NAPLAN Shows Rise in Proficiency for First Nations

NAPLAN participation rates across all years and domains have rebounded to pre-COVID levels, reaching 93.8% - the highest level since 2017.

Performance is broadly stable at a national level, with 2 out of 3 students at the “Strong” or “Exceeding” proficiency level for their reading, numeracy and writing skills, and one in 10 students at the “Needs additional support” level across all year groups and domains.

NAPLAN National Results indicate higher NAPLAN scores on average across Years 5, 7 and 9 in numeracy, particularly among stronger students, as well as a reportable increase, from 2023 to 2025, in the percentage of Indigenous students achieving “Exceeding” in writing and numeracy at both Years 7 and 9.

Years 5, 7 and 9 students who participated in NAPLAN 2025 are the first students to have completed 2 assessments since the introduction of the new proficiency levels in 2023. This means additional data on student growth is included in the 2025 NAPLAN National Results. This information provides an important benchmark for comparing cohort growth in future years.

This year’s NAPLAN data also shows that, at the national level, proportions within proficiency levels were broadly stable between 2023 and 2025, although there were small increases and decreases across domains and year groups.

Commenting on the latest NAPLAN National Results, ACARA CEO, Stephen Gniel, said, “Another emerging trend is the increase since 2023 in the percentage of Indigenous students achieving “Exceeding” in writing and numeracy at both Years 7 and 9. Hopefully, these gains - and others like them - can be consolidated in 2026 and beyond.

“This year in particular, Queensland’s participation results are a testament to the efforts of its education community, who at the same time as preparing for the NAPLAN tests, along with the NSW education authorities, were also dealing with the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred."

To access the full 2025 NAPLAN National Results, including information about the socio-educational profile of each jurisdiction, visit: www.acara.edu.au/naplanresults.