Reading comprehension is the most tested skill across all NAPLAN year levels. These research-backed strategies will measurably improve your child's performance in weeks.
Reading comprehension underpins every section of NAPLAN — including numeracy, where students must read and interpret word problems. Building strong comprehension skills isn't just about reading more; it's about reading strategically.
What NAPLAN Actually Tests in Reading
NAPLAN reading tests several distinct comprehension skills: literal comprehension (what the text says), inferential comprehension (what the text implies), and evaluative comprehension (what the text means or why it matters).
- Identifying the main idea of a passage
- Understanding vocabulary in context
- Making inferences from limited information
- Comparing information across two texts
- Evaluating an author's purpose or technique
Strategy 1: The THIEVES Preview Method
Before reading a text, teach your child to preview it using THIEVES: Title, Headings, Introduction, Every first sentence, Visuals/vocabulary, End (conclusion), Summary. This activates prior knowledge and sets a reading purpose — dramatically improving recall.
Strategy 2: Visualisation
Strong readers create mental images as they read. Practice by asking "What do you see in your mind?" after reading a paragraph. Students who visualise have significantly higher recall and comprehension scores.
Read picture books with Year 5 students occasionally. Discussing the relationship between images and text deepens visual literacy skills tested in NAPLAN.
Strategy 3: Question-Answer Relationships (QAR)
Teach your child to categorise questions: "Right There" (answer is literally in the text), "Think and Search" (combine information from across the text), "Author and Me" (combine text + own knowledge), and "On My Own" (use your own knowledge).
Building a Daily Reading Habit
- 1Read together for 15 minutes per night
- 2Choose a mix of fiction and non-fiction
- 3Ask 2–3 comprehension questions after each session
- 4Visit the library every 2 weeks for fresh material
- 5Read newspaper articles — great for informational text practice
Put These Tips Into Practice
SmartNAPLAN gives your child personalised practice, practice tests, and progress tracking — all based on the NAPLAN curriculum.
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