Latest data from the 2025 NAPLAN assessments show that participation rates across all years and domains have rebounded to pre-COVID levels, reaching 93.8 per cent – the highest level since 2017.
The NAPLAN National Results, released 30 July 2025 by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), also show that performance is broadly stable at a national level, with two out of three 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.
Encouragingly, the 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 two 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.
“As the only national assessment that helps teachers, parents and carers see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time, NAPLAN is a key tool in the Australian education landscape,” ACARA CEO Mr Stephen Gniel said.
“The 2025 results across all domains and year groups are broadly stable, with two out of three students at the ‘Strong’ or ‘Exceeding’ proficiency level for their reading, numeracy and writing skills, and one in 10 students needing additional support.
“The latest results also continue to highlight areas that need collective attention, such as supporting students from our regional and remote areas, those from a disadvantaged background, and Indigenous students.”
Mr Gniel said it’s encouraging to see higher NAPLAN scores on average across Years 5, 7 and 9 in numeracy, particularly among the stronger students.
“These may be small percentage changes, but the increases represent an additional 20,000 Australian students performing at the highest proficiency level in 2025 compared to 2024.
“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.
“It’s also fantastic to see the national participation rates rebound, with Years 3 and 5 hitting their highest rates in over a decade, the Year 7 national participation rate the highest since 2017, and the Year 9 national participation rate exceeding the 90 per cent mark for the first time since 2019,” Mr Gniel said.
“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.
“When you consider this, the fact that Queensland achieved its highest participation rate across all year levels since 2019 at 89.7 per cent is an impressive achievement. This also demonstrates the adaptability of the NAPLAN program schedule to support schools impacted by circumstances beyond their control to take part in this important national assessment.”
To access the full 2025 NAPLAN National Results, including information about the socio-educational profile of each jurisdiction, visit: www.acara.edu.au/naplanresults.
