Figure CWF5.2 shows the average writing scores for this group and for grade five students in Marshall Islands in previous PILNA cycles. The average writing score for these students in 2021 (491.57, SD = 47.84) was higher than in 2015 (423.77, SD = 93.42) and 2018 (452.94, SD = 106.00). The standard deviation for the average grade five reading scores in 2021 (47.84) was lower than it was in 2015 (93.42) and 2018 (106.00). This shows that the spread of writing scores in 2021 was 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.