Queensland’s students are struggling to make ground in writing, national test results show, while their numeracy and reading skills have improved over the past 15 years.
The latest report on NAPLAN testing also shows participation dropping among year 9 students in the program, which the state has long campaigned against and is again facing calls for review.
Nationally, the percentage of year 9 boys reading at the minimum standard has fallen to a record low. Spelling skills among that cohort are also falling.
The trend is similar in Queensland. While other year levels have been on an upward trend, the number of all year 9 students reading at or above the minimum standard has been declining.
Writing levels, while generally stable nationwide amid concerns for older students, have dropped for the same year-level in Queensland. Year 7 and 5 students have had smaller declines, with year 3 students improving.
Year 7 students have seen a drop in numeracy scores, while other year levels have improved.
The results defied expectations of larger pandemic-related falls.
Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace suggested the state had been “one of the big academic improvers” since the testing regime began in 2008.
However, Grace said low participation rates may have affected the data.
Even Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority chief executive David de Carvalho, whose statutory body runs the test, called the rates concerning.
While the Northern Territory had the lowest portion of students completing the tests — including those who were absent, exempt or withdrawn — Queensland came in second last.
In particular, the year 9 cohort had participation rates as low as 77.4 per cent. The year level has seen the steepest decline in its participation since testing began.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the results were better than expected amid the pandemic, but noted discrepancies in writing, across states, and among poorer and regional students.
“We need to drill down into that,” he said.
The national tests, which measure reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy, have drawn criticism in Queensland.
The Queensland Teachers’ Union urged its members to withdraw their own children from the test in 2021, amid a push for reform of what was labelled a “broken” program draining stretched teaching resources — particularly in rural and regional areas.
Queensland was among four states that commissioned an independent review of the scheme in 2020, recommending a revamped test with broader scope into science and critical thinking.
Other experts suggested sample testing with a smaller number of students.
On Monday, Grace reiterated her calls for a review. “We’re working with the new government now on possible other changes that may come in,” she told reporters.