Assessment dates

Annual assessment scheduled dates for schools according to school term.

The 2025 assessment schedule (PDF 88 KB) includes all mandatory assessments that schools are required to undertake.

The information below provides assessments schools may undertake during the calendar year, including:

  • mandatory state and national assessments
  • item trials and field studies requiring sample schools
  • optional department assessments.

Notes:

These dates are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Check the relevant web page for more information relating to each assessment.

Term 1

Dates Assessment Notes
First full 5 weeks of school Best Start Kindergarten Assessment

Mandatory.

Kindergarten.

Weeks 2 to 6 NAPLAN familiarisation activities See NESA for preparation and training details.

Weeks 3 to 5

(10 to 28 February)

Supplementary Year 7 assessment

Optional.

Suitable for individual students who did not complete Year 6 Check-in assessments in Semester 2 in 2024. (Formerly known as Transition to Year 7 Assessment).

Assessment window opens in Week 4 and is available through the year for Years 10 to 12. HSC minimum standard See NESA for details.

Weeks 7 to 9

(12 to 24 March)

NAPLAN

Mandatory.

Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Term 2

Dates Assessment Notes

Week 1 to 3

(28 April to 16 May)

PIRLS Field Trial

Sample schools only.

Select students in Year 5.

Week 1

(2 to 4 May)

Selective High School Placement Test and Opportunity Class Placement test


Weeks 2 to 4

(5 to 23 May)

National Assessment Program – Information and Communication Technology Literacy (NAP-ICTL)

Sample schools only.

Select students in Years 6 and 10.

Weeks 4 to 7

(19 May to 13 June)

NAPLAN Item Trial

Sample schools only.

Select students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Term 3

Dates Assessment Notes

Weeks 1 to 6

(21 July to 29 August)

Check-in assessment

Mandatory.

Years 7, 8 and 9.

Weeks 3 to 8

(4 August to 12 September)

PISA Main Study

Sample schools only.

Select students in Years 9 and 10.

Weeks 4 to 6

(11 to 29 August)

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

Mandatory.

Year 1.

Weeks 6 to 10

(25 August to 26 September)

Check-in assessment

Mandatory.

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Weeks 7 to 8

(1 to 12 September)

VALID Science 10

Optional.

Year 10.

Term 4

Dates Assessment Notes
October to November NAP-SL Field Trial

Sample schools only.

Years 6 and 10.

Weeks 3 to 4

(27 October to 7 November)

VALID Science 8

Mandatory.

Year 8.

16 October to 10 November HSC (written exams) Check NESA for languages oral exams and practical and performance exams dates.

Note: For National Assessment Program (NAP) sample assessments, ACARA requires a representative sample of students in metropolitan and rural and remote locations. Sample sizes are typically small. Identified schools will be contacted directly.

Category:

  • Teaching and learning

Business Unit:

  • Educational Standards
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