Session 19

Large-Scale AssessmentCont…

Pan Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP)

Conducted by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada(CMEC).

Cyclical program of pan-Canadian assessments for 13-year oldstudents in reading, mathematics, and science.

Tests a random sample of over 32,000 students across Canada from approximately 1200 schools.

There have been three cycles of assessment: 2007, 2010, and 2013. The next data collection is scheduled for 2016.

Complements existing assessments in each province andterritory and provides a basis for examining the curriculum andother aspects of the school system.

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment (OECD).

Assesses 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science. Around 510,000 students in 65 economies took part in PISA 2012 representing about 28 million 15-year-olds globally.

In each cycle, two-thirds of the testing time is devoted to a domain: Reading ~ 2000, Mathematics ~ 2003, Science ~ 2006, Reading ~ 2009, Mathematics ~ 2012. The next data collection is scheduled for 2015.

Includes a two-hour written test and a 30-minute questionnaire thatcollects background information.

Trends in International Mathematicsand Science Study (TIMSS)

Conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation ofEducational Achievement (IEA).

Assesses 4th and 8th grade students in mathematics and science. TIMSS also includes five contextual questionnaires: Student, Home, Teacher, School, and Curriculum.

There have been 5 cycles of assessment: 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. The next data collection is scheduled for 2015.

Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation ofEducational Achievement (IEA).

Assesses 4th grade students in respect to two major readingpurposes: literary and informational.

PIRLS also includes five contextual questionnaires: Student, Home, Teacher, School, and Curriculum.

There have been three cycles of assessment: 2001, 2006, and 2011. The next data collection is scheduled for 2016.