Assessment dates
Annual assessment scheduled dates for schools according to school term.
The 2025 assessment schedule (PDF 79 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 detailsExternal link. |
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.External link |
Weeks 7 to 9 (12 to 24 March) |
NAPLANExternal link | Mandatory. Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. |
Term 2
| Dates | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 to 3 (28 April to 16 May) |
PIRLS Field TrialExternal link | 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)External link | Sample schools only. Select students in Years 6 and 10. |
Weeks 4 to 7 (19 May to 13 June) |
NAPLAN Item TrialExternal link | 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 StudyExternal link | 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 TrialExternal link | Sample schools only. Years 6 and 10. |
Weeks 3 to 4 (27 October to 7 November) |
VALID Science 8 | Optional. Year 8. NSW Government and non-government schools. |
| 16 October to 10 November | HSC (written exams) | Check NESA for languages oral exams and practical and performance exams datesExternal link. |
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.