AI use up, digital literacy down

“The results of the latest National Assessment Program test of students skills and knowledge of information communication technology (ICT) show that students in Years 6 and 10 have worse ICT literacy than the previous assessment in 2022. For Year 10 students, only 37 per cent were deemed proficient in ICT, which is the lowest level since the test began in 2005, but those who reported using AI the percentage was higher. ACARA chief Stephen Gneil said the drop was not in this group of students. “The 2025 results show a decline in student proficiency in ICT literacy and continuing gaps between different groups of students,” he said. “This contrasts with most students reporting extensive experience using digital tools, and the vast majority reporting reliable internet services and having access to their own computer or tablet at home.” There was also a five per cent decline for Year Six students, from 55 per cent in 2022 to 50 per cent in these results. For the first time, the survey asked students to fill in a questionnaire about their AI use, with one in four Year 10 students reporting they used it frequently for school work and 60 per cent of them using it to write content at least once a month. Students who had more experience using AI generally had better results overall. “Unsurprisingly but importantly, the combined results of the assessment and the student survey show that greater student engagement with ICT, as reported by students, was associated with higher ICT literacy scores. “Reflecting the rapid impact of AI across our society, students also reported frequent use of AI tools to assist with schoolwork at school and to generate written content,” Mr Gneil said. Demographic disparities were also evidenced as, for instance, metropolitan students had better ITC literacy than their rural and remote counterparts, and proficiency increased with higher levels of parental occupation and education. The most recent data comes from 5,498 Year 6 students from 328 schools and 4,753 Year 10 students from 313 schools who participated in the online assessment in May 2025.

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