March 11, 2026 9:00 AM - March 16, 2026 3:00 PM at Merici College
High School students in Year 7 and Year 9 across the ACT and around the country will soon participate in NAPLAN. The literacy and numeracy data gathered from this program can be used to inform school and system teaching and learning programs and assists teachers to better determine support students’ needs.
The testing dates at Merici are from Wednesday 11th March to Monday 16th March, with Tuesday 17th March being used as a catch-up day for students who miss tests due to absence.
All NAPLAN tests will be completed in the school auditorium according to the following timetable:
| Wed 11th March | Thu 12th March | Fri 13th March | Mon 16th March | Tue 17th March | ||
| Year 7 | Period 1 | Writing 42 mins |
Reading 65 mins |
Conventions of language 42 mins |
Numeracy 65 mins |
Catch ups as required |
| Period 2 | ||||||
| Classes affected | Science or IH | IH or PE | Language or IH | Maths, IH or Science |
various | |
| Year 9 | Period 3 | Writing 42 mins |
Reading 65 mins |
Conventions of language 42 mins |
Numeracy 65 mins |
Catch ups as required |
| Period 4 | ||||||
| Classes affected | Maths or English | Science or PE | Languages, Science or English | RE or English (PC) | various |
Preparation
Students will install the specialised NAPLAN lockdown browser onto their laptops in class on Monday 2nd March. They will also have access to a familiarisation test during this time. Please ensure your child has their laptop with them on this day. If the settings on your daughter’s laptop require parent approval for downloads, please ensure the browser is downloaded at home as soon as possible so that the program can be checked in Pastoral Care before the first testing day – all instructions will be available on SEQTA.
You and your daughter can become familiar with NAPLAN Online tests by visiting the public demonstration site, NAPLAN – Public Demonstration Site. The purpose of the site is to familiarise students with the type of items they will see on NAPLAN Online and related functionalities, such as the built-in calculator. This level of familiarisation is worthwhile to help students understand and be comfortable with the format of the test. There is no need to ‘revise’ for NAPLAN.
During the testing period
Students must bring a charged laptop and headphones (plug in versions are recommended) for each of the sessions. We also suggest they bring a reading book in case they finish early. Classes continue as normal outside the testing sessions.
NAPLAN Online allows for tailored testing. This means that a student is presented with sets of questions based on their performance during the test. This model provides students with the opportunity to better demonstrate their range of literacy and numeracy skills and it is more engaging for students. Further information explaining tailored testing can be found at NAP Tailored tests. Students on personalised plans will receive appropriate special provisions.
Privacy
The Education Directorate collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information to carry out its functions. Personal information about students and parents/carers will be used as part of NAPLAN Online testing and readiness tests. The use of this information is required for students to participate in NAPLAN testing, provide reports to parents and schools and to undertake research and compile statistics using anonymised data. More detail on how we handle your information is available in the Education Directorate Privacy Policy available at Privacy – ACT Education
As part of undertaking NAPLAN Online, the Education Directorate works closely with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and Education Services Australia (ESA). ESA operates the NAPLAN Online platform which will contain personal information. ACARA will collect anonymised information about each student who takes the test online from the Education Directorate.
Further information on how ACARA and ESA protect privacy is available through the ACARA privacy infographic Privacy – ACARA and ESA Privacy Policy Privacy – ESA.
Further information
Further information for parents and carers, including details around how the program is administered, can be found on the NAP Website.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss withdrawing your child from NAPLAN, please contact Rebecca Scollen on [email protected] so that you can be provided with the withdrawal form. Please note that your child will not be allowed to work on assessments if she is withdrawn. She will be provided some basic literacy workbooks to complete whilst the cohort is completing NAPLAN.
