By Year 5 the questions ask for more than recall. Texts are longer, numeracy problems take several steps, and the language questions test grammar rules that students have to apply, not just recognise. This page shows what Year 5 NAPLAN covers, gives you a free 10-question sample to try, and sets out a practice routine that fits around school before the March test window.
Year 5 students sit the same four tests as in Year 3, but the thinking is deeper. Your child is expected to draw on everything they have learned since Year 3, and the questions reward careful reading as much as knowledge.
The 2027 NAPLAN testing window runs from Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027. Each school sets its own timetable inside that window, so wait for your school's notice rather than relying on a single date.
For Year 5, a steady build-up works better than a late rush. Starting in mid-January gives you about eight weeks, and families who start in December can keep the pace very gentle.
NAPLAN is not pass or fail. Each area is reported as Exceeding, Strong, Developing or Needs additional support for the year level. Because the scale is shared across year levels, Year 5 results can also be read alongside your child's Year 3 results to see how much they have grown, which is often more helpful than the single result.
Practice tests give you the same kind of information earlier. A short test followed by a calm review shows which skills are secure and which need a few extra sessions, while there is still time to fix them.
Year 5 students can handle longer sessions than Year 3, but regular practice is still better than occasional cramming.
The free sample is a 10-question Language Conventions mini-test: five spelling questions and five grammar and punctuation questions, with an answer key and a short explanation for each answer. It takes about eight minutes and gives you a quick read on whether your child is ready for Year 5 level spelling and grammar.
You can also take the free online NAPLAN quiz for a mix of subjects, or work through the worked questions further down this page.
Try each question first, then open the worked solution to check your answer and see how to reach it.
1.Mia buys 4 packets of stickers. Each packet holds 12 stickers. She gives away 15 stickers. How many stickers does she have left?
Answer: B (33)
Work in two steps. First find the total stickers: 4 packets × 12 stickers = 48. Then take away the ones given away: 48 − 15 = 33. Check by adding back: 33 + 15 = 48. The answer 63 adds the 15 instead of subtracting, so underline words like 'gives away' that tell you which operation to use.
2.A movie starts at 2:45 pm and runs for 1 hour and 35 minutes. What time does it finish?
Answer: B (4:20 pm)
Add the hours first: 2:45 pm plus 1 hour is 3:45 pm. Then add the 35 minutes. Adding 15 minutes takes you to 4:00 pm, and the remaining 20 minutes takes you to 4:20 pm. Splitting the minutes at the next o'clock avoids writing an impossible time like 3:80. The answer 3:20 pm forgets to add the hour.
3.Read the text: "Elephants are highly intelligent animals with strong family bonds. They live in herds led by the oldest female, known as the matriarch. She uses her memory to lead the herd to water sources during droughts." Who leads an elephant herd?
Answer: C (The matriarch)
The text says elephant herds are 'led by the oldest female, known as the matriarch.' The phrase 'known as' gives the special name. A matriarch is a female leader of a family. The options about males are wrong because the text says the leader is female, and she is the oldest, not the youngest.
4.In the phrase "The boy's bike", what does the apostrophe show?
Answer: B (Possession)
An apostrophe followed by s after a noun shows possession, meaning something belongs to someone. 'The boy's bike' means the bike belongs to the boy. It is not a plural, because more than one boy would be 'boys' with no apostrophe. It is not a contraction either, because no letters have been left out.
NAPLAN is expected for all eligible students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. If your child has a disability or is learning English as an additional language, adjustments or an exemption can be arranged through the school, so talk to your child's teacher early.
About 20-30 minutes, three times a week, for roughly eight weeks before the test window is enough for most students. Spread the sessions across Reading, Numeracy, Language Conventions and Writing rather than doing one subject at a time.
The same four areas are tested, but Year 5 texts are longer, numeracy problems usually need several steps, and the grammar and spelling are harder. Year 5 results can also be compared with Year 3 results to show your child's growth.
No. PracticeExamPro tests are independent practice papers written in the style of NAPLAN. They are not produced or endorsed by ACARA. Official example tests are available free from the National Assessment Program website, and many families use both.
The pack includes five practice tests each for Reading, Numeracy and Language Conventions, plus a Writing pack of 10 prompts. The tests come with answers and explanations. You download the PDFs straight after checkout and can print them as often as you need.