OLNA reading: what the test asks and how to get ready
OLNA 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.
Last checked against the official sources.
Reading is 45 multiple-choice questions in 50 minutes. It checks whether a student can understand everyday texts at the minimum standard.
The format
SCSA's example test for reading has 45 multiple-choice questions, with 50 minutes to complete them. It is sat online. Students only sit reading if they have not already met the standard.
What it checks
The standard is described by SCSA as Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework. In reading, that means understanding the kind of texts met in daily life and work, such as notices, short articles and instructions.
Getting ready
Read the question first, then find the answer in the text. Do not choose an answer from memory of the topic alone.
Familiarisation matters more than drilling:
- Do SCSA's practice or example test once, so the screen and timing are known.
- Read varied everyday texts and talk about them.
- Practise skimming for a specific fact and explaining the main point.
SCSA publishes its own practice and example tests for students to become familiar with the test. They are the official materials.
For parents
Staying calm helps. Check that your child knows which window they are sitting in, and ask the school what practice it provides.
Do not rely on unofficial question banks that claim to match the test. Only SCSA's own materials show the real format.
Details come from SCSA's practice and example tests page. Please confirm the current format with SCSA and your school. No guarantee of results is made.
ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. This page is our own plain-language explanation. It is not official and is not endorsed by SCSA, and we do not offer OLNA practice.