The National Assessment Program (NAP), a major component of the Measurement Framework for Schooling in Australia 2025, is run as per the decision of Education Ministers. It includes a range of assessments undertaken to enable governments, education authorities, schools, parents and caregivers, and the community to determine whether Australian students are meeting educational outcomes.
NAP assessments measure:
- Australian students’ performance data as an average across the country
- How Australian students are performing compared to international peers
- Where improvements are needed
- Australia's overall performance in key learning areas such as literacy and numeracy.
Data from NAP assessments can be used to inform policy development, resource allocation, curriculum planning and support programs.
Domestic and international assessments
Domestic
Domestic NAP assessments are administered by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) in collaboration with Test Administration Authorities (TAAs). Domestic NAP assessments include:
- National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
- NAP – Civics and Citizenship (NAP-CC)
- NAP – Science Literacy (NAP-SL)
- NAP – Information and Communication Technology Literacy (NAP-ICTL)
- NAP Opt-in assessments – optional assessments in Science Literacy, Civics and Citizenship, as well as ICT Literacy from 2026, that schools may voluntarily elect to participate in.
NAP-CC, NAP-SL and NAP-ICTL are sample assessments, meaning they are only undertaken by selected groups of students rather than the full student population in the year levels tested.
International
The Australian Government Department of Education manages international NAP assessments on behalf of all states and territories. The international NAP assessments are administered by a national project manager, currently the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). International NAP assessments include:
- Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
- Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
- Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).
All international NAP assessments are sample assessments undertaken by selected groups of students.
Further information
Further information on the NAP can be found on ACARA’s NAP website, which provides information on all NAP assessments, including key dates, resources, and past results and data.