Problem Solving

"Problem solving is an individual's capacity to use cognitive processes to confront and resolve real, cross-disciplinary situations where the solution path is not immediately obvious and where the literacy domains or curricular areas that might be applicable are not within a single domain of mathematics, science or reading."

For a full description of PISA's interpretation of problem solving, see Chapter 4 of the publication "PISA 2003 Assessment Framework - Mathematics, Reading, Science and Problem Solving Knowledge and Skills"  (the full publication is available here ).