Figure CWF7.2 shows the average writing scores for this group and for grade seven students in Palau in previous PILNA cycles. The score in 2021 (534.96, SD = 30.47) was lower than in both the 2015 (543.82, SD = 57.82) and 2018 (567.82, SD = 71.22) PILNA cycles. The score increased from 2015 to 2018 and then decreased to its lowest point in 2021. The standard deviation for the average grade seven reading scores in 2021 (30.47) was, however, lower than in 2015 (57.82) and 2018 (71.22). 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.