Exam mode

Sit a paper under the real section timing. The questions are drawn fresh from our banks each time, so a child practises pacing rather than memorising one test.

Choose a paper

6 papers: 2 are NSW Department of Education placement tests and 4 are NAPLAN papers, which is a national assessment run by ACARA. We build each one to its published section structure and timing, and every multiple-choice section is included. The writing section is sat on its own, outside the paper's timer: our NAPLAN and Selective writing tests give one task against the clock, then the Writing Coach's check. NAPLAN itself is tailored: the real test chooses each student's next questions from how they answered the last. These are fixed-form papers at the real length and timing, which is what a practice paper is.

NAPLAN papers Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 — included in every subscription

OC & Selective papers NSW placement tests — included in every subscription and in the OC & Selective plan

What is in the NAPLAN — Year 3?

Sat in Year 3, in a nine-day window each March. Four tests over the window. It runs 175 minutes across 4 sections, timed one after another. Exam mode builds 3 of them.

  • Reading — 39 questions in 45 minutes. 3 testlets of 13, chosen by how the student is answering.
  • Conventions of language — 52 questions in 45 minutes. A spelling section of 25 then a grammar and punctuation section of 27; the spelling section locks once the student moves on. The spelling half is dictation: the word is read aloud in a sentence and the child types it, as in the real test.
  • Numeracy — 36 questions in 45 minutes. 3 testlets of 12, chosen by how the student is answering; no calculator and no on-screen tools at Year 3; multiple choice with four options, drawn fresh from our banks each time.
  • Writing — 1 question in 40 minutes. One open response, marked by a person. Sit it on its own in our NAPLAN writing test: one task against the clock, then the Writing Coach's check.

What is in the NAPLAN — Year 5?

Sat in Year 5, in a nine-day window each March. Four tests over the window. It runs 187 minutes across 4 sections, timed one after another. Exam mode builds 3 of them.

  • Reading — 39 questions in 50 minutes. 3 testlets of 13, chosen by how the student is answering.
  • Conventions of language — 52 questions in 45 minutes. A spelling section of 25 then a grammar and punctuation section of 27; the spelling section locks once the student moves on. The spelling half is dictation: the word is read aloud in a sentence and the child types it, as in the real test.
  • Numeracy — 42 questions in 50 minutes. 3 testlets of 14, chosen by how the student is answering; no calculator, an on-screen ruler or protractor only on the questions that allow one; multiple choice with four options, drawn fresh from our banks each time.
  • Writing — 1 question in 42 minutes. One open response, marked by a person. Sit it on its own in our NAPLAN writing test: one task against the clock, then the Writing Coach's check.

What is in the NAPLAN — Year 7?

Sat in Year 7, in a nine-day window each March. Four tests over the window. It runs 217 minutes across 4 sections, timed one after another. Exam mode builds 3 of them.

  • Reading — 48 questions in 65 minutes. 3 testlets of 16, chosen by how the student is answering.
  • Conventions of language — 52 questions in 45 minutes. A spelling section of 25 then a grammar and punctuation section of 27; the spelling section locks once the student moves on. The spelling half is dictation: the word is read aloud in a sentence and the child types it, as in the real test.
  • Numeracy — 48 questions in 65 minutes. Opens with a short non-calculator section (8 questions in ACARA's example test), then an on-screen calculator is available for the rest; multiple choice with four options, drawn fresh from our banks each time.
  • Writing — 1 question in 42 minutes. One open response, marked by a person. Sit it on its own in our NAPLAN writing test: one task against the clock, then the Writing Coach's check.

What is in the NAPLAN — Year 9?

Sat in Year 9, in a nine-day window each March. Four tests over the window. It runs 217 minutes across 4 sections, timed one after another. Exam mode builds 3 of them.

  • Reading — 48 questions in 65 minutes. 3 testlets of 16, chosen by how the student is answering.
  • Conventions of language — 52 questions in 45 minutes. A spelling section of 25 then a grammar and punctuation section of 27; the spelling section locks once the student moves on. The spelling half is dictation: the word is read aloud in a sentence and the child types it, as in the real test.
  • Numeracy — 48 questions in 65 minutes. Opens with a short non-calculator section (8 questions in ACARA's example test), then an on-screen calculator is available for the rest; multiple choice with four options, drawn fresh from our banks each time.
  • Writing — 1 question in 42 minutes. One open response, marked by a person. Sit it on its own in our NAPLAN writing test: one task against the clock, then the Writing Coach's check.

What is in the Selective High School Placement Test?

Sat in Year 6 for entry to a selective high school in Year 7. It runs 155 minutes across 4 sections, timed one after another. Exam mode builds 3 of them.

  • Reading — 38 questions in 45 minutes. 17 questions carrying 38 answers — we ask 38 single-answer questions so the marks and the minutes match.
  • Mathematical Reasoning — 35 questions in 40 minutes. Multiple choice, drawn fresh from our banks each time, with the five options the real paper gives.
  • Thinking Skills — 40 questions in 40 minutes. Critical thinking and problem solving, drawn from our own bank of 1400 questions rather than past papers.
  • Writing — 1 question in 30 minutes. One open response, marked by a person. Sit it on its own in our Selective writing test: one task against the clock, then the Writing Coach's check.

What is in the Opportunity Class Placement Test?

Sat in Year 4 for entry to an opportunity class in Year 5. Reading and Mathematical Reasoning come from our own OC question banks, pitched above year level. It runs 110 minutes across 3 sections, timed one after another. Exam mode builds 3 of them.

  • Reading — 33 questions in 40 minutes. 14 questions carrying 33 answers — we ask 33 single-answer questions so the marks and the minutes match.
  • Mathematical Reasoning — 35 questions in 40 minutes. Multiple choice, drawn fresh from our banks each time, with the five options the real paper gives.
  • Thinking Skills — 30 questions in 30 minutes. Critical thinking and problem solving, drawn from our own bank of 1400 questions rather than past papers.