NSW Department of Education and Training

National Year 6 Science Assessment

In 2003, the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) conducted an assessment of a sample of Year 6 students across Australia to assess their proficiency in scientific literacy.

The assessment of scientific literacy is part of a national plan that is being put progressively in place to monitor and report on student achievement against the National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-first Century. The National Goals - and the importance of monitoring student achievement in relation to them were agreed to by all State, Territory and Federal Education Ministers in 1999.

Under the national plan, student performance is being assessed in science, civics and citizenship and information and communication technology (ICT) in three-yearly cycles. The results are being reported against proficiency levels and standards that are established after the first round of testing in each of the three priority areas.

The scientific literacy assessment domain, which defined the scope of the National Science Assessment materials, was developed in consultation with a number of national committees that were established to ensure that the domain was inclusive of the different State and Territory curricula and that the items in the assessments were fair for students, irrespective of where they attended school.

The information and assessment materials in this document have been designed to assist teachers to gauge their own students’ proficiency in scientific literacy. By replicating components of the National Year 6 Science Assessment in the classroom, teachers will be able to compare the results of the classes and individual students with the Year 6 national proficiency levels and standards in scientific literacy.

It is anticipated that teachers will be able to reflect on this information to enhance teaching and monitoring programs in our schools.

Knowledge Economy

A concise research paper by Tony Fee and Dr Kurt Seemann which explains the term 'Knowledge Economy' and why it is important to technology education.