2011 NAPLAN results look promising
The preliminary results from the 2011 NAPLAN tests are looking promising, with more than 90 per cent of students who took part in the literacy and 
numeracy testing meeting the minimum national standard.
The figures are particularly good for New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, who for the third year in a row have produced the highest results across all age groups and all areas tested. The ACT achieved the highest scores in grammar and punctuation, numeracy and reading at all year levels.
Queensland and Western Australia also showed a significant improvement according to the Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett.
This fourth year of NAPLAN testing has made it possible to identify significant trends over the four-year period.
According to Mr Garrett, œsince the NAPLAN tests began we can now see that there have been statistically significant improvements nationally in Year 3 reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and Year 5 numeracy .
œBut while the national figures are encouraging there is always room for improvement, and the results show a few areas of slight decline such as in spelling. We will be looking closely at these results, as will states, territories and schools, to see if extra action is needed.
This preliminary data is available in the 2011 NAPLAN Summary Report on the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority and will be finalised in a national report at the end of the year. Individual school information will also be available on the My School website in early 2012.
