Beyond the Grades: The Real Value of Your Child’s NAPLAN Results

NAPLAN results are not just about ranking or comparison. The tests provide valuable insights into your child’s learning progress and potential areas for development.

Parents often focus solely on NAPLAN results and overlook the important feedback provided by the tests. By looking beyond the numbers, you can use NAPLAN results to help your child grow, learn, and succeed in a balanced and meaningful way.

Below we will discuss how to use your students’ NAPLAN results to help them achieve their potential and develop a love of learning.

The Purpose of NAPLAN

NAPLAN is a standardised way to measure how students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are performing in the key areas of reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy. It’s a tool for schools and educators to gauge overall educational standards and identify areas that may need improvement.

For parents, it offers a snapshot of how their child is progressing in some basic skills compared to national benchmarks. While the scores can indicate how a child is performing in these areas compared to their peers, they are not the full picture of a child’s abilities or potential. NAPLAN doesn’t assess creativity, critical thinking, or social skills; qualities that are essential for success in life.

Using NAPLAN Results to Enhance Learning

Instead of focusing solely on the scores, parents and educators can use NAPLAN results as a tool for understanding where a child might need more support. If a child scores lower in a particular area, you can work with their teacher to find strategies or exercises to strengthen these skills.

These insights can be a valuable opportunity to address gaps in learning and tailor educational support to a child’s specific needs. NAPLAN results can also highlight other factors that may be influencing your student’s education, such as their learning style or their ability to maintain focus in exams. For example, students who perform well in class but don’t do as well in NAPLAN may experience exam anxiety.

To get the most out of NAPLAN we recommend using your student’s results to:

Identify Learning Gaps: If the results show lower scores in certain areas, it doesn’t mean the child isn’t capable; it simply indicates where there might be gaps in knowledge or understanding. This information can help parents and teachers focus their efforts on these areas, offering additional support or resources to help the child improve.
Celebrate Strengths: Just as it’s important to address areas needing improvement, it’s equally vital to celebrate a child’s strengths. If a child excels in a particular area, acknowledge their hard work and encourage them to continue pursuing that passion. This positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and motivate them to keep learning.

Make Use of Feedback: Receiving feedback, especially in the form of test results, can be a learning experience in itself. Discuss with your child what steps can be taken moving forward. This kind of constructive conversation helps children learn to handle both success and disappointment with a positive attitude.

How Tutor Doctor Can Help With NAPLAN Results

Education is about far more than standardised testing and NAPLAN provides valuable information for tutors to work with. Our tutors are highly skilled at interpreting results and using them as a starting point for further exploration

We will use your student’s NAPLAN results, in conjunction with our own assessment tools, to build a personalised plan that targets learning gaps and areas of weakness.

We recognise that each student learns at their own pace and in their own way, which is why we tailor our programs to meet each child’s specific needs.