NAPLAN dates 2027, 2028 and 2029 by state

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. (Source: National Assessment Program)

NAPLAN 2027: Wednesday 10 March 2027 to Monday 22 March 2027 (9 weekdays) Download calendar entry: NAPLAN 2027
NAPLAN 2028: Wednesday 15 March 2028 to Monday 27 March 2028 (9 weekdays) Download calendar entry: NAPLAN 2028
NAPLAN 2029: Wednesday 14 March 2029 to Monday 26 March 2029 (9 weekdays) Download calendar entry: NAPLAN 2029

NAPLAN 2027: Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027

National testing window: Wednesday 10 March 2027 to Monday 22 March 2027: 9 weekdays (13 days in total)
States and territories with published term dates: State and territory term calendars published for 2027: 8 of 8

NAPLAN 2027 window in the school calendar of each state and territoryterm and week from the first day for students in the published term dates; public holidays that apply across the whole state or territory; pupil-free days published centrally by the department
State or territory	Term and week	Public holidays in the window	Pupil-free days in the window	School holidays
New South Wales	Term 1, weeks 6 to 8 (eastern division), derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Victoria	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Queensland	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Western Australia	Term 1, weeks 6 to 8, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
South Australia	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Tasmania	Term 1, weeks 6 to 8, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Australian Capital Territory	Term 1, weeks 6 to 8, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Northern Territory	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time

NAPLAN and Ramadan

Ramadan starts: Monday 8 February 2027
Eid al-Fitr: Wednesday 10 March 2027 (first day of the test window)

The National Assessment Program lists expected dates for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr alongside this test window. These dates are approximate and can vary with moon sightings and regional custom. Both observances begin at sundown on the day before the listed date. From 2028, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are expected to conclude before the NAPLAN test window begins.

NAPLAN 2028: Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March 2028

National testing window: Wednesday 15 March 2028 to Monday 27 March 2028: 9 weekdays (13 days in total)
States and territories with published term dates: State and territory term calendars published for 2028: 6 of 8

NAPLAN 2028 window in the school calendar of each state and territoryterm and week from the first day for students in the published term dates, or from the first day of term where the department publishes no separate first day for students; public holidays that apply across the whole state or territory; pupil-free days published centrally by the department
State or territory	Term and week	Public holidays in the window	Pupil-free days in the window	School holidays
New South Wales	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9 (eastern division) (counted from the first day of term; school development days included), derived	, not published: Public holiday list for 2028	None published centrally	Within term time
Victoria	Term 1, weeks 8 to 10, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Queensland	Term 1, weeks 8 to 10, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Western Australia	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
South Australia	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Tasmania	, not published Term dates 2028: These dates have not yet been published by the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.
Australian Capital Territory	, not published Term dates 2028: These dates have not yet been published by the ACT Education Directorate. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.
Northern Territory	Term 1, weeks 8 to 10, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time

NAPLAN 2029: Wednesday 14 March to Monday 26 March 2029

National testing window: Wednesday 14 March 2029 to Monday 26 March 2029: 9 weekdays (13 days in total)
States and territories with published term dates: State and territory term calendars published for 2029: 3 of 8

NAPLAN 2029 window in the school calendar of each state and territoryterm and week from the first day for students in the published term dates; public holidays that apply across the whole state or territory; pupil-free days published centrally by the department
State or territory	Term and week	Public holidays in the window	Pupil-free days in the window	School holidays
New South Wales	, not published Term dates 2029: These dates have not yet been published by the NSW Department of Education. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.
Victoria	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	, not published: Public holiday list for 2029	None published centrally	Within term time
Queensland	Term 1, weeks 8 to 10, derived	No public holiday within the window	None published centrally	Within term time
Western Australia	Term 1, weeks 7 to 9, derived	Labour Day: Monday 19 March 2029	None published centrally	Within term time
South Australia	, not published Term dates 2029: These dates have not yet been published by the SA Department for Education. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.
Tasmania	, not published Term dates 2029: These dates have not yet been published by the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.
Australian Capital Territory	, not published Term dates 2029: These dates have not yet been published by the ACT Education Directorate. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.
Northern Territory	, not published Term dates 2029: These dates have not yet been published by the NT Department of Education and Training. They will appear here once the official page lists them and verification is complete. Missing dates are not filled in with estimates.

Find the national NAPLAN test window for 2027, 2028 and 2029 alongside the school calendar in every state and territory. The March window is the same across Australia; schools choose their test days within it with their test administration authority. Each state's published term dates determine the term and week columns, so the same testing window can sit differently within local calendars. The tables list public holidays and centrally published pupil-free days within the window, and show whether any school holiday period overlaps it. States and territories without published term dates are marked so you can see where calendar information is still unavailable.

Reading the NAPLAN window

The National Assessment Program publishes the testing window. Each school and its test administration authority arrange the test days within it. The term and week entries use the published first day for students as the starting point, or the first day of term if no separate student start date is published. If this comparison differs from a state's own calendar, that official calendar takes precedence.

If your child misses a test day

If your child is absent, the school can arrange a catch-up session within the same test window. Earlier limits apply to writing catch-ups, as quoted below. Ask your school about its catch-up arrangements.

Catch-up sessions are for students who were absent for their scheduled NAPLAN tests and are to be completed within the test window. Catch-up tests for writing should be held as soon as possible within the test window. Year 3 writing catch-ups are permitted until the end of day 4, while Years 5, 7 and 9 writing catch-ups are permitted until the end of day 9.

A derived label marks a figure calculated here from official dates; the official source does not publish the figure itself.

Questions and answers

When is NAPLAN in 2027, 2028 and 2029?

NAPLAN 2027: Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027; NAPLAN 2028: Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March 2028; NAPLAN 2029: Wednesday 14 March to Monday 26 March 2029. Use the table to see how the national window fits your state's calendar. Your school and its test administration authority set the exact test days within that window.

Which term and week does NAPLAN fall in?

The term and weeks depend on your state or territory's published term dates. Check its row in the table for the testing window.

Can the NAPLAN window include school holidays or a public holiday?

Yes, the window can overlap school holidays or a public holiday. The table lists any overlaps, public holidays applying across the whole state or territory, and centrally published pupil-free days. Check your school's timetable for its test days.

Sources

National Assessment Program (ACARA): NAPLAN key dates (read on 28 October 2026)
NSW Department of Education: 2027 term dates, school holidays and school development days (read on 25 October 2026)
NSW Department of Education: Future and past NSW term dates and school holidays (read on 25 October 2026)
NSW Department of Education: 2026 term dates, school holidays and school development days (read on 25 October 2026)
Victorian Department of Education (vic.gov.au): School term dates and holidays in Victoria (read on 25 October 2026)
Queensland Department of Education: Future school dates (read on 25 October 2026)
Queensland Department of Education: Term dates (read on 25 October 2026)
WA Department of Education: Term dates (Government Gazette dates) (read on 25 October 2026)
SA Department for Education: Term dates for South Australian state schools (read on 25 October 2026)
SafeWork SA: Public holidays, 2027 and 2028 lists (read on 25 October 2026)
Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People: School terms and holidays (read on 25 October 2026)
ACT Government: Public holidays, school terms and daylight saving (read on 25 October 2026)
ACT Government: Public holidays, school terms and daylight saving (read on 25 October 2026)
NT Government: School term and holiday dates in NT, future term dates 2027-2032 (read on 25 October 2026)
NT Government: School term and holiday dates in NT, 2026 (read on 25 October 2026)
NAP (ACARA): Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and NAPLAN (read on 2 November 2026)
NAP (ACARA): NAPLAN test window (read on 2 November 2026)
NAP (ACARA): NAPLAN (read on 2 November 2026)

Dates on this page were last checked against the official pages on 28 October 2026. If any dates differ, follow the official page.