What are Conventions of Language?
The domain concerns written Standard Australian English. It includes spelling and the sentence-level choices that make writing grammatical and clear. In the official online test, the spelling section comes before the grammar and punctuation section.
The official report uses separate assessment scales for spelling and for grammar and punctuation. A learner may therefore show different patterns across these areas. Do not assume that a spelling difficulty explains every language result.
Official guidance: NAP: What’s in the tests · NAP: Results and individual student reports
Spelling practice: notice the meaningful parts
Choose words from reading or the learner’s own writing. Discuss the sounds, the letter pattern and any meaningful word parts. Then retrieve the spelling in a new sentence after a break, rather than only copying it repeatedly.
Correct the spelling in context
Correct the misspelled word in this sentence: “We were carefull with the seedlings.” (carefull)
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careful
The adjective “careful” uses the suffix “-ful” with one l. The related adverb “carefully” adds “-ly”, so it has two consecutive l letters where the parts meet.
Correct the spelling: “They decided to replant the garden becaus it had flooded.” (becaus)
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because
“Because” has a final e. Use it in a new sentence that explains a reason, then check whether the whole spelling can be recalled.
Grammar practice: identify the subject and the clause
When choosing a verb, find the subject rather than the nearest noun. When checking whether a sentence is complete, identify a main clause that can stand on its own.
Choose and explain
Choose the verb: “Each of the students has / have a notebook.”
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has
“Each” is the singular subject. The plural “students” appears in a describing phrase and does not determine the verb.
Choose “its” or “it’s”: “The tree lost ___ leaves.”
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its
“Its” is possessive. “It’s” is a contraction meaning “it is” or “it has”; those meanings do not fit this sentence.
Punctuation practice: guide the reader
Read a sentence aloud and discuss the relationship between its parts. Punctuation marks do more than indicate a pause; they show boundaries, possession, speech and connections.
Make the relationship visible
Add punctuation: “Before we left we checked the gate.”
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Before we left, we checked the gate.
The comma separates the introductory dependent clause from the main clause and helps the reader follow the structure.
Add apostrophes: “The two teachers notebooks were on the desk.”
Show answer and explanation
The two teachers’ notebooks were on the desk.
The owners are the two teachers. Form the plural “teachers”, then add an apostrophe after the s to show plural possession.
Practise the section change and answer controls
The official online test prevents returning to spelling after moving into grammar and punctuation. Read the on-screen transition message before continuing. The public demonstration site is the appropriate place to explore official interactions.
A practice activity can focus on controls or on a rule. When teaching a rule, pause and explain freely. When observing independent work, record where help was needed and revisit that skill after the attempt.
Official guidance: NAP: How tailored tests work
Carry the rule into reading and writing
After correcting an example, ask the learner to create a different sentence using the same idea. For an apostrophe, change the number of owners. For a verb, insert a describing phrase between the subject and the verb. The change tests understanding of the relationship.
Keep a short list of patterns that recur in the learner’s work. Review one pattern at a time and look for it in an actual paragraph. A long list of isolated words can hide whether the learner can apply a rule while communicating an idea.
Frequently asked questions
Is spelling part of Conventions of Language?
Yes. The test includes spelling, grammar and punctuation. Official NAPLAN reports give spelling its own result and combine grammar and punctuation in another result.
Can students return to the spelling section?
In the official online test, students cannot return to spelling once they have moved into grammar and punctuation. They receive a transition message.
Do the examples follow Australian English?
The examples use Standard Australian English. Discuss the rule in the full sentence and transfer it to a new example, rather than memorising a corrected answer alone.
Check the official guidance.
Reviewed by TestHero on . Official facts are drawn from the sources below. Examples, prompts and learning suggestions are original TestHero material.
- NAP: What’s in the tests
- NAP: Results and individual student reports
- NAP: How tailored tests work
- NAP: Public demonstration tests
TestHero is an independent practice product. Practice results are not official NAPLAN scores. Check the school and current official guidance for administration details.