Australian curriculum by year level
sourced from the Australian Curriculum v9 (ACARA). translated from teacher-speak into parent-friendly language.
what does your child actually learn in Year 3? what should they be able to do by the end of Year 5? how big is the jump from Year 6 to Year 7? the Australian Curriculum is the answer, but it runs to thousands of pages of teacher-focused documentation.
this guide pulls out the essentials for each year level — key subjects, end-of-year expectations, NAPLAN years, and realistic things you can do at home to support learning without turning dinner into a tutoring session.
choose a year level
5-6 years · start of primary school (Prep / Kindy / Reception depending on state)
4 subjects · 5 end-of-year expectations
6-7 years · early primary
4 subjects · 5 end-of-year expectations
8-9 years · middle primary
4 subjects · 5 end-of-year expectations
10-11 years · upper primary
4 subjects · 5 end-of-year expectations
12-13 years · first year of high school (most states)
4 subjects · 5 end-of-year expectations
14-15 years · middle secondary
4 subjects · 5 end-of-year expectations
NAPLAN at a glance
NAPLAN runs in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 — typically in May. students are tested in:
- • reading
- • writing
- • language conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
- • numeracy
results come back in August-September and show your child's progress against national bands. it's a diagnostic, not a ranking — use it alongside school reports, not instead of them.
about the data
this guide uses Australian Curriculum version 9 — the current version rolling out progressively across states from 2024 to 2026. each state and territory adopts the curriculum with minor adjustments. Catholic and independent schools follow the same framework.
for the full curriculum documents, visit v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au.
related guides
this guide summarises key content from Australian Curriculum v9 as at 24 April 2026. states adopt the curriculum on slightly different schedules and may have state-specific additions. always check with your school for the exact curriculum content being taught in your child's year level. mini mode is not affiliated with ACARA.