NAPLAN demonstration site and past papers: official links and rules

The public demonstration site

The NAP public demonstration site covers Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, with reading, numeracy and conventions of language, and writing for Years 5, 7 and 9. It includes accessible alternatives, text-based alternatives to the audio spelling dictation, and colour themes.

What to know before you use it:

• All Year 3 students write on paper, so there is no Year 3 writing demonstration.
• Answers are not provided and writing responses cannot be retrieved.
• It is not tailored, though example branching messages are included.
• The writing section offers a narrative and a persuasive task. Only one is used in a given year.

Past papers

ACARA hosts NAPLAN test papers and answers for 2008 to 2016 on two pages, 2008 to 2011 and 2012 to 2016, for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. ACARA says it does not provide access to NAPLAN tests after 2016. These were paper tests, so they are not tailored and do not look like today's online tests.

What ACARA says about use

The NAP general FAQ says the public demonstration site and past paper tests are available for familiarisation. It also says that neither ACARA nor education ministers endorse any organisation offering NAPLAN-style tests and answers.

ACARA's copyright terms say its test materials may not be uploaded to a website or app, published, or used in coaching clinics, which is why this page links and does not reproduce questions.

Schools can also run official practice tests in the NAPLAN assessment platform from Term 3, 2026. Ask your school or your test administration authority if you would like your child to try one.

Skill practice

For original skill practice written for this site, see NAPLAN practice. It is optional. ACARA says students are not expected to study. ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. Our practice items are original, not official, and not endorsed by ACARA.

Checked against the NAP and ACARA sites 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.