With the start of the new school term , and the NAPLAN assessment just weeks away , the spotlight will be on teachers and their impact when it comes to NAPLAN .

In a nationwide survey conducted by online tutoring company , Cluey Learning , almost three quarters of all parents ( 70 per cent ), say they will take action in some way if their kids ’ NAPLAN results are poor such as increasing home study , tutoring as well as speaking to teachers direct .

Almost half of all parents ( 49 per cent ) believe their child ’ s teacher is stressed about NAPLAN testing to a degree . Additionally , more than one third ( 38 per cent ) feel standardised testing is an unfair pressure on teachers .

More than a million school students will sit for the NAPLAN tests between May 10-20 this year . Rick Molineux , Head of Primary at Cluey , said as a qualified primary school teacher he sympathised with the immense pressure teachers have been under throughout COVID .

“ Teachers do an amazing job juggling an increasingly complex range of responsibilities and put in a huge effort wanting to see students do well , so it ’ s hardly surprising many seem a bit stressed during NAPLAN ,” he said .

“ Standardised testing might not be the most exciting tool , but it does tell us

some very useful things about how well children are doing over longer periods of time . A big picture view might put more frequent school reports into perspective which empowers families to take action if anything new is revealed .

“ We know children do really well when parents are partners in their child ’ s education , whether by helping kids with schoolwork or enrolling them in after school programs to support what ’ s being delivered in the classroom .”

The research further revealed 42 per cent of parents believe there are better ways to measure kids than tests or exams .

Cluey currently have a mock NAPLAN exam on their website challenging parents to complete 10 questions from past Year 3 , 5 , 7 and 9 NAPLAN papers designed for students aged 8-15 .

Close to 4,000 parents tried their luck at the mock questions last year resulting in just under 4 per cent of them achieving a 10 / 10 score , and an average score of 6.5 / 10 . In particular , questions six and seven stumped parents the most .

Take the test www . clueylearning . com . au / en / naplan-quiz-for-parents to see how you ’ d fare .

While Mr Molineux said he would never advocate for excessive testing , experience of exams such as NAPLAN is

still useful , particularly when it comes to high school students .

“ For students who may not have many other opportunities to develop time management skills , sitting NAPLAN may be of benefit and is an opportunity for parents to talk to their children about managing their nerves .

“ There are many ways to measure learning and schools are using lots of them all the time , but none of them can capture a child ’ s learning entirely . NAPLAN could probably best be thought of as an extra snapshot from a slightly different angle .”

Mr Molineux has the following tips if you feel your child is underprepared for NAPLAN :

- Become familiar with NAPLAN-style questions . This helps dispel the mystery and uncertainty that can surround a child ’ s NAPLAN experience , especially in the lead up to exams . With tutors we focus on identifying different types of questions and how they can best be approached .

- Building strong time management skills is essential . Looking for quick wins and not getting stuck on single items for too long are key for maximising results .

- Cultivate a growth mindset and view NAPLAN as a positive experience . It ’ s not a test to pass or fail but an opportunity for your child to show growth and apply exam skills that have been developed , either at school or through tutoring .

“ Speak with your child ’ s teacher if something is concerning in regards to NAPLAN such as a change in behaviour , preoccupation or if something unexpected is revealed in the results . The more you understand about where your child sits , the better equipped you can be to take action ,” Mr Molineux added .