Is the NAPLAN exam hard?
Know the NAPLAN test format
In the NAPLAN exam, there are four areas that are tested separately.
They include:
- Language Convention
- Reading
- Writing
- Numeracy
Though the first 3 are English-centred, their topics can range from Science to Arts.
Numeracy tests your child’s Maths skills in two different situations.
- With calculator.
- Without calculator.
Each of these situations, along with other areas mentioned earlier are timed.
Communicate these areas to your child.
Let them know the type and number of questions asked under each area with their allotted time too.
Familiarity with these NAPLAN test formats will ease your child’s tension and improve their preparation to ace NAPLAN exam.
Practice NAPLAN past papers
Getting NAPLAN past papers for your child to study exposes him/her to a deeper understanding of NAPLAN test format.
Your child will not only know the topics and number of questions asked but also the MOST frequent type(s) of questions and HOW they are presented.
For example.
A popular type of question in NAPLAN exam is the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with options A – D.
It is most common in Language Conventions and Numeracy while other papers usually require written answers (long or short) in most of their questions.
Practicing NAPLAN past papers will show your child first-hand what the different NAPLAN questions really look like for each paper and how to answer them correctly.
Seek help
Encourage your child to ask questions in class or seek out the subject teacher during break for extra explanation to difficult NAPLAN question(s).
Tell your child that we (teachers) feel this internal joy when a child meets us on their own with genuine questions in our subject area.
This is because that act shows us that:
- the child studies on their own.
- the child finds us good enough to answer/explain that question to them.
And there’s the ultimate joy from the “A-ha” moment when the child eventually understands our explanation.
Use these to motivate your child to never be afraid of asking us questions.
WE LOVE IT!!
They can also ask their classmates (who understands that particular topic better), siblings in higher class, or even you (their parent).
Communicate with their teachers
Your child’s teacher will always have more details about his/her academic performance than you, the parent.
Confide in these teachers for deeper information, especially on your child’s Maths and English skills.
Ask questions like:
- On a scale of 1 – 10, how good is my child at Maths?
- Which topic(s) in English does he really struggle with?
If he/she is unable to give a clear answer at that moment, politely request they help you find out.
This collaboration is crucial.
Occasionally,
You should also ask how you (their parent) can assist us (their teachers) to improve your child academically, especially while they are at home.
Create a study timetable
The aim here is to partner with your child in creating or adjusting their study timetable to be more busy in the morning of weekends.
Science has proven that after a refreshing night’s rest, the brain is more willing to receive and comprehend information.
Even YOU feel more positive and willing to take on challenges in the morning than evenings.
Why?
Your brain bombarded with millions of data to process during the day wants to just rest in the evening.
The same applies to your child.
So you’ll not only partner with him/her to create or adjust their timetable to favour mornings…
You’ll also fix MORE of their weakness(es) among Numeracy, Language Conventions, Reading, Writing in those mornings while their strength takes the evenings.
For example.
Let’s say your child is good at English and struggles with Maths, the timetable will look like:
| MORNING | EVENING |
| Numeracy | Reading Writing |
Remember your willingness to take on challenges in the morning?
This natural drive from their refreshed brain will improve your child’s understanding of those topics that seemed impossible yesterday.
And studying their favourite subject(s) in the evening adds little or no pressure to the brain which makes the study fun while they improve on a thing or two.
Get the logic now?
We’ve provided a downloadable timetable template at the bottom of this post for you to edit to suit your home or child’s peculiarities.
Also help your child create and maintain a special study area at home with ZERO distractions.
Respect their study time by postponing all their chores to a later time (if they must do it).
Encourage them to take short breaks too because prolonged studying can cause frustration and a strange difficulty to understand even the simplest concept.
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