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An international assessment of the skills and knowledge of 15-year-olds

Developed jointly by OECD Member countries, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) aims to assess how far students approaching the end of compulsory education have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in society.

 

A collaboration between governments

PISA is a collaborative process. It brings together scientific expertise from participating countries and is steered jointly by their governments, through the OECD, on the basis of shared, policy-driven interests. Countries are working together to produce a method of assessing students that is valid across countries, that is strong at measuring relevant skills and that is based on authentic life situations.

 

A regular monitoring device

The first PISA assessment took place in 2000. Thereafter assessments will occur every three years. Three "domains": reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy, form the core of each cycle-but two thirds of testing time in each cycle will be devoted to a "major" domain, assessed in depth. Major domains are reading literacy in 2000, mathematical literacy in 2003 and scientific literacy in 2006.

 

A large-scale international survey

Samples of between 4,500 and 10,000 students will be assessed in each country. A sample of students in each country will complete a variety of pencil and paper tasks. They will also complete a questionnaire about their background and attitudes.