OLNA (WA): a plain-language guide to the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment
The OLNA is how Western Australian students show the minimum literacy and numeracy standard needed for the WACE. This guide explains who sits it, the format, attempts, NAPLAN pre-qualification and how to prepare calmly.
Last checked against the official sources.
The Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) is a Western Australian test with three parts: reading, writing and numeracy. Passing each part is one of the requirements for the WACE.
The OLNA checks the minimum reading, writing and numeracy standard that Western Australian students need for the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). Your school schedules the parts a student still needs. SCSA is the official source.
Who this is for: parents, carers and students in Western Australia whose school has scheduled, or may schedule, the OLNA.
This section is written for parents, carers and students. It explains the test in plain language and points you to SCSA for anything official.
Where to go next
- What the OLNA is and who must sit it
- Windows and attempts
- Category 3 and NAPLAN pre-qualification
- Reading, writing and numeracy
ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. Nothing here is a guarantee of any result.
Understand the test
- What the OLNA is and who must sit itThe OLNA is the Western Australian test of minimum literacy and numeracy for the WACE. Students who have not already met the standard through Year 9 NAPLAN are scheduled by their school to sit the parts they still need.
- OLNA windows and attempts: the 2026 Term 4 and 2027 windowsSchools schedule students into OLNA windows through the year, with up to six opportunities before the end of Year 12. The windows below are from SCSA's published schedule; check SCSA for the current windows.
- Category 3 and pre-qualification through Year 9 NAPLANCategory 3 is how SCSA reports that a student has met the OLNA standard in a component. Students can also pre-qualify through Year 9 NAPLAN, so they do not need to sit that component. Check SCSA for the current NAPLAN threshold.
Sections
- OLNA reading: what the test asks and how to get readyOLNA reading is 45 multiple-choice questions in 50 minutes, set at the minimum standard for everyday and work reading. This page explains what to expect and how to prepare through familiarisation, not drilling.
- OLNA writing: typed response of up to 600 wordsOLNA writing is one typed response of up to 600 words in 60 minutes. This page explains the format and simple habits for planning, writing and checking a clear response.
- OLNA numeracy: 45 questions in 50 minutesOLNA numeracy is 45 multiple-choice questions in 50 minutes, testing everyday maths at the minimum standard. This page explains the format and how to prepare through familiarisation rather than drilling.