Australian National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will move online from 2017

Federal, state and territory education ministers have agreed that NAPLAN will move online from 2017 – over a two-to-three year period. This means moving NAPLAN from the current paper-based tests to computer-based assessments.

NAPLAN online will provide better assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information. The assessments can run through a real-time internet connection or onscreen without an internet connection.

Online NAPLAN tests will better meet the needs of all students, including those with a disability. It will allow ‘tailored testing’ which gives students questions that are more suited to their ability – resulting in better assessment and more precise results.

Significant planning, development, research and trialling are going on behind the scenes to make sure we are all ready to move NAPLAN online.

The online national assessment platform is being built by Education Services Australia with funds from the Australian Government. The platform will be used to trial online assessment in 2016 and to deliver the National Assessment Program (NAP): civics and citizenship in 2016.

State/territory education authorities will make decisions about the logistics and timing to move NAPLAN online for their state/territory. These groups will also lead implementation in their state/territory.

Notes:

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It has been an everyday part of the school calendar since 2008.

NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading,
writing, spelling and numeracy. The assessments are undertaken nationwide, every year, in the second full week in May.

For more information go to: http://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment