This website is intended to provide information about the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). This page will help you understand what PISA is, why it matters, and how it benefits students and the education system. PISA is an international assessment conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It evaluates the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students in mathematics, reading, and science.

• The latest PISA assessment took place in 2022, focusing on mathematics, with results released in December 2023.
• Additional findings on financial literacy, creative thinking, and lifelong learning readiness were published in 2024.
• The next PISA cycle, PISA 2025, runs from April 21 to May 31, 2025, with results expected in 2026.

For more information on PISA from the OCED website please feel free to click here.

---

PISA measures students' ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios. The assessment focuses on three core subjects:

• Mathematics Literacy: The capacity to identify, understand, and engage in mathematics and to make well-founded judgments about the role that mathematics plays in the private, occupational, and social lives of constructive, concerned, and reflective citizens.
• Reading Literacy: The capacity to understand, use, and reflect on written texts in order to achieve one's goals and potential, develop knowledge, and participate in society.
• Scientific Literacy: The capacity to use scientific knowledge, identify questions, and draw evidence-based conclusions, in order to understand and help make decisions about the natural world and the changes made to it through human activity.

Each PISA cycle emphasizes one major subject while still assessing the others. For PISA 2025, the primary focus will be on science, with additional evaluations in mathematics and reading. It will also include an innovative component, Learning in the Digital World, which measures students' ability to engage in self-regulated learning using digital tools.

---

Canada invests significant resources in the provision of elementary and secondary education, and Canadians are concerned about the quality of education provided by schools. The skills acquired by the end of secondary school are the essential foundation for further learning, and for meeting the social and economic challenges of the future. PISA examines the level of achievement of 15-year-olds and provides an indication of the knowledge and skills they have acquired-as well as their preparedness for continuing their studies or entering the workforce.

Results from PISA are valuable to educators, governments, social-policy analysts, and advocacy groups. Comparative information helps evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and practices and understand the influences of socioeconomic and other factors on educational success.

---

How Do Students Perform?

The most recent PISA 2022 results for Newfoundland and Labrador indicate:

• Mathematics scores are declining and below the Canadian average.
• Reading scores initially stabilized but have started to decline.
• Science scores have also declined, falling below the national average.

The tables below show longitudinal results for all three areas.

Click here for a detailed Canadian PISA report.

---

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) in Newfoundland and Labrador uses PISA data to shape educational policies and programs. By participating, students help ensure that decisions are based on accurate and meaningful data.

Example:

• PISA 2022 results showed a significant drop in mathematics scores.
• Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest math scores in Canada.
• As a response, EDU adjusted curriculum, reallocated staff, and introduced new teaching strategies.

If students do not give their best effort in PISA, the data may not truly reflect their abilities. While PISA does not affect students' grades, their participation contributes to shaping future education policies.

---

Do you wish to see a sample of the types of questions your child will be asked to complete during a PISA assessment? Click on the link below and try the sample questions.

• PISA 2022 - Sample Items
• Sample Questions - Science
• Sample Questions - Creative Thinking