Table CNT6.1 shows Solomon Islands’ distribution of year six overall numeracy scores against the PILNA numeracy proficiency scale. This scale converts a student’s overall numeracy score into a level ranking from zero to eight. The expected minimum overall numeracy performance for year six students is proficiency level five. Pacific stakeholders expect these students to reach or exceed this proficiency level.

The average overall numeracy score for year six students in Solomon Islands in 2021 was 575.65 (SD = 47.10). This corresponds to the lower threshold of proficiency level eight in the PILNA numeracy proficiency scale (level eight is assigned to scores 575+). On average, year six students in Solomon Islands are exceeding the minimum expected standard in numeracy (Figure CNF6.7).

The average numeracy score does not tell us the whole story. The proportion of students who are meeting the minimum expected standard is also important. Approximately 94% of students performed at or above this expected level (levels 5–8), while only about 6% of students performed below it (levels 0–4). Most students are meeting the minimum expected proficiency level.

Solomon Islands is performing well in numeracy, not only against the PILNA proficiency level benchmarks, but against the regional performance in PILNA 2021 (Table CNT6.2). On average, year six students in Solomon Islands are scoring higher in numeracy (575.65) than year six students in the region (530.59). Furthermore, about 94% of year six students met or exceeded the expected minimum numeracy proficiency levels compared with 72% across the region.

When looking at Solomon Islands’ distribution of year six numeracy proficiency scores in 2021 by gender (Table CNT6.3), no substantial differences can be seen. Approximately 95% of girls performed at or above the expected proficiency level (levels 5–8) compared to approximately 93% of boys.

Table CNT6.4 shows year six scores for Solomon Island students on the PILNA numeracy proficiency scale over time. Accompanying this is Figure CNF6.8 showing the proportion meeting the minimum overall numeracy standard over time. A similar proportion met the minimum expected level in 2021, 2018 and 2015. This proportion is higher than that in 2012 (2012 = 82%, 2015 = 93%, 2018 = 96%, 2021 = 94%).