The Assessment Platform enables assessments to be delivered online, nationally to students. It is used to support delivery of the National Assessment Program (NAP), and in particular, the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), NAP sample assessments in science literacy, civics and citizenship, information and communication technology, and related trialing and research assessments.

It can deliver assessments for over 1 million students across 10,000 schools simultaneously for NAPLAN Online.

The platform’s technical components include:

  • student registration and management
  • assessment delivery, including item authoring, test construction, test administration and delivery and event reporting
  • longitudinal data storage, including long term reporting and analytics.

Benefits include:

  • adaptive tests that deliver targeted assessments, including the opportunity to broaden the range of skills and content currently assessed, with increased measurement precision
  • support for students with disabilities including WCAG 2.0AA compliance and the ability to deliver alternative test items depending on individual student needs
  • support for multiple student device types (Windows, Mac, iOS and Chromebook)
  • multi-tenanted system in which each jurisdiction has access to its own data
  • faster turnaround for reporting.

The platform adheres to high levels of data privacy and security, including Information Security Manual compliance. It regularly undergoes an Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) assessment for certification.

Product history

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment has funded the development and delivery phase of an Online National Assessment Platform. Ongoing operating costs, including maintenance, the development of agreed enhancements, support and hosting are jointly funded by the Australian Government, States and Territories. Education Services Australia (ESA) manages and operates the Assessment Platform.

Beginning in late 2014, the Assessment Platform was developed and tested by jurisdictions. It was used initially to run NAP Sample, ACARA research and item trials and has been used operationally for NAPLAN Online since 2018.

The project included extensive national consultation with states and territories, via governance bodies and working groups, to ensure that jurisdictions were informed and ready to integrate their existing systems and processes. It also included consultation with ACARA, who are responsible for delivering NAP assessment and reporting services, including research projects.

Contact us

ESA can deliver:

  • product development services: program and contract management and outsourced development of multiple, integrated technical components
  • consultancy services: operational management of assessment events, including research and trials.

Email us at [email protected] for more information.