The Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) is a SCSA-administered test that all WA secondary students must pass to receive a WACE. It tests reading, writing and numeracy at a minimum standard equivalent to Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Level 3.
OLNA is not hard. It is not graded. You either demonstrate the standard or you do not. But the consequence of repeated failure is meaningful: students who do not pass cannot graduate with a WACE. Here is how to pass first try.
What OLNA actually tests
OLNA has three components: Reading, Writing, and Numeracy. Each is a separate test. You can pass them at different times.
| Component | Format | Time | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 multiple-choice questions | 50 minutes | Comprehension across stimulus texts (articles, infographics, advertisements) |
| Numeracy | 45 multiple-choice questions | 50 minutes | Arithmetic, percentages, area, basic algebra in real-world context |
| Writing | One persuasive or expository essay | 60 minutes | Audience-appropriate writing, structure, grammar |
The standard is ACSF Level 3, which is roughly equivalent to a Year 10 to Year 11 reading and numeracy level. Most students who passed Year 9 NAPLAN at minimum standard will pass OLNA without prep.
When you sit OLNA
OLNA windows are in March and September each year. Students may sit OLNA up to six times: twice in Year 10, twice in Year 11, twice in Year 12.
The first opportunity is typically in Year 10 Term 1. SCSA recommends students sit it before the end of Year 10. If you do not demonstrate the standard by the end of Year 10, you must sit it again in Year 11.
Who is exempt from OLNA
Students who scored at Band 8 or above on Year 9 NAPLAN are pre-qualified for the corresponding OLNA component (reading, writing, or numeracy). They do not need to sit that component.
This means: if your Year 9 NAPLAN was strong, you may have already passed parts of OLNA without realising it. Check your school records.
What the writing test actually wants
The Writing component is the most failed of the three. SCSA expects:
- A clear thesis or position statement.
- Three to five paragraphs supporting the position.
- Audience-appropriate register (formal, persuasive).
- Correct grammar and punctuation.
- Coherent logical flow with paragraph linking.
It does not want creative writing, emotional language, or narrative storytelling. Persuasive or expository only.
The 60-minute writing protocol
- 5 minutes: read the prompt twice. Underline what is being asked. Identify the audience and register.
- 5 minutes: plan. Write your thesis sentence. List 3 main points and a piece of evidence for each.
- 40 minutes: write. Introduction (4 to 5 sentences), 3 body paragraphs (5 to 7 sentences each), conclusion (3 to 4 sentences).
- 10 minutes: re-read. Fix typos. Strengthen one weak topic sentence. Check the introduction matches the conclusion.
The biggest reading mistake
OLNA reading questions test comprehension, but the multi-stimulus format means students often skip stimulus texts. Each stimulus text contains the answers to specific questions. Skip a text, lose those marks.
The protocol: read every stimulus text once before answering questions. The 5 to 7 minutes spent reading saves the time you would otherwise lose flipping back and forth.
The biggest numeracy mistake
OLNA numeracy questions are word problems. Most students who fail numeracy can do the maths but misread the question. Specifically:
- Confusing a discount with a tax.
- Calculating percentage change vs percentage point change.
- Reading the wrong column on a graph or table.
The fix: read each question twice before reaching for the calculator. The 10 seconds you spend re-reading saves the 60 seconds you would lose computing the wrong thing.
What to actually do this week (if your OLNA window is approaching)
- Find a free OLNA practice test online (PracticeTestGeeks and similar offer them). Sit one full Reading section under timed conditions.
- Mark it. Identify whether your error pattern is "did not read carefully" (most common) or "did not understand the content" (rarer).
- Practice one persuasive essay this weekend on a current event. 60 minutes. Mark against the OLNA writing rubric (audience, structure, language, grammar).
- Numeracy: drill 20 percentage and graph-reading questions. These are 30% of the OLNA numeracy test.
If you have failed OLNA once and are sitting it again, OLNA prep tutoring is short-term and high-leverage. Most students who fail are 1 to 2 marks below the threshold; closing that gap is fixable in 4 to 6 lessons.
If your child is approaching OLNA and would benefit from focused practice, book a free trial class at our centres.