NAPLAN is a major milestone for Year 3 students in Australia; it’s their first real test of reading, writing, and math skills. For many parents, figuring out how to support their child through it can be overwhelming. You want to help them succeed, but with so much advice out there, it’s tough to know where to begin. And with reports of kids struggling in key areas, the pressure can feel even higher.

Recent data shows that almost 1 in 5 Year 3 students are falling behind in key areas like numeracy. So it’s no surprise that many parents are looking for ways to make sure their children are ready, without adding to the stress.

This blog will walk you through the Year 3 NAPLAN test format, explain how many questions are in each section, and offer practical tips to help your child feel confident and prepared. 

Quick Overview

• NAPLAN Year 3 tests your child’s skills in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions, and Numeracy, with approximately 35–36 questions in each section, plus a writing task.

• The Writing section requires your child to craft a story or persuasive piece, focusing on clear expression and organization.

• In Language Conventions, your child will be tested on spelling, grammar, and punctuation through multiple-choice questions.

• Numeracy covers basic arithmetic, geometry, and measurement, and includes both multiple-choice and short-answer questions.

• FunFox offers targeted programs like the Writers Club and Readers Club, which help students improve their writing and reading skills through fun, structured lessons.

• The key to NAPLAN success is focused practice, staying calm, and giving your child the right support through programs and resources.

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is a standardized test that assesses Australian students’ skills in reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. 

For Year 3 students, it’s a key moment to gauge their progress in these essential areas. NAPLAN is held annually, and though it’s not the only measure of a child’s learning, It offers important information for both parents and educators to identify a child’s strengths and areas for improvement.

This test helps to highlight the foundational skills students need for future learning, and it’s often used by schools to tailor teaching strategies. While the pressure might seem high, it’s important to remember that the goal of NAPLAN is to get a snapshot of your child’s progress, rather than to determine their entire academic future.

With a clearer picture of what NAPLAN is, let’s now take a closer look at the specifics of the Year 3 test format and the number of questions in each section.

NAPLAN Year 3 Test Number of Questions and Format

The Year 3 NAPLAN test is designed to assess the key literacy and numeracy skills that students are expected to have developed by this stage of their education. The test is split into four sections: Reading, Writing, Language Conventions, and Numeracy. Below is a breakdown of each section, including the number of questions and what is assessed:

1. Reading

In the Reading section, your child will read a variety of short texts, like stories, poems, or informational passages. After reading, they’ll answer questions that check how well they understood what they just read.

What’s Tested:

• Comprehension: Can they grasp the main idea of the text?

• Detail Identification: Are they able to find specific details to support their understanding?

• Inference: Can they read between the lines and make logical conclusions?

• Vocabulary: Do they understand what words mean in context?

Example:

This section isn’t just about reading quickly; it’s about how well your child can understand, engage with, and think about what they read.

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2. Writing

The Writing section is all about how well your child can express their ideas through writing. Instead of answering multiple-choice questions, they’ll be given a single writing task to complete. 

What’s Tested:

• Organization: How well do they structure their writing (e.g., clear introduction, body, and conclusion)?

• Clarity: Are their ideas expressed in a way that’s easy to follow?

• Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation: Do they use basic writing rules correctly?

• Creativity: How engaging and original is their writing?

Example:

This section looks at how your child communicates their thoughts, using good writing skills and creativity.

3. Language Conventions

The Language Conventions section checks how well your child understands the rules of written English. It’s focused on their ability to use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation in sentences.

What’s Tested:

• Spelling: Are they spelling words correctly, including the ones that are tricky at this age?

• Grammar: Do they understand the basic parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and sentence structure?

• Punctuation: Do they use punctuation marks (like commas, full stops, and apostrophes) the right way?

• Sentence Structure: Can they form clear, grammatically correct sentences?

Example:

This section helps improve your child’s writing by guiding them to express their ideas clearly and use language correctly.

4. Numeracy

The Numeracy section checks how well your child can apply what they’ve learned in math to real-life situations. The questions cover different topics that fit the Year 3 curriculum, like addition, subtraction, basic measurement, and shapes.

What’s Tested:

• Arithmetic: Can they do basic math operations like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing?

• Measurement: Do they understand units of measurement (like length, weight, and volume) and can they apply them?

• Geometry: Can they identify shapes, work with symmetry, and understand spatial concepts?

• Patterns and Problem-Solving: Are they able to recognize patterns and use problem-solving strategies?

This focuses on your child’s foundational math skills and how they can use them in everyday situations.

Having covered all sections of the test, you must know how NAPLAN Year 3 results are scored and what they mean for your child’s progress.

How the NAPLAN Year 3 Test is Scored

Since 2023, NAPLAN results have been reported using four proficiency levels, replacing the previous numerical bands. This change aims to provide a clearer understanding of a student's performance in relation to national expectations. 

Each proficiency level corresponds to a range of scale scores, which are determined based on the student's performance across all test sections.

The four proficiency levels are:

1. Exceeding: The student's performance goes beyond what was expected at the time of testing.

2. Strong: The student's performance meets high but achievable expectations during the assessment.

3. Developing: The student's performance shows they are making progress towards meeting the expected standards.

4. Needs Additional Support: The student's performance indicates they are not meeting the expected learning outcomes and will likely need extra assistance to make progress.

Once you have a grasp of how the test is scored, the next step is preparing your child for success with practical tips that will help them perform their best.

Read more: NAPLAN 2025 Changes: How to Adapt and Key Insights

Preparation Tips for Parents and Educators

Helping your child prepare for NAPLAN can feel like a challenge, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some simple, practical tips to help make your child feel confident and ready:

1. Make Practice Part of the Routine

Encourage your child to read regularly, whether it's books, magazines, or even online articles. The more they read, the better they’ll understand different writing styles and vocabulary, which will be helpful for the reading and writing sections of NAPLAN.

2. Break Down the Test Format

Instead of focusing on the whole test at once, break it down into smaller sections. Go through sample questions for reading, writing, and numeracy. This can help your child feel more comfortable with the test format and understand what to expect.

3. Focus on Key Skills

For NAPLAN, it’s essential to build confidence in key areas such as:

• Reading comprehension: Ask your child to summarize what they read or explain the main idea.

• Basic maths: Practice simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division regularly.

• Writing: Encourage your child to write short stories or letters to improve their ability to organize ideas clearly.

Need help with your child's writing? FunFox Writers Club offers fun, structured skill-building.

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4. Stay Positive and Calm

NAPLAN is important, but it’s not the only measure of your child’s abilities. Keep the atmosphere positive and remind your child that it’s okay not to know everything. A calm mindset will help them focus and perform better on test day.

5. Use Practice Tests and Resources

There are plenty of online resources offering practice tests to help your child get familiar with the types of questions in NAPLAN. Regular practice can make them more comfortable with both the format and time limits of the test. 

If you’re looking for more structured support, consider exploring programs like Funfox that provide guided practice and feedback. These can help your child focus on areas that need improvement. With the right tools, they’ll feel more confident and prepared when test day comes.

6. Get Enough Sleep and Eat Well

A good night’s sleep before the test can make a world of difference. Make sure your child is well-rested and has a healthy breakfast on test day so they’re energized and focused.

Read more: Benefits of Reading Aloud for Children

Conclusion

NAPLAN Year 3 is an important milestone in your child's learning, but it doesn’t define their entire educational journey. While the test can highlight areas where they’re excelling or may need support, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. The key to success in NAPLAN and beyond is building a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy, and this can be done in a low-pressure, supportive environment.

If you want to help your child improve their reading and writing, the FunFox Writers Club provides a fun and structured way for them to build strong writing skills.

Through engaging lessons, your child will build confidence in expressing themselves clearly. These skills will support them in NAPLAN and throughout their education.

With these preparation tips in mind, you can easily focus on making this milestone a positive experience for your child.

FAQ’s

1. What areas are tested in the NAPLAN Year 3 exam?

NAPLAN Year 3 tests your child’s skills in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (grammar, punctuation, spelling), and Numeracy. Each section evaluates different aspects of literacy and numeracy that students should have developed by this stage.

2. How many questions are in the NAPLAN Year 3 test?

The NAPLAN Year 3 test includes approximately 35–36 multiple-choice questions for Reading, Language Conventions, and Numeracy, with one writing task focusing on expressing ideas clearly and correctly.

3. How can I help my child prepare for the NAPLAN Year 3 writing task?

Encourage your child to practice writing regularly. They can write short stories, persuasive pieces, or letters. Focus on organizing their thoughts, using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Practising with a timer can also help them manage time during the test.

4. What are the most common mistakes students make in NAPLAN Year 3?

Common mistakes include overlooking the time limit, struggling with punctuation and grammar in the writing task, and misreading questions in the Reading section. Regular practice and reviewing common test formats can help reduce these errors.

5. How can FunFox help with NAPLAN Year 3 preparation?

FunFox offers programs like the Writers Club and Readers Club to help students improve their writing and reading skills through structured, engaging lessons. These programs provide focused practice to ensure your child is ready for the test.