A total of 19,563 year six students was analysed in the PILNA 2021 numeracy assessment. The average overall numeracy performance for these students in 2021 was 530.59 (SD = 63.45).

Figure RNF6.1 shows the average numeracy scores of this group and of year six students in previous PILNA cycles.

The average overall numeracy score for these students in 2021 was lower than in the 2018 PILNA cycle, but higher than in the 2015 and 2012 PILNA cycles. The standard deviation for the 2021 cycle was similar to the standard deviation in the 2012 and 2018 PILNA cycles; the 2015 PILNA cycle had a smaller standard deviation. This means that the spread of year six overall numeracy scores in 2021 was similar to previous PILNA cycles.

More analysis needs to be done to understand whether these differences in scores are statistically significant.