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Understand NAPLAN6 min read

NAPLAN FAQ: opting out, absence, tutoring and selective entry

Straight answers for parents on NAPLAN withdrawal, missed tests, tutoring and coaching, and whether NAPLAN affects selective or school entry. NAPLAN is not designed to be an admission test, and students are not expected to study.

Last checked against the official sources.

Parents can withdraw a child by asking the principal before testing starts, absent students may get catch-up tests, and your child is not expected to study. NAPLAN is not an admission test and is separate from NSW selective entry.

Disclosure

ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. On this page we report what ACARA says about coaching and tutoring, even where it points away from paid help.

Can we opt out?

ACARA says participation by all students is expected. Withdrawal is a decision for parents and carers, and it is best made in collaboration with the school. Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. A formal request must be given to the principal before testing, following the process set by your state or territory test administration authority, and principals must hold signed parent or carer consent. The report then says your child was withdrawn from that test. Talk to your child's teacher or principal first.

Formal exemptions are limited. ACARA's brochure says a student with a disability that severely limits their capacity to participate, or a student who has recently arrived in Australia with a non-English speaking background, may be granted one in exceptional circumstances. Adjustments for students with disability are separate: schools should work with you to identify reasonable adjustments.

What if my child is absent?

Where possible, schools may arrange for absent students to complete missed tests at another time during the school's test schedule. Students who are sick cannot do the tests at home. A student who cannot attend any catch-up session gets no result for the tests they missed, and the report says so. A catch-up is not available once a student has started a test.

Do we need tutoring?

ACARA says plainly: students are not expected to study for NAPLAN, and it does not recommend excessive preparation or the use of services by coaching providers. It also says neither ACARA nor education ministers endorse any organisation offering NAPLAN-style tests, answers or diagnostic tools.

The official suggestion is to let your child know NAPLAN is part of the school program and to remind them to simply do their best. Some explanation of the format can help them feel comfortable, and teachers make sure students are familiar with question types.

If you still want some practice, the official demonstration site is the tool ACARA provides for familiarisation. This site also has free practice, written by us (see NAPLAN practice). ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business, and ACARA does not endorse this practice or any other NAPLAN-style practice, so treat it as optional.

Is NAPLAN used for selective entry?

No. NAPLAN is a national check of literacy and numeracy. ACARA says it is not designed to be a school admission test, though some schools may ask for NAPLAN reports. The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is a different test with a separate application, so see Selective.

Key fact

NAPLAN is not the Selective test. They have different purposes and different rules.

Where do results go?

Your child's report comes via the school. See how to read the report.

Checked against the NAP site on 7 October 2026.

Attribution: © Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2011 to present, unless otherwise indicated. This material was downloaded from the National Assessment Program website (www.nap.edu.au) (accessed 7 October 2026) and was modified. The material is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ACARA does not endorse any product that uses ACARA material or make any representations as to the quality of such products. Any product that uses ACARA's material should not be taken to be affiliated with ACARA or have the sponsorship or approval of ACARA. It is up to each person to make their own assessment of the product.

Frequently asked questions

Can I withdraw my child from NAPLAN?
Parents and carers can withdraw a child, but ACARA says participation by all students is expected. Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. A formal request must go to the principal before testing starts, following your state or territory process, and the school must hold your signed consent. The report then says your child was withdrawn from that test. Talk to your child's teacher or principal first.
Does my child need a tutor for NAPLAN?
ACARA says students are not expected to study for NAPLAN and does not recommend excessive preparation or the use of services by coaching providers. Neither ACARA nor education ministers endorse organisations offering NAPLAN-style tests.
Is NAPLAN used for selective school entry?
ACARA says NAPLAN is not designed to be a school admission test, although some schools may ask for NAPLAN reports alongside school reports. NSW selective entry uses its own placement test.
What if my child is sick on test day?
A child who is absent may be able to complete catch-up tests if they return within the school's planned test schedule. Sick students cannot sit NAPLAN at home. A child who cannot attend any catch-up session gets no result for the tests they missed, and the report says so. A catch-up is not available once a student has started a test.
Can my child sit NAPLAN overseas?
No. The NAP site says NAPLAN tests can only be sat within Australia.

Sources