What

 is  NAPLAN?   What  is  PISA?  

• ‘NAPLAN  is  made  up  of  tests  in  four  areas  (or   • ‘The  Programme  for  International  Student  
‘domains’):     Assessment  (PISA)  is  a  triennial  international  
- Reading   survey,  which  aims  to  evaluate  education  systems  
- Writing   worldwide  by  testing  the  skills  and  knowledge  of  
- Language  Conventions  (spelling,   15-­‐year-­‐old  students.  
grammar  and  punctuation)   • In  2015  over  half  a  million  students,  representing  
- Numeracy   28  million  15-­‐year-­‐olds  in  72  countries  and  
• The  results  provide  information  for  students,   economies,  took  the  internationally  agreed  two-­‐
parents,  teachers  and  principals  about  student   hour  test.  Students  were  assessed  in  science,  
achievement   mathematics,  reading,  collaborative  problem  
• NAPLAN  tests  provide  point-­‐in-­‐time  information   solving  and  financial  literacy.  
regarding  student  progress  in  literacy  and   • PISA-­‐based  Test  for  Schools:    
numeracy  and  are  intended  to  complement   The  PISA-­‐based  Test  for  Schools  provides  school-­‐
teacher  judgement  and  the  wide  range  of  formal   level  estimates  of  performance  and  information  
and  informal  testing  programs  that  are  already   about  the  learning  environment  and  students’  
used  in  schools.     attitudes  gathered  from  student  questionnaires.  
• NAPLAN  test  results  are  not  intended  to  be  used   Find  out  more  and  how  schools  and  their  
in  isolation  from  other  school-­‐based  assessment   networks  can  take  part.’  
programs.   (OECD  2018)    
• The  Australian  Curriculum,  Assessment  and    
Reporting  Authority  (ACARA)  responsibility  for   • ‘By  participating  in  the  OECD's  PISA,  Australia  
the  central  management  of  the  NAPLAN  and  a   receives  an  opportunity  to  compare  student  
Test  Administration  Authority  (TAA)  in  each  state   performance  on  a  global  scale,  independently  of  
or  territory  is  responsible  for  the  implementation   school  curriculum,  providing  insights  to  help  
of  the  tests.’     continually  improve  our  own  education  system  
(  The  Victorian  Curriculum  and  Assessment   both  in  comparison  to  other  countries,  and  in  
Authority  2018)     relation  to  previous  results  –  ensuring  we  strive  
  for  ongoing  improvements  in  equity  and  learning  
• ‘NAPLAN  is  an  annual  assessment  for  all  students   outcomes  for  all  future  Australian  students.  
in  Years  3,  5,  7  and  9.     • PISA  2015  Participants:  72  Countries,  540000  
• It  tests  the  types  of  skills  that  are  essential  for   Students  Worldwide,  14530  Australian  Students  
every  child  to  progress  through  school  and  life.’   and  758  Australian  Schools’    
(  National  Assessment  Program  2018)     (ACER  2018)    

 
References:    
ACER  2018,  PISA,  Australian  Council  For  Educational  Research,  Accessed  27/03/2018    
https://www.acer.org/ozpisa  
 
National  Assessment  Program  2018,  About  NAPLAN,  Accessed  27/03/18,  
https://www.nap.edu.au/about  
 
OECD  2018,  PISA  Programme  For  International  Student  Assessment,  Accessed  27/03/18,  
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/aboutpisa/  
 
The  Victorian  Curriculum  and  Assessment  Authority  2018,  National  Assessment  Program  -­‐  
Literacy  and  Numeracy  Testing  (NAPLAN),  State  Government  Of  Victoria,  Accessed  27/03/18,  
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/prep10/naplan/index.aspx