Figure CWF7.2 shows the average writing scores for this group and for grade seven students in Marshall Islands in previous PILNA cycles. The average writing score in 2021 (508.42, SD = 48.98) was higher than in 2015 (491.69) and 2018 (488.05). The standard deviation for the average grade seven reading scores in 2021 (48.98) was lower than in 2015 (SD = 89.74) and 2018 (SD = 96.09). This shows that the spread of writing scores in 2021 was much narrower than in previous PILNA cycles.

Standard deviation shows how close data points are to the average. A lower standard deviation means that data points are, overall, closer to the average; a higher standard deviation means that data points are, overall, further away from the average.