Figure CWF6.2 shows the average writing scores for this group and for year six students in Small Island States in previous PILNA cycles. The score in 2021 (508.95, SD = 42.40) was higher than the 2015 score (502.48, SD = 96.19) but similar to the 2018 score (511.22, SD = 99.98). The standard deviation for the average year six writing scores in 2021 (42.40) was, however, lower than in 2015 (96.19) and 2018 (99.98). 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.