NAPLAN Results: QLD And WA Are Up, But High Schoolers Are Slipping In Persuasive Writing

The annual results of the National Assessment Program: Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) have been released, to the bated breath of students and parents across the country.

According to ABC News, since NAPLAN testing was introduced in 2008, little to no improvement has been seen in the writing, spelling and numeracy skills of measured students in years three, five, seven and nine.

The head of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), Robert Randall, was pleased with the slight improvements he had seen across all year levels, but conceded that the results might be disappointing to many.

"I think what we would all like to see, mums and dads and teachers and everyone in the community would like to see some more gains over time, so compared to 2008 when we started NAPLAN and compared to last year," he said.

Let's break it down.

The Good:

Reading, grammar and writing skills have improved for year three students since 2008.

Spelling and numeracy skills have improved for year five students since 2008.

Queensland’s cohort of year sevens were the best in the country for reading, spelling and numeracy.

West Australia’s year sevens were improved in reading as well as grammar and punctuation. WA’s year nines improved in reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.

The... Not-So-Good:

There is no progress to be reported in any other individual states.

Students in years 7 and 9 across the country have declined in their persuasive writing when compared with 2011’s results.

Compare the results of students across all grades and subjects from 2008 to 2015 at the SMH.

Professor Patrick Griffin of the University of Melbourne suggested to the Sydney Morning Herald that the failure lies with NAPLAN.

“If you want to change student performance you actually have to change teaching,” he said.

“Unless NAPLAN, or any other testing strategy, looks to give teachers advice on how to make the change, then that change doesn't happen. And NAPLAN doesn't provide teachers with that."

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shared their own measurements of 15-year-olds with the Australian Financial Review, indicating that Australian high schools have actually been slipping in maths, reading and science over the past decade.

What are your thoughts on NAPLAN testing?