ICAS vs NAPLAN: how the two tests differ

At a glance

Who runs each test, and why

NAPLAN is run by ACARA. It checks whether students are building the literacy and numeracy skills that later learning depends on. Families and teachers use the results to see how students are progressing over time, and governments use them to review programs. ACARA is clear that NAPLAN is not a pass or fail test.

ICAS is an academic competition run by ICAS Assessments. Its questions are meant to go beyond everyday classroom work. Every student who completes a paper receives a certificate, and the very highest results earn medals.

Who sits them

NAPLAN. Every student in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 is expected to take part. Parents can withdraw their child in some circumstances, such as religious beliefs or a philosophical objection to testing. ACARA says that decision is best made together with the school. Home-schooled children can sit NAPLAN too, through arrangements made by their state or territory.

ICAS. A child only sits ICAS if they are entered. Children enter through their school, which may send you a code to enrol and pay online. If the school isn't running ICAS, or isn't offering a subject you want, ICAS has testing centres in six capital cities. Some ICAS partners also run sittings, at their own fees.

Your child sits the paper for their own year level, or the year above if their school allows it. ICAS names each paper by letter: Intro is Year 2, Paper A is Year 3, and Paper J is Year 12.

Each subject has its own entry fee. Through a school it is $21.95 a subject, or $25.95 for Writing. A testing centre costs $57.75 a subject, or $62.75 for Writing. ICAS sets the fees, so check its website for the current amounts.

When they happen

NAPLAN runs over a nine-day test window in March. In 2027 the window opens on Wednesday 10 March and closes on Monday 22 March, with Writing first. Schools choose their own test days inside it. Our guide to NAPLAN 2027 dates lists every test in order.

ICAS runs once a year, and each subject has its own sitting window. ICAS doesn't offer a second window for a child who misses one. In 2026 the sittings ran from Monday 3 August to Friday 28 August. ICAS publishes each year's dates on its website.

What each test covers

NAPLAN follows the Australian Curriculum in English and Mathematics. Most questions use skills taught in earlier years, and a few reach into the current year and the next. There are four tests: Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. Conventions of Language covers spelling, grammar and punctuation.

The online Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy tests adapt as your child goes. Strong answers lead to harder questions, and weaker answers to easier ones. Year 3 writes on paper.

ICAS has six subjects. English, Mathematics and Science run from Year 2 to Year 12. Writing runs from Year 3 to Year 12. Digital Technologies and Spelling Bee run from Year 2 to Year 7. Each paper takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the subject and year level.

How results come back

NAPLAN results come home as an individual report, which the school hands on. The timing varies between states and territories. For each test, the report places your child in one of four proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing or Needs additional support. A black triangle marks the national average for the year, and a shaded box shows where the middle 60% of students landed. Our page on what your child's NAPLAN result means explains each level.

ICAS results go online first, a few weeks after the last sitting day for each subject. Writing takes longer, because it is marked by hand. Each subject gets its own certificate level, from Participation up to High Distinction. A High Distinction is the top 1% of students in that subject and year level, and a Distinction is the next 10%. Printed certificates reach schools about 10 to 13 weeks after the results come out. Our guide to ICAS results covers every level and the percentile.

The main difference. NAPLAN measures your child against standards set for their year level. ICAS ranks your child against the other students who sat the same paper. The two results answer different questions, so they can look quite different for the same child.

Using the two together

• NAPLAN shows whether the foundations are in place. It tells you how your child's reading, writing and numeracy compare with what is expected at their year level.
• ICAS shows how your child goes on harder questions. The comparison is with other students who chose to sit the same paper.
• A modest ICAS result beside a strong NAPLAN result is no contradiction. ICAS sets its bar high on purpose.
• Neither replaces the teacher. ACARA says NAPLAN doesn't replace the ongoing assessment teachers do. Sharing either report with your child's teacher gives you something concrete to talk about.

Common questions

Does my child have to sit ICAS?
No. ICAS is entered by choice, subject by subject, from the subjects the school offers.

Can my child sit NAPLAN at home if they're sick?
No. If your child is back at school before the school's test schedule ends, they may be able to sit a catch-up test.

Do schools use these results for entry?
Some schools ask to see NAPLAN reports when you apply. ACARA says NAPLAN is not designed to be a school admission test.

Where can my child practise for each?
Both kinds are free on Meritly. Our NAPLAN-style papers are for the four NAPLAN years: 3, 5, 7 and 9. Our ICAS-style papers run from Paper A to Paper F, which is Years 3 to 8. Every paper runs against the clock and is marked when your child finishes. A worked solution comes with every question. Our paper reference matches each year level to its ICAS paper.

Where the official information lives

NAPLAN information for parents, including test dates and how reports work, is at nap.edu.au. ICAS dates, fees and results information are at icasassessments.com.

Meritly is an independent Australian service and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the organisations that write or run the tests we cover.