The report Learners for Life: Student Approaches to Learning analyses the PISA 2000 results, focusing on students' motivation, self-beliefs and use of various learning strategies. In particular, it looks at those characteristics that together make it more likely that a student will become a confident and self-managed learner.

The results confirm strong links between student approaches to learning and measurable student outcomes. For example, students who demonstrate a strong interest in reading and are more confident of their ability to solve problems that they find difficult are more likely to perform well. The report also shows particularly strong links between students' tendency to control their own learning, by consciously monitoring progress towards personal goals, and their motivation and self-beliefs. This suggests that effective learning cannot simply be taught as a skill, but also depends heavily on developing positive attitudes.
 
This report offers policy -makers a fine-grained analysis of which particular learner characteristics are prevalent in different countries. It also identifies differences between the approaches to learning of various groups, including male and female students, and those from more and less advantaged social backgrounds. The results point to ways in which education systems can focus efforts to help different groups of students become more effective learners.