If you have just opened your child’s NAPLAN report, the four NAPLAN proficiency levels are the first thing you will see. Since 2023, NAPLAN no longer reports results in 10 bands. Instead, each result sits in one of four levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing or Needs additional support. This guide explains what each level means, what your child’s report is showing you, and what to do next.
Why NAPLAN changed to proficiency levels
NAPLAN moved online and to a March test date, and in 2023 ACARA reset the reporting scale. The old band system made it hard for parents to tell whether a result was good or not. The new levels answer that question directly by comparing each result with a clear expectation for that year level.
Because the scale was reset, results from 2023 onwards can’t be directly compared with results from 2008 to 2022. If you have an older report for a sibling or from an earlier year, read it as a separate system.
The four NAPLAN proficiency levels explained
| Level | What it means (ACARA) |
|---|---|
| Exceeding | Your child’s result is above expectations at the time of testing. |
| Strong | Your child’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing. |
| Developing | Your child’s result shows they are working towards expectations at the time of testing. |
| Needs additional support | Your child is not yet achieving the expected learning outcomes and is likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily. |
Strong and Exceeding together mean your child has met the proficiency standard, which ACARA describes as a challenging but reasonable expectation of what students know and can do at that point. The standard is set separately for each year level and each test area.
Exceeding
Above what is expected for the year level. Read more about Exceeding.
Strong
Meeting the expectation. This is a good result, not an average one. Read more about Strong.
Developing
Working towards the expectation, with some skills still to build. Read more about Developing.
Needs additional support
Not yet at the expected level and likely to benefit from extra help at school and home. Read more about Needs additional support.
What the levels cover
Your child receives a level for each NAPLAN area: reading, writing, numeracy, spelling, and grammar and punctuation. It’s common for one child to be Strong in one area and Developing in another, so look at each result on its own.
How to read your child’s NAPLAN report
Your child’s individual report shows their result as a dot on a scale for each test area, with a triangle marking the national average for their year level and a shaded box showing where the middle 60% of students landed. Some states also show the school average. The last page describes the skills typical of each level.
The dot’s position within a level matters too. A dot near the top of Developing is very close to Strong, and a dot at the bottom of Strong is close to Developing.
What to do after NAPLAN results
- Look at each area separately and note the strongest and weakest.
- Talk to your child’s teacher. They see far more of your child’s work than one test does.
- Celebrate effort and progress, not just the level.
- For writing, check our Year 5 writing guide and marking criteria explainer to see which skills to build.
Frequently asked questions
Is Strong a good NAPLAN result?
Yes. Strong means your child met the expected standard for their year level. It is a solid result, not an average or borderline one.
Can I compare my child’s levels with the old NAPLAN bands?
No. ACARA reset the scale in 2023, so results from 2023 onwards aren’t directly comparable with 2008 to 2022 results.
Does my child get one level for the whole test?
No. There is a separate level for each area: reading, writing, numeracy, spelling, and grammar and punctuation.
Who sets the proficiency standards?
ACARA sets them, separately for each year level and test area.
Related guides
- NAPLAN Results Explained for Parents
- What Does Exceeding Mean in NAPLAN?
- What Does Strong Mean in NAPLAN?
- What Does Developing Mean in NAPLAN?
- NAPLAN Needs Additional Support: What It Means
- NAPLAN Writing Marking Criteria Explained
Information current for NAPLAN 2026, based on published guidance from ACARA and state test authorities.