PISA Reading for Change: Performance and Engagement Across Countries

This report, based upon the results of the 2000 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey, examines reading literacy levels of students aged 15 years old in 32 countries, in terms of how well they can use written materials to meet the challenges of the real world and to become lifelong learners. The report reveals that some countries manage to combine high overall results with relatively small differences among students, whilst others have significantly large numbers of students capable of only the most basic reading tasks. More specifically, in some countries there are particularly wide inequalities in the ability of students to deal with written materials, such as graphs or forms. Overall, students from more advantaged backgrounds performed better on average, although the gap varied across countries; and female students performed better than male students in every country. Notably, those students who expressed positive attitudes to reading and spent time reading for pleasure were, on average much better readers.