Provincial and territorial variations in proficiency by age group

Four jurisdictions, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon, have overall average scores above the Canadian average in prose literacy. This pattern of above average performance generally holds for the four oldest age groups; that is, those beyond age 35. For the two youngest age groups, however, their average scores are more similar to the Canadian average (Figure 2.3 A to C).

Compared to the Canadian average, large differences emerge for those aged 46 to 55 in the Yukon. The average score for 46 to 55 year-olds in the Yukon is 30 points higher than the Canadian average and 18 points higher than the same age group in Alberta. It would appear that the higher proficiency scores for this age group help to explain the difference in the overall average proficiency between the Yukon and the other provinces and territories.

Figure 2.3A

A second group of jurisdictions have average prose literacy scores similar to the Canadian average: Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. This pattern, where the average prose literacy score does not differ much from the Canadian average, generally holds across individual age groups.