Reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet Naplan benchmarks

School Naplan results have been released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for 2026. Photograph: Lincoln Beddoe/Getty Images View image in fullscreen School Naplan results have been released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for 2026. Photograph: Lincoln Beddoe/Getty Images Reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet Naplan benchmarks Education minister Jason Clare says the results showed ‘real challenges’ but numeracy scores were heartening Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Reading and writing scores are going backwards for almost every age group in Australia’s national standardised school tests, with one in three students still failing to meet Naplan benchmarks. This year’s tests were taken in March by 1.2 million students across years 3, 5, 7 and 9 to measure literacy and numeracy proficiency, with results released on Wednesday by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara). Participation was down compared with last year due to industrial action in Tasmania and flooding in the Northern Territory, which has led Acara to not report Tasmanian state-level results as it lagged “far below” the body’s data standards for accurate reporting. The tests were also marred by disruption over a technical issue on the first day for students completing writing papers in years 5, 7 and 9. Acara said national average scores in writing remained similar to last year but it has included a caveat for results, instead of implementing marking adjustments. One in three students weren’t meeting benchmarks across reading, numeracy and writing, which had not budged since 2025, and one in 10 needed “additional support”, meaning they would need further help to progress and were not working towards expectations. Average reading scores in years 5, 7 and 9 went backwards compared with 2025, and more students were needing additional support in both reading and writing. Average reading scores were stable for year 3 students. The average proportion of students “exceeding” and “strong” at reading was 66.3%, down from 68.2% last year There were some improvements in national numeracy levels since the tests were reset in 2023 for students in years 5, 7 and 9, with the highest national average score of 67% meeting benchmarks and 29,000 more students “exceeding”. The gains were also evident among Indigenous students, with more “exceeding” in years 7 and 9 compared with 2023 and average scores among year 5 and 7 students at the highest level since the tests were reset. But for year 3 students, the average national numeracy score was the lowest it had been since 2023. The education minister, Jason Clare, said the results showed “real challenges” as well as “how to fix them”, pointing to an ongoing numeracy review across primary school levels, spearheaded by Acara as a result of previous Naplan data. “There is good news here in numeracy,” Clare said. “It’s going up and up in years 5 and in high school. “Year 3 maths is a different story. That’s why we are fixing the maths curriculum for the first three years of school. “The reading results show we still have real challenges. They also show us how to fix them … This year’s results show that in schools using explicit teaching methods, including phonics, and small-group tutoring to give kids who are struggling extra intensive help, results are going up and up.” The federal government’s additional $20bn injection to the public system, to be rolled out over a decade, includes requirements that states and territories implement year 1 phonics and numeracy checks and back “evidence-based” teaching practices, including explicit teaching. Victoria had the highest average scores across year levels and domains, followed by the ACT and New South Wales, governments which have backed explicit teaching methods. The ACT is also the only jurisdiction to have reached full funding of public schools. The remaining states and territories fell below the Australian average in the majority of year levels and study areas. The chief executive of Acara, Stephen Gniel, said it was “encouraging” to see continued improvement in national numeracy, especially among the stronger students, but the drop in results among year 3 students was “clearly concerning”. “Education ministers are addressing this through a range of measures including the rollout of the national year 1 numeracy check,” he said. “Acara is also playing its part by reviewing the foundation to year 2 mathematics curriculum at the direction of education ministers.” Gniel said reading and writing needed “our collective attention”, as did continued disparities depending on geography and background. The average Naplan scores across year levels and domains were substantially higher for students from the highest socio-educational background, which is measured on parental education and occupation. Similarly, students tended to perform better in urban verses regional areas, with just 23% of students at very remote schools “exceeding” in reading and numeracy compared with 70% of students at major city schools. “It is … disheartening to see disparities persisting over the years in the attainment of students from our regional and remote areas, Indigenous students and those from a disadvantaged background,” Gniel said. “This needs to be a continuing focus for all in the coming years.” Gender differences also persisted, with female students outperforming males in literacy and males tending to perform better in numeracy. Explore more on these topics Australian education Australian politics news Share Reuse this content