7 Tips to Help Your Year 3 Child Prepare for NAPLAN

As a parent, it’s natural to want the best for your child’s education, and the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) plays an important role in assessing their progress. For many families, Year 3 is the first time your child will sit for NAPLAN, which often brings a mix of curiosity and concern. While some children may feel overwhelmed by the idea of a formal test, others might not fully understand what to expect. But the good news is that, with the right preparation you can help ease your child’s worries and set them up for success. 

Start with a Simple Check-In

The first step in preparing your child for NAPLAN is simply asking how they’re feeling about it. It may seem like a small thing, but it can give you valuable insight into what’s going on in their mind. Are they anxious about the test? Are they worried about the results? Or are they uncertain about what to expect? A simple check-in will help you understand where they’re at and how you can best support them. Whether they’re feeling nervous or calm, your response can make all the difference in easing their worries and ensuring they feel prepared.

Introduce NAPLAN Practice Books

Introducing NAPLAN practice books is one of the best things you can do to help your Year 3 child prepare for the test. These books are packed with valuable exercises, activities, and practice tests, offering a structured and effective way to revise for NAPLAN. By providing your child with these resources, you’re not only giving them a chance to get familiar with the types of questions they’ll encounter but also helping them build essential skills they’ll need for the test.

When choosing a Year 3 NAPLAN book, look for ones that are specifically designed for their level. These practice books will be tailored to their learning skills, with questions that are age-appropriate and aligned with the NAPLAN format. A Year 3 NAPLAN book that includes answers and explanations can be especially helpful for quick, effective revision. It gives your child a chance to practice on their own, but also allows you (or their teacher) to review their progress and step in if they need extra help.

The great thing about NAPLAN practice books is that they cover all the key areas of the assessment: reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. This comprehensive approach ensures that your child receives a well-rounded review of the test content, strengthening their skills across different subjects. Each section typically includes practice questions, answers, and explanations to help your child understand their mistakes and learn from them.

Another big benefit of using Year 3 NAPLAN books is that they help your child feel at ease with the test format, which can reduce anxiety on test day. For a young child facing a formal assessment, the structure, layout, and wording can be confusing. Practice books offer a chance to become familiar with these details, building confidence with each session. That said, introducing NAPLAN practice books is a fantastic way to get your child ready for the test while also making learning engaging and productive.

Help Them Manage Their Test Time

Helping your child manage their time during the NAPLAN test is crucial, especially if they tend to run out of time in exams. The first step is to go through the test components together and break down how much time they have for each section. This way, they’ll have a clearer idea of how long they can spend on each question. Discuss what to do if they get stuck. Should they keep trying or move on? Practising this with them before the test will build their confidence in handling time limits and help them make thoughtful decisions under pressure, so they don’t feel rushed.

Brainstorm Ideas for Writing Topics

Another area where your child may struggle is generating ideas for the Writing component of NAPLAN. They need to write an informative, narrative, or persuasive piece, but under exam pressure it can be hard to think of good ideas. To help your child feel more prepared, spend some time brainstorming ideas together before the test. You can practise with different prompts and show them simple techniques for generating ideas. This way, they’ll feel more confident and ready to come up with good ideas on their own. 

Make Practice Fun with Educational Games

You can make practice fun by turning learning into games! When it comes to reading, set aside time to talk about stories, characters, and themes, helping your child better understand what they’re reading while fostering a love for books. For math, you can integrate fun activities like puzzles or real-life situations that involve calculations to make numeracy feel less like a task. By making learning enjoyable, you’ll keep your child engaged while reinforcing important skills in a relaxed and fun way.

Prioritise Good Nutrition and Plenty of Rest

Prioritising good nutrition and plenty of rest is essential for your child’s success during NAPLAN. A good night’s sleep boosts memory, focus, decision-making, and even math processing—skills that are crucial during exams. When your kid is well-rested, they will perform better both mentally and physically. Pairing this with a healthy diet is crucial for keeping their energy up and supporting overall well-being. Making sure they feel calm and confident leading up to the test can make a big difference, helping them feel their best on the big day.

Encourage and Motivate Your Kid 

Encouraging your child is key, especially on tough days during NAPLAN. If they come home feeling upset, help them shift their focus to what they can do differently the next day. Rather than stressing about the result, praise their effort and the progress they’ve made. Remind them that this assessment doesn’t define who they are. Celebrate their effort and growth no matter the outcome, and show them that doing their best is what truly matters.