Where can I find NAPLAN past papers?

ACARA, the body that runs NAPLAN, publishes past test papers for 2012 to 2016 on its website, for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in reading, numeracy, language conventions and writing. It does not release the papers from later years.

Are there NAPLAN papers from after 2016?

Not from ACARA. It says it does not provide access to NAPLAN tests after 2016, because it keeps them for work on improving the national assessment. Any site offering them as official is not offering what it says.

Is there a free NAPLAN practice test with answers?

ACARA's public demonstration site is free to try but does not show answers, and a child's responses cannot be viewed once the test is finished. On Scholar Tests every NAPLAN-style paper is free to sit, and a plan unlocks the answers and worked solutions.

Does NAPLAN have a pass mark?

No. NAPLAN is not an entrance exam and there is nothing to pass. Schools use it to see where a cohort sits, and families use it as an early read on literacy and numeracy.

Are the practice papers on Scholar Tests real NAPLAN papers?

No. They are NAPLAN-style papers written independently to the published format. We never reproduce ACARA wording, and nothing here is endorsed by ACARA.

Last updated 9 October 2026

NAPLAN Past Papers: What's Free, What's Missing, What to Use

A note from the parent who built this: I’m prepping my own son for the 2028 Year 7 round across three different boards, and everything on this site gets tested on him before it goes live.

If you search for NAPLAN past papers, the honest answer is short. ACARA, the body that runs NAPLAN, publishes real papers for 2012 to 2016 only. It also runs a free demonstration site for the online format, but that site shows no answers. This guide explains what each one is good for, and what to use alongside them.

What ACARA publishes for free

Past test papers, 2012 to 2016. Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, in reading, numeracy, language conventions and writing. These are the only real NAPLAN papers that are released. ACARA states that it does not provide the tests from later years.
A public demonstration site. It covers Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in reading, writing, numeracy and language conventions, so a child can see what the on-screen test looks like. Year 3 writing is sat on paper, so there is no Year 3 writing demonstration.

Why those two are not enough on their own

The papers are old. Nothing after 2016 is released, so the wording, topics and layout are years behind what your child will sit. Today most of NAPLAN is taken on a screen, and those papers were written for the paper test.
The demonstration site gives no answers. ACARA says answers are not provided, and once a child selects finish, or time runs out, the responses are submitted and can no longer be viewed. A child can practise the tools, but cannot learn from a mistake.
Neither one is a timed, marked routine. NAPLAN rewards comfort with the clock as much as knowledge, and one paper does not build that.

What to use alongside them

We write NAPLAN-style practice papers for Year 3 and Year 5. They follow the published format and they are timed. Year 3 has numeracy and language conventions. Year 5 has numeracy, language conventions, reading, and a writing task that comes back marked.

To be clear about what these are: papers we wrote to the published format, not ACARA’s papers. We do not reproduce ACARA wording, and nothing here is endorsed by ACARA. Every paper is free to sit. A plan unlocks the answers and worked solutions.

If your child is only working on writing, the free Year 5 writing checker needs no account: paste a paragraph and get feedback on spelling, grammar and clarity.

A simple order that works

Try the demonstration site once, so the on-screen tools are no surprise.
Read one released ACARA paper from 2012 to 2016 to see how real questions are worded.
Spend the rest of the time on timed, NAPLAN-style papers, and review every wrong answer.

Keep it light. NAPLAN is not a pass or fail test. The aim is a child who knows the format and the clock, not one who is worn out before the day.

What’s next

Ready to start? NAPLAN practice tests lists every Year 3 and Year 5 paper. If you are also weighing a scholarship test, see how NAPLAN numeracy differs from scholarship maths, or which scholarship test your school uses.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find NAPLAN past papers?: ACARA, the body that runs NAPLAN, publishes past test papers for 2012 to 2016 on its website, for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in reading, numeracy, language conventions and writing. It does not release the papers from later years.
Are there NAPLAN papers from after 2016?: Not from ACARA. It says it does not provide access to NAPLAN tests after 2016, because it keeps them for work on improving the national assessment. Any site offering them as official is not offering what it says.
Is there a free NAPLAN practice test with answers?: ACARA's public demonstration site is free to try but does not show answers, and a child's responses cannot be viewed once the test is finished. On Scholar Tests every NAPLAN-style paper is free to sit, and a plan unlocks the answers and worked solutions.
Does NAPLAN have a pass mark?: No. NAPLAN is not an entrance exam and there is nothing to pass. Schools use it to see where a cohort sits, and families use it as an early read on literacy and numeracy.
Are the practice papers on Scholar Tests real NAPLAN papers?: No. They are NAPLAN-style papers written independently to the published format. We never reproduce ACARA wording, and nothing here is endorsed by ACARA.