The Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, said about 25,000 Tasmanian students will this week participate in national tests to assess their performance in literacy and numeracy.

Mr McKim said students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia are being tested under the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2012.

 

"Students will be tested in numeracy, reading, writing and the language conventions of spelling, punctuation and grammar," Mr McKim said.

 

"The national tests provide information on how students are progressing against levels of achievement, and teachers use these detailed reports to support improvements in teaching and learning.

 

"The reports from the tests also allows for a comparison of student performance against other Australian students.

 

"Results are published in the NAPLAN National Summary Report, released in mid-September each year, and families and carers of Tasmanian students are expected to receive their individual reports in the first week of Term 3.

 

"I would like to wish all students the best as they complete the tests this week."

 

Tests begin today and continue through to Thursday.