The latest science results in the National Assessment Program (NAP) show that although the change has not been significant, there are signs Australian students' understanding of scientific concepts is on the up, with Year 6 students achieving their best results since the sample assessments began in 2003.
The NAP – Science Literacy assessments, held in October and November 2018, show that at the national level, 58 per cent of Year 6 students attained the proficient standard. This is the highest percentage of students to achieve the proficient standard since the assessments were introduced. (In 2015, 55 per cent of students reached the standard; in 2012, it was 51 per cent.)
The percentage of Year 6 Indigenous students attaining the proficient standard (35 per cent) was significantly higher than in 2015, 2012 and 2009.
"These results indicate that something appears to be working well in primary schools and teaching Year 6 science literacy. These improving Year 6 results bode well for our future performance in PISA," said ACARA CEO, David de Carvalho.
Science literacy results are reported on a single scale, with two 'proficiency standards': one for Year 6 and one for Year 10. The proficiency standards are the points on that scale, which represent a 'challenging but reasonable' expectation of student achievement for Years 6 and 10.
"Proficiency standards are meant to represent a challenge, and the bar is set quite high for students to achieve these. It is better to strive for high expectations than set proficiency levels lower and pat ourselves on the back because more students might achieve that lower standard," said Mr de Carvalho.
At the national level in 2018, 50 per cent of Year 10 students attained the proficient standard, but as this is the first time that Year 10 students have been tested, comparisons with previous years cannot be made.
Other findings include:
Achievement by gender
Male and female students in Year 6 and Year 10 scored results that were not significantly different.
Since 2012, results show some evidence for a positive trend in science literacy achievement for both male and female students.
Achievement by Indigenous status
The 2018 average score for Year 6 Indigenous students was higher than the average scores of Indigenous students in the 2012 and 2009 assessments.
The percentage of Year 6 Indigenous students attaining the proficient standard (35 per cent) was significantly higher than in 2015, 2012 and 2009 (23 per cent, 20 per cent and 20 per cent respectively).
Achievement by language background
For the first time, at the national level, Year 6 students who speak English at home had a significantly higher average scale score (411) than students who speak a language other than English at home (398). In previous cycles, the differences between the average scale scores were not statistically significant.
Achievement by geographic location
The pattern of results indicates that Year 6 students attending schools located in major cities perform significantly better than students attending schools in all other geographic locations. Year 10 students from major cities also perform significantly better than students from both remote and very remote areas.
Since 2009, students have also been required to complete a survey along with the science assessment. The survey canvassed students' perceptions of, and attitudes to, science. It also asked students about their science-learning experiences at school. Some interesting findings are that:
Over 85 per cent of Year 6 students responded that they would like to
