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PIRLS has been conducted in Australia in 2011, 2016 and 2021. The reports and data provided below are the national reports and datasets for Australia.

For access to the full international databases, please visit the IEA TIMSS & PIRLS website

An online data analysis system of the results obtained in earlier TIMSS & PIRLS cycles is also available through the IEA's data visualiser.

PIRLS 2021

National reports and datasets for Australia

Australia’s results from PIRLS 2021
Kylie Hillman, Elizabeth O’Grady, Sima Rodrigues, Marina Schmid and Sue Thomson
PIRLS 2021: Australian Year 4 Data tables
Kylie Hillman, Elizabeth O’Grady, Sima Rodrigues, Marina Schmid and Sue Thomson
PIRLS 2021 data files

Please note: The data files are for use with SPSS and SAS software only.

Previous studies

Towards the end of 2015, more than 6000 Year 4 students from Australia participated in the 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). These students completed tests in reading achievement, and answered questionnaires on their background and experiences in learning reading at school. School principals and the students' teachers and parents also completed detailed questionnaires.

These reports analyse the Australian data collected as part of PIRLS 2016. Where appropriate, the reports make comparisons with the results of 49 other participating countries, and with the international average, to better understand Australian achievement in reading literacy and its context.

In 2011, the five yearly testing cycle for PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) came in to alignment with the four-year cycle for TIMSS, allowing countries who were participating in both of these international studies to gain comprehensive information about the achievement of their fourth grade students in three core curriculum areas- reading, mathematics and science.

The 2011 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) measured the reading achievement of 300 000 students in their fourth year of schooling across the participating countries. Just over 6000 students from Australia took part. The 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) measured the mathematics and science achievement of 600 000 students in their fourth and eighth year of schooling across the participating countries. Just over 6000 Year 4 students and over 7500 Year 8 students from Australia took part.

Contact

General

PIRLS Information line: 1800 775 305
Email: pirls@acer.org

Media comment

Phone: 0419 340 058
Email: communications@acer.org