Education Snapshots

Science literacy

The National Assessment Program for Science Literacy (NAPSL) is conducted every three years with a sample of Year 6 students across Australia. The NAPSL assessment covers science understanding, science as a human endeavour and science inquiry skills. The proficient NAPSL standard represents a ‘challenging but reasonable’ expectation of student achievement at the Year 6 level.

In 2018, the proportion of Year 6 students in South Australia at or above the NAPSL proficient standard was 55%, up from 51% in 2012. (In 2006 the proportion was 52%).

Spelling

In 2019, the proportion of students in South Australia at or above the national minimum standard in spelling was 92% in Year 3 (no change from 2018), 92% in Year 5 (a decrease from 93% in 2018) and 92% in Year 7 (no change from 2018).

The South Australian regions with the highest proportion of students at or above the national minimum spelling standards were:

• Year 3: Metropolitan Adelaide (93%)
• Year 5: Metropolitan Adelaide (93%)
• Year 7: Metropolitan Adelaide (93%)

In 2018, the proportion of Aboriginal students at or above the national minimum standard in spelling was 72% in Year 3 (a decrease from 74% in 2018), 74% in Year 5 (a decrease from 76% in 2018) and 74% in Year 7 (an increase from 72% in 2018).

• Early childhood development

• Writing
• Reading

• PISA mathematical literacy
• Numeracy

• Young people in full-time education
• School attendance