OECD Programme for Interational Student Assessment (PISA) 2003 Cycle

Information for journalists

The results of the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2003 study were released on 7 December 2004..

Download full report from PISA Reports section of ACER website.

The international report is available from the OECD website.

Media releases

Australia's students among the world's best in mathematical literacy

Australia's 15-year-old students have a level of mathematical literacy among the best in the world, a new international study released today shows. The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2003 tested 15-year-old students in 41 countries in mathematical, reading and scientific literacy as well as problem solving. The Australian component of PISA 2003 involved a randomly selected sample of just over 12500 students from 321 schools from all states and territories and school sectors.
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Metropolitan students outperform provincial, remote students in literacy assessments

Metropolitan students continue to outperform their provincial and remote counterparts in literacy and problem solving assessments, a new international study has found.

ACER chief executive Professor Geoff Masters said that overall, Australian students had acquitted themselves very well in PISA but the results showed that some students outside of metropolitan areas were struggling.
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Indigenous students struggling in literacy assessments

The results from the 2003 cycle of testing in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), released today, show large differences in the mathematical, reading and scientific literacy and problem-solving skills demonstrated by Indigenous Australian students compared to non-Indigenous students.
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Other media information

Fact Sheet - summary of key findings (PDF)

Media Advisory (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions about PISA (PDF)

Visit the PISA section of the ACER website for more information.