What the OLNA is and who must sit it
The 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.
Last checked against the official sources.
The OLNA tests reading, writing and numeracy at a minimum standard. Meeting that standard in all three is a WACE requirement. Your school schedules the parts your child still needs.
What it is
The OLNA (Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) is run by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). The WA Department of Education describes it as the way students show the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy needed to get a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).
The standard is described by SCSA using Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework. In everyday terms, it covers the reading, writing and number skills needed for daily life and work.
Who sits it
The Department says secondary students in Years 10, 11 and 12 sit the OLNA. SCSA's schedule lists a Term 4 window for Years 9 and 10, so ask your school. Students who have shown the standard in a component through Year 9 NAPLAN do not need to sit that component. See Category 3 and NAPLAN pre-qualification.
Once a component has been passed, it does not need to be sat again.
The format at a glance
The table below shows the format as SCSA publishes it for the example test. Each component is a separate session.
Reading and numeracy are multiple choice. Writing is one typed response. Students sit only the components they still need.
What parents can do
Ask the school which components your child is scheduled for, and when. Then look at the reading, writing and numeracy pages together, so the format is no surprise.
SCSA publishes practice and example tests on its site. They are the official materials, and the aim is to become familiar with the test, not to drill.
Details come from SCSA and the WA Department of Education. Please confirm windows and format with SCSA and your school.
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.