quantities. When travelling, discuss time calculations, map reading or distances.

Encourage your child to explain how they solved a problem. This builds reasoning and helps them develop confidence in their answers. Ask questions such as Why do you think that is the correct answer or how did you decide on this method.

Online numeracy practice tools can also be helpful. ACARA provides sample questions that show the style of NAPLAN numeracy tasks. These can be used occasionally to build familiarity with the testing environment.

Balanced numeracy practice prepares your child for both NAPLAN and everyday life.

Tip Five: Use NAPLAN Practice Tests in a Smart and Effective Way

Practice tests can be helpful, but they need to be used wisely. Many parents think that completing a large number of tests is the best preparation. In reality, the most valuable part of a practice test is the review afterwards.

Begin with shorter practice activities rather than full tests. For example, complete a few reading questions or a small set of numeracy problems. This prevents overwhelm and builds confidence slowly.

When your child completes a practice task, spend time reviewing the answers together. Ask questions such as why did you choose this answer, what strategy did you use or what part did you find difficult. Reviewing in this way builds critical thinking.

As test day approaches, you can introduce one or two full-length practice sessions under quiet, timed conditions. This helps your child become comfortable with the testing environment.

Avoid doing full practice tests every day. Too much testing can increase stress. Balanced and meaningful practice is far more effective.

Tip Six: Support Confidence and Calmness Throughout the Preparation Months

Confidence plays a powerful role in how children perform in NAPLAN. When your child feels calm and supported, they approach the test with a clear mind and a positive attitude.

Talk openly with your child about NAPLAN. Explain that it is a regular part of school and that teachers use the results to understand how to support learning. Remind your child that one test does not define their abilities or their future.

Encourage a consistent routine in the weeks leading up to the test. Helpful routines include regular sleep, balanced meals, limited screen time before bed and quiet moments to relax. A calm environment at home supports a calm mindset.

Teach your child simple strategies for managing nerves. These can include slow breathing, stretching or positive thoughts. Encourage your child to take short breaks during study sessions to prevent fatigue.

Celebrate effort rather than achievement. Recognise your child’s courage, persistence and progress. Children thrive when they feel valued.

Tip Seven: Review Progress and Celebrate Growth with Your Child

NAPLAN preparation is a journey of growth. It is important to recognise and reward improvements, no matter how small. When children see their own progress, they develop confidence and motivation.

Keep track of progress in a simple way. You can keep notes about improvement in reading fluency, writing structure or numeracy strategies. You might write a small list each week of areas where your child has improved.

Celebrate small successes. This can be completing a reading passage more quickly, writing a well-structured paragraph or solving a tricky maths problem. Celebration does not need to be elaborate. Praise, encouragement and acknowledgement are powerful motivators.

Stay flexible in your preparation plan. If your child needs more practice in one area, adjust the plan. Every child is unique and your approach should adapt to their needs.

Progress is not always linear. What matters is the steady growth in confidence and understanding.

How Champion Tutors Support NAPLAN Preparation in Western Australia

Champion Tutors helps children prepare for NAPLAN with a personalised and supportive approach. Our tutors work with your child to build stronger reading, writing and numeracy skills. We focus on foundations, confidence and growth rather than pressure.

Our NAPLAN preparation programs include personalised learning plans, targeted skills practice and mock test sessions under realistic conditions. We provide detailed feedback to help you understand your child’s progress and strengths. Our centres in Canning Vale, Harrisdale, Piara Waters, Hammond Park and Kwinana provide a welcoming and supportive learning environment.

Champion Tutors aims to help children approach NAPLAN with confidence, clarity and calmness.

Resources Used

1. ACARA National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy
https://www.acara.edu.au

2. Western Australia Department of Education NAPLAN Guidelines
https://www.education.wa.edu.au/naplan

3. University of Western Australia Education Research
https://www.uwa.edu.au

4. The Conversation Australia Education Articles
https://theconversation.com/au

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

---

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 Preparation Program
https://championtutors.com.au/naplan-tutoring