Conclusions for reading performance
Minimum proficiency levels
The PILNA 2021 reading results for Cook Islands show that, at the year four level, 50% of students met or exceeded the minimum expected proficiency level (Levels 3–8). A slightly higher proportion of year four students in Cook Islands are achieving the minimum expected standard than in the region (43%) and in the Small Island States (49%).
At the year six level, 82% of Cook Island students are meeting or exceeding the minimum expected proficiency level (Levels 5-8) in reading. A greater proportion of year six students are meeting the minimum expected proficiency level compared to the region (53%) and Small Island States (73%).
Gender
On average, girls scored higher than boys in reading in Cook Islands. Girls also represented more of the students scoring in the higher proficiency levels than boys.
School authority and school location
As for school authority and school location, students in non-government schools and students in urban schools scored higher than students in government schools and students in non-urban schools. This was true for both year four and year six students.
Coding
The coding of student responses in reading shows that students in Cook Islands did well in identifying information from the text but struggled to identify information when there is competing text in the way. Both year four and year six students struggled when asked to interpret what they had read and when asked to think critically about what they had read and form an opinion or give a reason for a response.
Trends
The trend in Cook Islands year four reading performance showed a decline from 2015 to 2018, as well as from 2018 to 2021. There has been a decrease in year four reading performance over time. This is not the same for year six students; although there was a drop in mean scores from 2015 to 2018, there was an increase from 2018 to 2021.
