Method of Assessment

Methods

All students take pencil-and-paper tests, with assessments lasting a total of two hours for each student. For the PISA 2009 assessment, some participating countries/economies have also opted for an assessment of the reading of electronic texts. 

Test items are a mixture of multiple-choice items and questions requiring students to construct their own responses. The items are organised in groups based on a passage setting out a real-life situation.

Take an interactive version of the tests here.

You can also consult the publication 'Take the test' which lists all the publicly released items from the first three assessments (PISA 2000, 2003 and 2006).

A total of about seven hours of test items is covered, with different students taking different combinations of test items.

Students answer a background questionnaire, which takes 20-30 minutes to complete, providing information about themselves and their homes. School principals are given a 20-minute questionnaire about their schools.

For a more complete description of the methodology behind PISA, see the PISA 2006 Technical Report.