1136.0 - A Directory of Education and Training Statistics, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/03/2009   
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NATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM: LITERACY AND NUMERACY (NAPLAN)

CONTACT


Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA)
Telephone (03) 9639 0588
Email naplan@curriculum.edu.au

Website www.naplan.edu.au

DESCRIPTION


National assessments of the literacy and numeracy attainment of school students were previously collated from state and territory based assessments. From May 2008, annual national tests will be held in literacy and numeracy for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students across Australia now undertake the same year level tests in the four domains: reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation), and numeracy.


Scope


The full cohort of students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 of schooling, in each calendar year.


Reference Period

May each year, from 2008.

Frequency of Collection


Annual

Method of Collection

The tests are administered at schools. To ensure that all students sit the tests under the same conditions, schools and teachers are provided with Test Administration Manuals. Testing is conducted under the auspices of the (school) education department in each jurisdiction.

DISSEMINATION

Release schedule


Individual reports for participating students are provided in September, together with a data package for each school. The National Summary Report is released publicly shortly before the student reports and school packages. A more detailed public report is released late in the reference year.

Publications

Student reports: a report for each participating student, showing attainment on the four domains, is provided to the school and the student's parents or carers.


National Summary Report: Achievement in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy 2008, Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA), Melbourne.

Geography


Information is available for Australia, the states, and the territories.


Data Service

Data is available on request.

DATA ITEMS


Nationally comparable test scores for school students, in the domains of reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. From 2008, test scores for each domain are provided on a common scale spanning Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Historical Data

Data are available from 1999 onwards. However the new NAPLAN scale (2008 onwards) is not directly comparable with previous state- and territory-based tests.