How To Get Good NAPLAN Results
Your child comes home with their NAPLAN report, and you're staring at words like "developing" and "strong" – but what does this actually mean for their academic future? Achieving strong NAPLAN results starts with understanding what the test measures, what good performance looks like, and how to build the foundational skills that set your child up for long-term success.
According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, around 67% of students achieved "Strong" or "Exceeding" proficiency levels in reading in 2024, while only 65.5% reached these levels in numeracy. That means roughly one in three Australian students aren't meeting the expected standards – but your child doesn't have to be one of them.
Understanding NAPLAN Results
Understanding NAPLAN results starts with knowing how they're measured. Since 2023, ACARA reports student achievement using four proficiency levels instead of numerical scores:
Exceeding: Your child demonstrates advanced skills beyond their year level
Strong: Your child meets the challenging but reasonable expectations for their age (this is the benchmark)
Developing: Your child is progressing but hasn't yet reached the expected standard
Needs Additional Support: Your child requires targeted intervention to build foundational skills
But what is a good NAPLAN score?
In the current system, "Strong" or "Exceeding" represents good performance. If your child achieves "Strong" proficiency across all domains, they're meeting national expectations. "Exceeding" indicates they're performing at an advanced level – often what parents aiming for selective schools or academic programs want to see.
The results show where your child sits compared to students nationwide in the same year level. The 2024 NAPLAN National Results revealed that Year 5 students showed the strongest performance overall (71.4% at Strong/Exceeding in reading), whilst Year 9 performance dropped to 63% in reading – highlighting how the achievement gap can widen over time without proper support.
Why Good NAPLAN Results Matter for Your Child
NAPLAN is officially a "snapshot" assessment with no pass or fail. But what many parents don't realise is that these results do have real-world implications for your child's academic opportunities.
Selective School Applications
The NSW Department of Education uses NAPLAN results as an alternate form of academic merit when students miss the selective high school placement test. Schools often base their assessment mark component on Year 5 NAPLAN performance. Whilst NAPLAN alone won't get your child into a selective school, strong results support their overall application.
Identifying Gaps Early
Research from the Grattan Institute found that the achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students is about two years of learning in Year 3 – but balloons to more than five years by Year 9. The earlier you identify and address gaps, the easier it is to close them.
Academic Confidence
Children who consistently perform at "Strong" or "Exceeding" levels develop the confidence to tackle challenging work. This mindset carries through to HSC preparation, university, and beyond.
School Reporting
Many schools in Sydney's competitive education landscape use NAPLAN results to inform teaching strategies and student groupings. Strong results can open doors to enrichment programmes and advanced learning opportunities within your child's school.
Building the Foundation: How to Help Your Child Succeed
Forget the "cram before NAPLAN" approach. Good NAPLAN results come from building strong literacy and numeracy foundations throughout the year.
Develop Strong Reading Habits
The reading test accounts for a significant portion of NAPLAN assessment. Children who read widely – fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, online articles – develop the vocabulary and comprehension skills tested in NAPLAN naturally. Aim for at least 20-30 minutes of reading daily, and discuss what they're reading to build comprehension.
Practise Writing Regularly
The writing test asks students to respond to a prompt within a time limit and requires them to show either creative or persuasive writing (and to know the difference between the styles). Regular practice writing different text types builds both skill and speed. Focus on planning, structuring arguments, and editing for grammar and spelling errors.
Master Language Conventions
Grammar, punctuation, and spelling are tested separately in NAPLAN. The 2024 National Results showed grammar and punctuation were the weakest areas, with less than 60% of Year 3 and Year 9 students meeting the "Strong" level. Consistent practice with sentence structure, parts of speech, and punctuation rules makes a significant difference.
Build Numeracy Confidence
NAPLAN numeracy tests number sense, mathematical operations, and problem-solving. Students need to understand concepts, not just memorise procedures. Use real-world maths – cooking measurements, budgeting pocket money, calculating distances – to make numeracy relevant and engaging.
Develop Exam Technique
NAPLAN is timed and online. Students need to work efficiently under pressure. Familiarisation with the test format reduces anxiety and helps students manage their time. The NAP website provides practice tests that mirror the actual assessment platform.
Strategic Support: When to Consider Tutoring
Some children naturally excel in standardised testing environments. Others have the knowledge but struggle with test conditions, time pressure, or specific skill gaps. If your child's NAPLAN result shows "Developing" or "Needs Additional Support" in any domain, targeted intervention can make a real difference.
Professional tutoring provides:
Personalised gap identification – pinpointing exactly where your child needs support
Structured skill development – building foundational literacy and numeracy systematically
Exam strategy coaching – teaching time management and question analysis techniques
Confidence building – helping anxious students approach tests with a positive mindset
Access to past NAPLAN papers – allowing students to practice and familiarise themselves with the right type of questions
Year-Level Considerations
Years 3 and 5
These early NAPLAN assessments establish baseline performance. Year 5 results particularly matter for families considering selective high school applications. Focus on building strong reading habits and basic numeracy confidence.
Our article on how to help your child develop study skills provides practical strategies for primary school students.
Years 7 and 9
High school NAPLAN assessments become more challenging, testing the application of skills rather than just recall. Students benefit from 7 effective study techniques for high school students that develop critical thinking and time management.
Moving Forward with Confidence
Good NAPLAN results don't guarantee academic success, but they do indicate your child is developing the literacy and numeracy foundations that support all future learning. Whether your child receives "Exceeding," "Strong," or "Developing" results, the key is understanding what the results reveal and taking purposeful action.
If your child is consistently achieving "Strong" or "Exceeding" results, celebrate their success and continue nurturing their love of learning. If results show "Developing" or "Needs Additional Support," don't panic – targeted support can close gaps quickly when started early. Strategies in how to jump over learning hurdles can offer practical guidance for parents supporting struggling learners.
Remember, NAPLAN results are a tool for understanding where your child stands – not a judgment of their potential. Our experienced tutors at Little Geniuses specialise in helping Sydney students develop the strong literacy and numeracy skills that lead to excellent NAPLAN results.
Our NAPLAN tutoring program is designed specifically for students preparing for Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 assessments, whilst our private tutoring offers year-round support that strengthens foundational skills across all subjects.
Want to see how tutoring can boost your child's performance? We've helped hundreds of Sydney families transform "developing" results into "exceeding" performance through targeted, engaging tuition that makes learning enjoyable.