What are NAPLAN past papers?
Overview of NAPLAN Past Papers Available on ACARA.
Naplan past papers are official past examinations released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) on their website. These PDFs contain the actual exam papers students sat on from 2012 to 2016
They offer a good starting point for students preparing for the Naplan tests.
However, they may not necessarily provide insights into the exam format, question types, and difficulty levels for the modern NAPLAN exam.
NAPLAN past papers links
Here’s a collection of links to past NAPLAN practice tests, papers, and answer sheets for each year level.
Curious4ever also offers modern online practice tests as part of their NAPLAN preparation program. Show me NAPLAN practice tests
NAPLAN Year 3 Past Papers (2012–2016)
| Year 2016 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2015 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2014 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2013 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2012 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
NAPLAN Year 5 Past Papers (2012–2016)
| Year 2016 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2015 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2014 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2013 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2012 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
NAPLAN Year 7 Past Papers (2012–2016)
| Year 2016 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2015 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2014 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2013 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2012 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
NAPLAN Year 9 Past Papers (2012–2016)
| Year 2016 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2015 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2014 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2013 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
| Year 2012 | Reading | |
| Numeracy | ||
| Language Conventions | ||
| Writing | ||
| Answers |
Curious4ever
How Useful NAPLAN Past Papers Are?
NAPLAN on our online platform
Audio question on Curious4ever
Looking for NAPLAN practice tests and past papers and tests to prepare for your child's assessment?
Although past papers available on ACARA's website could be useful references for kick-off preparation, they may not reflect the latest NAPLAN standards.
Why?
1. Outdated Content
These papers date back to 2012–2016, and NAPLAN standards have changed significantly since then.
50, 100, 150, 200, 250, ?
Which number comes next in this sequence?- 251
- 260
- 300
- 350
2. What’s changed since the PDF past papers (online NAPLAN)
The NAPLAN test has moved online for many years, introducing interactive question types and features that cannot be replicated in PDF format.
Your child needs to practice on an online platform that can simulate a close experience to the actual exam.
Curious4ever online NAPLAN practice exams provide that to students.
3. Audio spelling questions cannot be practiced in PDF past papers
Modern NAPLAN assessments include audio based spelling questions where students must listen to a word and type the correct spelling. This is an important skill that cannot be replicated using printed past papers or static PDF files.
In past papers, students only see written questions. They do not get the opportunity to practice listening carefully and typing what they hear, which is required in the actual online NAPLAN exam.
Example of an audio spelling question in now online NAPLAN
We went ______ in the new car.
Click on the play button to hear the missing word.
Type the correct spelling of the word in the box.
This type of listening based question is impossible to practice using PDF past papers, which makes them less effective for real exam preparation.
Curious4ever online practice tests include real audio based spelling questions, helping students prepare properly for the actual NAPLAN exam format.
NAPLAN Past Papers vs Online NAPLAN Practice Tests
Past PDF papers have their place, but future is to go online.
| Official Past Papers PDF (2012–2016) | Online Practice Tests Modern digital format | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Printable PDF papers | Interactive online platform |
| Matches Current Exam | Older format | Designed for current digital NAPLAN |
| Instant Feedback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Timer | Manual timing required | Included |
| Performance Tracking | Not available | Tracks strengths & weaknesses |
Curious4ever
How to get value out of the NAPLAN past papers.
The NAPLAN past papers, while not a perfect mirror of the current exam, still hold some value.
We recommend to use the past papers in the following way:
1. Familiarization with the Format
Download the NAPLAN past papers for the relevant year and skim through them to understand the format that was previously used. You can also gauge an idea of the difficulty level.
Please note that the NAPLAN exam is now administered online. This online format allows for a greater variety of question types, including more creative and interactive ways to assess the same concepts.
2. As a vocabulary builder
Utilize the Reading and Language Conventions past exams as a vocabulary resource. Explore unfamiliar words with your child, focusing on their meanings and spellings.
Show me NAPLAN practice tests