User guide

NAP sample assessments

Every three years, ACARA assesses a stratified random sample of students in Science Literacy, Civics and Citizenship, and ICT Literacy. These assessments support measurement and reporting on progress towards the achievement of the goals stated in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (2008). The national Key Performance Measures (KPMs) for the NAP sample assessments specified in the Measurement Framework for Schooling in Australia relate to students in Years 6 and 10.

Key Performance Measure 4(a): Proportion of students achieving at or above the proficient standard in Science Literacy: Prior to 2018: Year 6 - Level 3.2; 2018 and beyond: Year 6 - Level 3, Year 10 - Level 4. (see notes and caveats section below)

Key Performance Measure 5: Proportion of students achieving at or above the proficient standard in Civics and Citizenship: Year 6 - Level 2, Year 10 - Level 3.

Key Performance Measure 6: Proportion of students achieving at or above the proficient standard in ICT Literacy: Year 6 - Level 3, Year 10 - Level 4.

NAP sample dataset
Download the NAP sample dataset

Notes and caveats

• On a rotating assessment cycle, every three years, samples of Year 6 and Year 10 students from across Australia are tested on their skills and understanding in Science Literacy, Civics and Citizenship, and information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy. 
• The proficient standard represents a "challenging but reasonable" expectation of student achievement at that year level.
• In 2018, the sample assessment in Science Literacy was extended to Year 10. To accommodate this, proficiency levels were widened and re-labelled. However, as the proficient standard for Year 6 remained unchanged, the proportion of students at or above proficient standard can be compared historically. 
• As 2018 was the first time Year 10 students were assessed in Science Literacy, some states/territories opted not to report their state/territory separately due to sample size restrictions. Australian results include all states.
• In the 2019 sample assessment in Civics and Citizenship, sample requirements were not achieved in Tasmania (Year 10) and the Northern Territory (Years 6 and Year 10). This may have resulted in a less representative sample and biased results. Therefore, their results should be interpreted with caution
• For further detail please see the NAP sample assessments website.
• This information relates to Part 3 of National Report on Schooling in Australia.

User guide

Please refer to the user guide for information on how to use the data portal.