Programme for International Student Assessment Facts for Kids

The Programme for International Student Assessment, often called PISA, is a special test for students around the world. It's organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is a group of many countries working together. This test happens every three years.

PISA test documents on a school table (Neues Gymnasium, Oldenburg, Germany, 2006)

What is the PISA Test?
- How PISA Works
  - Who Takes the Test?
  - What Subjects Are Tested?
- Why PISA Matters
  - Improving Education
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What is the PISA Test?

The PISA test helps countries understand how well their 15-year-old students are doing in school. It checks their skills in important subjects like reading, math, and science. The main goal is to see if students can use what they've learned in real-life situations.

How PISA Works

Every three years, students from many different countries take the PISA test. The test is designed to be fair for everyone, no matter where they live. It's not just about memorizing facts. It's about how students can think and solve problems.

Who Takes the Test?

Students who are about 15 years old take the PISA test. This age is chosen because most students are finishing their basic schooling at this point. The test includes students from public and private schools.

What Subjects Are Tested?

PISA mainly tests three key subjects:

Reading: How well students understand and use written information.
Mathematics: How well students can solve math problems and use numbers.
Science: How well students understand scientific ideas and processes.

Each test cycle focuses more on one of these subjects. For example, one year might focus on math, and the next on reading.

Why PISA Matters

PISA helps countries learn from each other. When the results come out, countries can see how their students compare. This helps them find ways to make their schools even better. It can show if certain teaching methods are working well.

Improving Education

Governments and educators use PISA results to improve their education systems. If students in one country do very well in science, other countries might study their methods. This sharing of ideas helps all students get a better education.