The National Minimum Standard encompasses one band at each Year level and therefore represents a wide range of the typical skills demonstrated by students at this level. Students who are below the National Minimum Standard have not achieved the learning outcomes expected for their year level. They are at risk of being unable to progress satisfactorily at school without targeted intervention.

It should be noted that students who are performing at the National Minimum Standard may also require additional assistance to enable them to achieve their potential.

The number and percentage of questions a student needs to answer correctly to achieve the National Minimum Standard varies depending on the test domain and year level. The number of test items at or below the National Minimum Standard can also vary between test years depending on the spread of items in the tests.

A student’s score point on each scale is determined by the student’s total test score rather than the most difficult item correctly answered. Students will be able to answer correctly most of items that are below their score point and may correctly answer some of the items above their score point.

Students within a minimum standard band will typically be able to display skills in that band and in the band below and display some of the skills in the bands above the minimum standard.

Descriptions and examples provided in this document are derived from the 2008 and 2009 NAPLAN tests. Future NAPLAN tests will inform and enhance this document.