This year’s NAPLAN test results have been released, offering parents a picture of how their child’s school is performing in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.
The results take more than raw marks into account. Here’s a guide to interpreting them.
What does NAPLAN assess?
In March, more than 1.3 million students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sat five NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), which oversees the program, says students are assessed on the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills needed to succeed at school and beyond.
Albanvale Primary School was a top performer in this year’s results.Credit: Joe Armao
The tests measure how students are progressing, and how they stack up against peers of similar backgrounds.
ACARA uses a measure called socio-educational advantage – which considers the education level and occupation of parents – to identify schools for which data can be compared on a level playing field.
Overall, the tests help governments identify areas to target resources and give teachers an insight into whether their strategies are working, as well as helping parents and students identify strengths and weaknesses.
