Queensland students in Years 3, 5 and 7 have sat for statewide literacy and numeracy tests since 1999. In 2008, these tests were replaced by the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The test results, along with school-based assessments, have long been used for reporting to parents, principals and government. This data has also been analysed and used as the basis to inform teaching practices to improve student literacy and numeracy results.

The audit objective was to determine whether the Department of Education and Training had effective and efficient systems to use student data to inform literacy and numeracy teaching and learning.