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NSW Stage 3

Year 5 Practice

A NAPLAN year, OC classes begin, and Selective preparation starts — the test is sat next year in Year 6.

Tests in Year 5

NAPLAN → Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy — sat in Term 1.Selective Placement Test → Sat in Year 6 for selective high school entry in Year 7.

What to focus on in Year 5

  • Reading inference and vocabulary
  • Mathematical reasoning and multi-step problems
  • Thinking Skills foundations
  • Timed, typed writing practice

Free Year 5 sample questions

Year 5-level questions. Try each, then reveal the worked answer.

Mathematical Reasoning · Sample 1

A shop offers 20% off all items. If a jacket originally costs $85, how much do you pay after the discount?

  • A. $65
  • B. $68
  • C. $70
  • D. $72
Show answer & explanation

Answer: B — $68

20% of $85 = $17. Sale price = $85 − $17 = $68.

Reading · Sample 2

In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed along Australia's east coast and claimed the land for Britain. However, Aboriginal Australians had lived on the continent for over 65,000 years before Cook's arrival. The impact of European settlement on Indigenous communities was devastating and long-lasting.

What is the main purpose of this passage?

  • A. To celebrate Cook's achievements
  • B. To contrast Cook's arrival with the long history of Aboriginal Australians
  • C. To explain how to navigate by sea
  • D. To describe life in 1770
Show answer & explanation

Answer: B — To contrast Cook's arrival with the long history of Aboriginal Australians

The passage uses "However" to contrast Cook's claim with the 65,000-year Indigenous presence, and notes the devastating impact of settlement.

Thinking Skills · Sample 3

Each letter represents a digit. If AB + BA = 121, what is A + B?

  • A. 9
  • B. 10
  • C. 11
  • D. 12
Show answer & explanation

Answer: C — 11

AB + BA means (10A+B) + (10B+A) = 11A + 11B = 11(A+B) = 121. So A+B = 11.

Thinking Skills · Sample 4

A farmer has chickens and cows. He counts 20 heads and 56 legs. How many cows does he have?

  • A. 6
  • B. 8
  • C. 10
  • D. 12
Show answer & explanation

Answer: B — 8

Let cows = c. Chickens = 20 − c. Legs: 4c + 2(20−c) = 56. 4c + 40 − 2c = 56. 2c = 16. c = 8.

Practise at Year 5 level

Get a free, scored readiness check, then practise Year 5-level questions with adaptive difficulty and step-by-step coaching hints.

Free readiness checkSee practice plans
← Year 4Year 6 →All year levelsNSW curriculum

Frequently asked questions

What does Year 5 cover in the NSW curriculum?
Year 5 sits in Stage 3 of the NSW curriculum. Key focus areas include reading inference and vocabulary, mathematical reasoning and multi-step problems, thinking skills foundations.
Does Year 5 sit NAPLAN, OC or the Selective test?
In Year 5, students sit the NAPLAN and Selective Placement Test. Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy — sat in Term 1. Sat in Year 6 for selective high school entry in Year 7.
How can my child practise for Year 5?
Practise the question types your child will actually face — reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills — at Year 5 level. Start with the free sample questions above, then use adaptive daily practice that adjusts to your child's level.