Figure CRF3.2 shows the average reading scores for this group and for grade three students in Papua New Guinea in previous PILNA cycles. The scores in 2021 (455.47) were higher than in 2018 (442.08) and their standard deviation in 2021(SD = 64.72) was similar to that of 2018 (SD = 66.63). This means that the spread of grade three overall reading scores was comparable in 2021 to that observed in 2018.

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.