The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) released the 2026 NAPLAN national results, which show that maths performance across Australia has remained largely unchanged since 2023, while around three in 10 students continue to perform below the Strong proficiency level in numeracy. With NAPLAN 2027 scheduled for 10 to 22 March, only weeks into Term 1, the school holidays are one of the best times to build your child’s maths skills without the pressure of a busy term.
What Do the 2026 Numeracy Results Show?
NAPLAN reports each student’s result in one of four proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. Strong means a student meets challenging but reasonable expectations for their year level, while Developing means they are still working toward them. Nationally in 2026, the share of students in the Strong or Exceeding levels for numeracy was 62.1% in Year 3, 70.7% in Year 5, 69.9% in Year 7 and 65.3% in Year 9. Conversely, 35.9% of Year 3 students and 33.0% of Year 9 students were in the Developing or Needs additional support levels. There is good news too.
The share of Year 7 students at the Exceeding level rose from 12.6% in 2023 to 16.1% in 2026, and in Year 9 from 9.9% to 13.3%. More students are reaching the top level than when the current NAPLAN scale began. It is worth pointing this progress out to children, too. Praising steady improvement and effort, not just perfect scores, is one of the simplest ways to keep kids motivated, especially in subjects they find hard.
Results Have Barely Moved Since 2023
ACARA’s 2026 commentary notes that average scores have changed little since 2023 across all year levels, nationally and in every reported state and territory. That stability is reassuring in one sense, but it also means the proportion of children who need extra support in maths is not shrinking on its own.
Why the Primary Years Matter So Much?
NAPLAN tracks the same group of students every two years. Between 2024 and 2026, average numeracy scores rose about 90 points from Year 3 to Year 5, 59 points from Year 5 to Year 7, and 34 points from Year 7 to Year 9.
The biggest leaps in maths learning happen in primary school, when children build place value, times tables, and fractions. Those skills then underpin algebra, ratios and problem solving in high school. A gap left unaddressed in Year 4 often reappears in Year 7 or Year 8, in a topic that seems unrelated. That is why many educators recommend identifying gaps early, no matter what year your child is in.
How to Support Your Child’s Maths Over the Holidays?
A few low-pressure habits can make a real difference:
- Keep it short and regular: Fifteen to twenty minutes a few times a week does more than a long session once a fortnight, and it is easier to fit around holiday plans.
- Start with the basics: Times tables, place value and fractions come up again and again from Year 3 to Year 9. Confidence here makes everything else easier.
- Use everyday maths: Measuring ingredients, estimating costs at the shops or working out travel times all build number sense without feeling like homework.
- Read the school report: If maths comments mention “working towards” or specific topics, those are your starting points.
- Keep the mood positive: Anxiety about maths can hold children back as much as missing skills. Praise effort, not just correct answers.
Where Online Maths Tutoring Fits?
For families who want more structure, online maths tutoring can fill the gap between school and home. Choose an option that assesses your child’s level before starting, rather than simply working at their year level, so that you can identify and fix gaps earlier. Kinetic Education is an Australian online tutoring company that has supported more than 100,000 families since 1993.
Every child starts with the Maths Doctor assessment, which takes up to 45 minutes and checks skills across multiple year levels of the Australian Curriculum to identify gaps and areas where they are ready to move ahead. From there, children receive a personalized weekly learning plan of short 20-minute lessons, updated every Monday and structured around three stages: Revision and Catch-Up, Consolidation, and Extension.
Each family is assigned a real Australian tutor who holds a current Working with Children Check. The tutor oversees the learning plan, sends parents a weekly progress report, and helps children through tricky concepts using screen sharing and a digital whiteboard, with up to 10 hours of tutor support a week at no extra cost. Kinetic Education starts at $29 a week for the family; new families can try two weeks free, and it is the #1-ranked provider in Tutoring & Kids Programs on ProductReview.com.au.
NAPLAN 2027 Comes Early in the Year
NAPLAN 2027 will run from Wednesday 10 March to Monday 22 March 2027. For children taking NAPLAN in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, the tests will take place approximately six weeks after the school year begins. Once Term 1 starts, there is little time to revisit last year’s work before the tests.
NAPLAN is not a test children should cram for. It measures the literacy and numeracy skills they build over time. The most useful preparation is steady skill-building, and the holidays give children the headspace to do that.
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We hope this NAPLAN 2027 guide helps you understand the latest numeracy results and prepare your child for the upcoming assessments. Check out these recommended articles for more insights and practical strategies to support your child’s maths learning and academic progress.
