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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Caitlin Cassidy

Naplan results: reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet benchmarks

A student writing on a test
School Naplan results have been released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for 2026. Photograph: Lincoln Beddoe/Getty Images

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).

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