Half of all Australian year 10 students do not meet the NAPLAN benchmark for scientific literacy.

Results in Victoria and NSW are even less encouraging, where fewer than half of year 10 students tested meet the proficiency standard for science.

There is no difference in the results of boys and girls and experts say the way science is taught in Australia does not reflect how scientific knowledge is actually used.

More than 3000 year 10 students across the country sat the NAPLAN scientific proficiency test in 2018 – the first time year 10s have been tested – along with more than 5500 year 6 students.