This report was originally published 16 March 2026.

Summary

What is the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check?

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a 5 to 7 minute assessment administered by classroom teachers that indicates how their students are progressing in phonics. The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is designed to be administered towards the end of Year 1 after students have had time to develop sufficient phonic knowledge, but with enough time to make sure interventions and targeted teaching can still make a difference.

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check complements existing school practices used to identify students’ progress in developing foundational literacy skills.

Key findings from the 2025 Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

• The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check was undertaken in 1,648 NSW Government schools with 61,964 Year 1 students participating and completing the assessment.
• The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check consisted of 40 items. The average number of items correct was 28.5.
• Students were considered to have met the expected achievement level if they correctly answered 28 or more items.
• 64% of students achieved at or above this level (up from 60% in 2024).
• The percentage of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students that met or exceeded the expected achievement score increased from 36% in 2024 to 40% in 2025.
• The proportion of students learning English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) who met or exceeded the expected score level ranged from 34% for students at the Beginning phase to 65% for the Emerging phase, 85% at the Developing phase and 90% at the Consolidating phase.