“Stay calm” is the tip from Education Minister Grace Grace as thousands of Queensland students start to take part in NAPLAN this week.

“Relax and do your best is the best advice – from me and from parents and carers,” Ms Grace said as schools head into online or written nationally-required tests up to May 21.

“I send my best wishes to the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students in all of our 1700 state and non-government schools who will sit the tests this year.

“Everyone needs to remember that this is just one of the ways we can monitor students’ progress and work out how to channel resources and provide more targeted support.

“We know from parents and teachers there are shortcomings with how it currently operates and we will continue to advocate for improvements, noting that any future changes need to be agreed by all education ministers across the country.

“Some form of standardised national testing is required, and for now that is NAPLAN.

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“It remains a national requirement and our hardworking teachers will ensure Queensland students are familiar with the test formats and provide appropriate support and guidance.”

NAPLAN testing encompasses reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy and starts across Australia from Tuesday, May 11.

The Education Council of all state, territory and Commonwealth education ministers cancelled NAPLAN last year nationally because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ministers also extended the national timeline for transitioning to NAPLAN Online until 2022.

A total of 1151 Queensland schools, including 749 state schools, are moving to NAPLAN Online this year.