Year 5 NAPLAN runs from Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027. Your child sits four online tests: writing, reading, conventions of language and numeracy. The big change from Year 3 is that writing is now typed, and every test is longer and harder.
Year 5 is also the year many families start thinking about selective schools, so this guide explains how NAPLAN connects to selective entry.
The four Year 5 tests
| Test | Time | Format | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing | 42 minutes | Online, typed | One narrative or persuasive piece |
| Reading | 50 minutes | Online, adaptive | A range of literary and information texts |
| Conventions of language | 45 minutes | Online, adaptive | Spelling, grammar and punctuation |
| Numeracy | 50 minutes | Online, adaptive, no calculator | Number, algebra, measurement, geometry, statistics |
Writing is on day one, 10 March 2027, followed by reading, conventions of language and numeracy. The reading, conventions and numeracy tests are adaptive: they get harder as your child answers correctly.
Writing: typing changes everything
Year 5 students type their response. Students who can't type at a reasonable speed run out of time, and typing slowly also makes them write shorter, simpler sentences. Ten minutes of typing practice a few times a week from January makes a real difference.
The task is either narrative or persuasive, and your child won't know which until the day. They need a quick plan for both. Markers score the piece against ten criteria, including audience, text structure, ideas, vocabulary, paragraphing, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling.
A typical Year 5 problem is writing a story with lots of events but no tension or ending. Another is a persuasive piece that just repeats "I think" without reasons. Read our guides to narrative vs persuasive writing and our list of NAPLAN writing prompts.
Reading
Year 5 texts are longer and include poems, persuasive texts, diagrams and short articles. Questions move beyond "find the fact" into inference, the author's purpose and the meaning of figurative language. See our NAPLAN reading guide by year level and our guide to figurative language.
Conventions of language
Spelling is tested by audio dictation (your child hears a word and types it) and by proofreading. Grammar and punctuation at Year 5 include apostrophes for possession, commas in lists and after introductory phrases, speech marks, and choosing the right verb tense or pronoun. See our language conventions guide.
Numeracy
Year 5 numeracy has no calculator. Expect multi-step word problems, fractions and decimals, area and perimeter, simple patterns and reading tables and graphs. See our comparison of Year 3 vs Year 5 numeracy and fractions, percentages and decimals.
How NAPLAN links to selective entry
Year 5 is when families sit or prepare for selective tests: the NSW Selective test, the Brisbane State High School HAST-P, QASMT's Year 7 entry and WA's ASET the following year. NAPLAN isn't the entry test for any of these, but:
- the Queensland Academies ask for all available NAPLAN reports as part of the application
- Brisbane State High School asks applicants to show ongoing academic excellence, which can include NAPLAN results
- selective tests are much harder than NAPLAN, often pitched one to two years above grade level
A child in the Exceeding band in reading and numeracy is usually a reasonable candidate to try a selective practice test. Our free sample tests show you where your child sits.
How results work
Results come back as one of four proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing or Needs additional support. You get an Individual Student Report from your school, usually at the start of Term 3. Because your child also sat NAPLAN in Year 3, you can compare the two reports. See NAPLAN results and proficiency levels.
A simple preparation plan
- November to January: daily reading, times tables to instant recall, and typing practice.
- February: one typed piece of writing a week (42 minutes), alternating narrative and persuasive. One timed practice test per subject.
- Two weeks out: a full practice set in test order. Review mistakes together.
- Test week: rest, routine and a good breakfast.
Our NAPLAN Year 5 practice bundle includes four full practice sets across all four tests, with automatic marking and explanations. Or start with our free NAPLAN practice tests.
Frequently asked questions
When is Year 5 NAPLAN in 2027? Between 10 and 22 March 2027, with writing on 10 March.
Is Year 5 writing typed? Yes. All Year 5 tests are online, including writing.
Can my child use a calculator in Year 5 numeracy? No.
Is a good NAPLAN result enough for a selective school? No. Selective tests are harder and test reasoning skills NAPLAN doesn't cover. NAPLAN is a useful early signal, not a substitute for selective preparation.
Sources: National Assessment Program key dates (nap.edu.au); QCAA NAPLAN 2027 dates; NAPLAN 2025 information for parents and carers; Queensland Academies Year 10 enrolments (NAPLAN requirement).