Figure CRT4.1 shows Solomon Islands’ distribution of year four reading scores against the PILNA reading proficiency scale. This scale converts a student’s reading performance into a level ranking from zero to eight. The expected minimum reading performance for year four students is proficiency level four. Pacific stakeholders expect these students to reach or exceed this proficiency level.

The average performance of year four students in Solomon Islands in reading was 475.72 (SD = 56.41). This corresponds to proficiency level four on the PILNA reading proficiency scale (level four is assigned to scores 462.5–487.5). On average, year four students in Solomon Islands are meeting the minimum expected standard in reading (Figure CRF4.9).

The average reading score does not tell us the whole story. The proportion of students who are meeting the minimum expected standard is also important, as this statistic shows how many students are performing at or above the minimum expected level. This is shown in Figure CRT4.1. Approximately 60% of year four students in Solomon Islands were performing at or above the minimum expected level in reading (levels 4–8) but a substantial minority (40%) are yet to meet the minimum expected level (levels 0–3).

On average, year four students in Solomon Islands (476) are scoring higher in reading than year four students in the region (444) (Figure CRT4.2). Likewise, more students (60%) are also meeting the minimum expected proficiency level than the regional average (43%).