Latest News

The PIRLS 2026 Assessment Frameworks publication is now available as a PDF download

For each cycle of PIRLS, the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center collaborates with participating countries and international experts to update the frameworks and design.The PIRLS 2026 Assessment Frameworks also incorporates current research on reading curricula, instruction, and assessment.

Publication of COVID-19 Research Resources in PIRLS 2021

COVID-19 Research Resources in PIRLS 2021, the second report in the PIRLS Insights series, is now available. This guide for researchers describes how the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 impacted PIRLS 2021 and outlines the contextual data related to COVID-19 collected in the study. Read the full report here.

Publication of Aspects of Student Well-Being and Reading Achievement in PIRLS 2021

Aspects of Student Well-Being and Reading Achievement in PIRLS 2021 is now available at pirls2021.org/insights.

Publication of PIRLS 2021 International Results in Reading

PIRLS 2021 International Results in Reading is now available at pirls2021.org/results. The highly anticipated results from the latest cycle of IEA’s PIRLS were released on May 16, 2023 in a live launch hosted by IEA Amsterdam. PIRLS 2021 results present achievement and contextual data from the nearly 60 countries that participated in the 5th cycle of PIRLS. Videos of example texts and items are also available at pirls2021.org

Publication of the PIRLS 2021 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Reading

The PIRLS 2021 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Reading is now available at pirls2021.org/encyclopedia. Describing the education systems and reading curricula in PIRLS 2021 countries, the PIRLS 2021 Encyclopedia is a richly detailed qualitative counterpart to forthcoming PIRLS 2021 international results.

Publication of the TIMSS 2023 Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors Framework

The TIMSS 2023 Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors Framework is now available for download from the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center website. This document describes the expansion of TIMSS 2023 Context Questionnaires to include information about the environmental attitudes and behaviors of students as well as the environmental practices of parents, teachers, and schools.

Publication of TIMSS 2023 Assessment Frameworks

The volume containing the TIMSS 2023 Assessment Frameworks is now available for download from the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center website. It outlines the mathematics and science topics that will be assessed among fourth and eighth grade students in TIMSS 2023, as well as plans for collecting contextual data and the assessment design.

Collage with a drawing of a swimming turtle and a jellyfish; and wildflower photo; from the TIMSS 2019 Environmental Awareness report

Environmental Awareness in TIMSS 2019

Around the world there has been increasing awareness of the need to protect the environment. To learn what the TIMSS 2019 science assessment tells us about students’ understanding of the environment, the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center constructed environmental awareness scales. Watch the video for a summary of the overall results across TIMSS 2019 countries, and for some examples of TIMSS items that relate to human activities that can harm or benefit the environment.

Drawing of farm and boy from the Farm Investigation task

Release of Findings from the TIMSS 2019 Problem Solving and Inquiry Tasks

On October 27, 2021, the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center released Findings from the TIMSS 2019 Problem Solving and Inquiry Tasks. This report expands significantly on student achievement and engagement with the TIMSS 2019 Problem Solving and Inquiry (PSI) Tasks, providing insight into the higher-order mathematics and science skills students demonstrated while working through the interactive tasks and how students navigated through the digital assessment.

TIMSS 2023 Preparations Begin

Preparations for TIMSS 2023 are well underway. National Research Coordinators (NRCs) convened virtually February 9-12 for the combined 1st/2nd TIMSS 2023 NRC meeting. Over 250 representatives from countries around the world gathered for updates on TIMSS 2023 plans and procedures and to write new TIMSS 2023 mathematics and science items.

TIMSS 2019 International Database Available

The TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center has released the TIMSS 2019 International Database. This publicly available database contains a rich array of fourth and eighth grade achievement and contextual data from the latest TIMSS cycle to support and promote secondary analyses aimed at improving mathematics and science education. The international database comprises student achievement data and student, home, teacher, school, and national context questionnaire data for the 64 countries and 8 benchmarking systems that participated in TIMSS 2019.

Coming December 8: TIMSS 2019 Results

The full international report—TIMSS 2019 International Results in Mathematics and Science—will be released on December 8, 2020, at 10am Central European Time at timss2019.org. In addition to detailed results for the TIMSS countries, the report will include infographics highlighting major findings. Videos that summarize major findings will also be released at the same time, on the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center website, and will be available on YouTube.

Release of the TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science

The TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science is now available at timssandpirls.bc.edu/timss2019/encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia describes the education systems of the TIMSS 2019 countries, and is an essential qualitative counterpart to the international achievement results. Each participating country has its own chapter in the Encyclopedia, authored by a country representative, which describes various features of the country’s education system.

PIRLS 2021 Countries Prepare for Data Collection

On August 3–5, representatives of PIRLS 2021 countries met virtually for the 5th PIRLS 2021 National Research Coordinators (NRCs) Meeting. Originally planned for Warsaw, Poland, the meeting marked the first all-virtual PIRLS NRC meeting. More than 140 representatives from the PIRLS countries attended the meeting, during which they deliberated and discussed the proposed reading passages, items, and questionnaires for the PIRLS 2021 data collection based on recommendations from the Reading Development Group and Questionnaire Development Group.

Countries Prepare for Release of TIMSS 2019 Results

The 8th TIMSS 2019 National Research Coordinators Meeting was held June 22–25, with more than 140 participants. During this first-ever virtual TIMSS NRC meeting, NRCs prepared for the release of the TIMSS 2019 results on December 8, 2020. The TIMSS 2019 report—TIMSS 2019 International Results in Mathematics and Science—will present student achievement in mathematics and science in the fourth and eighth grades, as well as home and school contexts and classroom contexts for learning in 64 countries and 8 benchmarking systems.

PIRLS 2021 Countries Participate in Field Test Scoring Training in Belgrade

National Research Coordinators convened in Belgrade, Serbia, from March 1st – March 6th for the 4th National Research Coordinators Meeting for PIRLS 2021. Hosted by Serbia’s Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, over 130 attendees gathered to prepare for the PIRLS 2021 field test and to train in scoring PIRLS constructed-response items.

In Morocco, Countries Review Report Exhibits and Prepare for Next Year’s Release of TIMSS 2019 Results

Representatives of the TIMSS countries met in Agadir, Morocco, in December 2019 for the 7th TIMSS 2019 National Research Coordinators Meeting, hosted by the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education, and Scientific Research. The participants reviewed their preliminary TIMSS 2019 data and draft exhibits for the TIMSS international report, which will be released in December 2020

In Rome, Countries Prepare for PIRLS 2021 Field Test

Representatives of the PIRLS countries met in Rome, Italy, in June 2019 for the PIRLS 2021 3rd National Research Coordinators Meeting. The participants reviewed PIRLS 2021 passages, items, scoring guides, draft questionnaires, and survey operations for the field test, which will be conducted in March-April 2020. Roberto Ricci, Head of Research at INVALSI, welcomed the attendees to Rome.

Spotlight: Italy

Italy has participated in PIRLS since the first administration in 2001. In fact, PIRLS was Italy’s first major primary school reading assessment, preceding the inception of its national assessments. “PIRLS was one of the main sources of inspiration for the construction of our national framework,” according to Laura Palmerio, Italy’s National Research Coordinator for PIRLS and TIMSS and Head of the International Surveys Unit at INVALSI.

Schools Share Experiences with Debuting eTIMSS on Social Media

IEA's eTIMSS is making its global debut with TIMSS 2019. A digital version of TIMSS, eTIMSS provides interactive assignments that are colorful, animated, and dynamic, delivering an engaging and visually attractive assessment experience that can motivate students. Here are some schools from around the world that have shared their experiences with eTIMSS on social media.

TIMSS 2019 Countries Train in Constructed Response Scoring in Limassol

TIMSS 2019 countries assembled in Limassol, Cyprus, in March to train in scoring constructed response mathematics and science items. The Deputy Director General of Cyprus’ Ministry of Education and Culture, Athina Michailidou, welcomed and addressed more than 200 representatives from 60-plus countries to the TIMSS 2019 6th National Research Coordinators Meeting.

PIRLS 2021 Countries Develop Items and Scoring Guides in Taipei City

PIRLS 2021 countries gathered in Taipei City, Taiwan, in December to review reading passages and draft achievement items for the field test. The PIRLS 2021 2nd National Research Coordinators Meeting was hosted by Taiwan's National Academy for Educational Research, and Nan-Shyan Chu, Chief Secretary of Taiwan's Ministry of Education, delivered the welcome address.

Spotlight: Taiwan

Since 2006, Taiwan has used PIRLS data to inform and shape how reading is taught in schools. Over the next 10 years Taiwan saw reading achievement rise, and in 2016 officials assessed students’ online reading skills with ePIRLS. Hwawei Ko, PIRLS National Research Coordinator since 2006, reflected on how Taiwan used PIRLS results to change the way children learn reading in schools.

TIMSS Southern Hemisphere Countries Participate In Scoring Training in South Africa

Hosted by The Human Sciences Research Council, IEA's TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College conducted training in Cape Town, South Africa, for scoring mathematics and science constructed response items for the TIMSS 2019 Data Collection.

Countries Finalize TIMSS 2019 Data Collection Materials in Stockholm

TIMSS 2019 countries met in Stockholm, Sweden, to finalize the assessment materials for data collection. The TIMSS 2019 5th National Research Coordinators Meeting was hosted by Skolverket, the National Agency for Education. Representatives of all participating countries spent the week reviewing mathematics and science items and problem solving and inquiry tasks, as well as scoring guides.

Spotlight: Sweden

With TIMSS 2015, education officials and researchers in Sweden saw the break in mathematics and science trends they had been waiting for. The country has participated in TIMSS since the assessment’s beginnings in 1995, with results that continued to decline each cycle. Officials have been analyzing the wealth of data from TIMSS 2015, and look eagerly toward TIMSS 2019.

PIRLS 2021 Reading Development Group Meets in Rotterdam

In May 2018, the PIRLS 2021 Reading Development Group (RDG) held its 1st Meeting in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The RDG reviewed the updated PIRLS 2021 Framework and Item Writing Guidelines, and reviewed and revised literary and informational passages for PIRLS 2021.

Explore the PIRLS 2016 Results and Try Taking ePIRLS Yourself

With 50 participating countries and 11 benchmarking entities spanning the globe, the PIRLS 2016 International Results in Reading provide a comprehensive picture of how well fourth grade children can read. The 2016 cycle also marked the inauguration of ePIRLS. Try ePIRLS out for yourself — read online texts and navigate through websites before answering questions posed by a teacher avatar.

AIR's RISE Webinar Delves into PIRLS & ePIRLS 2016 International Results

The webinar by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) explored the reading achievement of fourth grade students across the globe, and examined some United States results and trends in particular. It also featured the results of ePIRLS, an innovative assessment of online reading comprehension. PIRLS Executive Directors Ina V.S. Mullis and Michael O. Martin served as presenters.

TIMSS 2019 Countries Train in Item Scoring in Madrid

Hosted by the Instituto Nacional de Evaluación Educativa, nearly 200 representatives from the TIMSS 2019 countries met in Madrid, Spain, at the TIMSS 2019 4th National Research Coordinators Meeting. They spent the week training to score mathematics and science constructed-response items.

Spotlight: Spain

Having participated in TIMSS in 1995, 2011, and 2015, Spain’s education officials are keen on learning more about their students’ achievement by participating in TIMSS and eTIMSS 2019. “We’re very happy to participate because we really believe in assessment as a tool to improve our education,” said Carmen Tovar Sánchez, Director of the Instituto Nacional de Evaluación Educativa.

In Hamburg, PIRLS 2016 International Database Training and Launching PIRLS 2021

Participating countries concluded PIRLS and ePIRLS 2016 with International Database training, and kicked off PIRLS 2021 by updating the framework and reviewing informational and literary passages and context questionnaires.

Looking Back on PIRLS 2016 and Ahead to PIRLS 2021

IEA Hamburg researchers trained PIRLS 2016 countries in the IEA International Database Analyzer, commenting on the possibilities for analyzing PIRLS data. As PIRLS 2021 began, longtime National Research Coordinators reflected on 15 years of PIRLS.

PIRLS 2016 Release Held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

The International Release of PIRLS 2016 and ePIRLS 2016 was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on December 5, 2017. IEA and UNESCO officials delivered opening remarks. Ina V.S. Mullis and Michael O. Martin of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center presented the results of PIRLS and ePIRLS 2016.

TIMSS 2019 Countries Review Items and Scoring Guides in Melbourne

Representatives from the more than 60 countries in TIMSS 2019 traveled to Melbourne, Australia, in November 2017 to review mathematics and science items and scoring guides together, along with Problem Solving and Inquiry Tasks for eTIMSS 2019.

Spotlight: Australia

Australia has learned much about its students in the areas of mathematics and science education, with participation stretching to TIMSS' beginnings in 1995. “One of the big benefits of TIMSS is it provides us with background information that we don’t get from any other studies,” said Dr. Sue Thomson of ACER.

Denmark Prepares for PIRLS 2016 International Reports

As the PIRLS 2016 International Release approaches, Denmark is particularly busy preparing its national report, having opted in on all three fronts — PIRLS, PIRLS Literacy, and ePIRLS. National Research Coordinator Jan Mejding spoke about preparations for the report and what the results mean for Denmark.

Italy Analyzes 20 Years of TIMSS Mathematics and Science Trends

Italy has participated in IEA’s TIMSS since it was first launched in 1995 and amassed 20 years of achievement trends — the longest of any international educational assessment. For National Research Coordinator Laura Palmerio, the trends provide a wealth of data that can be used to analyze and improve education.

PIRLS 2016 Countries Conduct Final Review of Exhibits

PIRLS 2016 countries reviewed exhibits and draft international reports at the 8th National Research Coordinators Meeting in Riga, Latvia, in late June. Līga Lejiņa, State Secretary of Latvia's Ministry of Education and Science, addressed the meeting as it opened.

Spotlight: Latvia

When Latvia participated in the inaugural cycle of PIRLS in 2001, there was surprise and rejoicing over its unexpectedly high achievement. That elation gave way to concern in PIRLS 2006, when gender differences were extremely wide in favor of girls. As Latvia works to improve its national curriculum, education officials are looking to trends in the PIRLS 2016 report to inform their decisions.

Coming Soon: Results of PIRLS 2016 and ePIRLS 2016

Mark your calendars for the International Release! Learn more about PIRLS and the debuting ePIRLS assessment of online reading, and what to expect from the reports in December 2017. Here are some key facts and figures, as well as a more in-depth look.

TIMSS 2019 Countries Develop Mathematics and Science Items in Hamburg

At the TIMSS 2019 2nd National Research Coordinators Meeting in Hamburg, Germany, representatives of participating countries worked together to develop mathematics and science items for the assessment.

In Hamburg, TIMSS 2015 International Database Training and Launching TIMSS 2019

Hosted by the IEA in Hamburg, countries concluded TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 with International Database training, and kicked off TIMSS 2019 and eTIMSS 2019 with discussions of updating mathematics and science assessments.

PIRLS Countries Assemble to Review Exhibits in Agadir

Morocco's Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training hosted the PIRLS 2016 7th National Research Coordinators Meeting, attended by representatives of more than 50 countries in Agadir in December.

International Mathematics Achievement at Fourth Grade

TIMSS 2015 Release Marks 20 Years of Trends

IEA's TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College released the results of TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 on November 29, 2016. The release marked 20 years of trends for TIMSS, which was first conducted in 1995.

Graduating Into Profession Increasingly Rigorous For Teachers Worldwide, TIMSS 2015 Encyclopedia Finds

Across the world, requirements for becoming a teacher have become increasingly stringent and more technology is making its way into curricula and instruction, according to the TIMSS 2015 Encyclopedia, a comprehensive report of worldwide mathematics and science education.

More than 60 participating countries and benchmarking participants met in Québec City

In Québec City, Wrapping Up TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced 2015

TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced 2015 entered their final stages as representatives from IEA, the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, and more than 60 participating countries and benchmarking participants met in Québec City to review draft International Reports and exhibits.

SMIRC committee met in Seoul, Korea, in May to review hundreds of mathematics and science items

SMIRC Conducts Scale Anchoring For TIMSS In Seoul

The Science and Mathematics Item Review Committee (SMIRC) met in Seoul, Korea, in May to conduct scale anchoring for TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced. SMIRC members reviewed student performance on hundreds of mathematics and science items before writing descriptions of the International Benchmark levels.

Coming Soon: Results of of TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015

Mark your calendars for the International Release! Whether you are new to TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced and their extensive scope, or simply looking ahead to the International Release in November, here are some key facts and figures.

PIRLS and ePIRLS Around the World

From Canada to Bahrain to Finland and more, Twitter is abuzz as schools participate this spring in PIRLS 2016 and ePIRLS 2016. Take a look at the reading and electronic reading assessments in action at schools across the globe.

PIRLS Scoring Training a Success in Hong Kong

Representatives of participating PIRLS countries and benchmarking participants convened in Hong Kong SAR from late February to early March. They trained together in scoring the PIRLS 2016 and ePIRLS 2016 assessments, which are now being conducted around the world.

Spotlight: Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong SAR has been a success story in reading achievement — following a modest performance in PIRLS 2001, it shot to the top in PIRLS 2006 and stayed there in PIRLS 2011. Dr. Shek Kam Tse of the University of Hong Kong reflected on Hong Kong's path to success and looked ahead to PIRLS 2016.

TIMSS Countries Collaborate in Lisbon

Representatives from more than 60 participating countries and benchmarking participants met in Lisbon, Portugal. Together, they reviewed exhibits for the TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Reports and Encyclopedia, and were introduced to eTIMSS and LaNA, IEA's Literacy and Numeracy Assessment.

Spotlight: Portugal

In a nation that prizes its tradition of learning, educators have seen student achievement rise in recent years but continue to evaluate and seek ways to improve. Dr. João Marôco, of the Instituto de Avaliação Educativa, I.P., shared thoughts on what Portugal has learned from previous assessments, and what his country hopes to learn from TIMSS and PIRLS for 2015 and 2016.

A Meeting of the PIRLS Minds in Jyväskylä

The PIRLS NRC meeting August 9–14 was a huge success as representatives of participating countries and benchmarking participants gathered in Jyväskylä, Finland, to make final decisions about the contents of the PIRLS 2016 assessment, including PIRLS, PIRLS Literacy, and ePIRLS.

Spotlight: Finland

PIRLS 2011 showed that Finland is one of the countries with the best readers at the primary level. Education officials and researchers there, however, have not grown complacent. Jouni Välijärvi and and Inga Arffman of the Finnish Institute for Educational Research reflect on PIRLS 2011 findings and eagerly anticipate PIRLS 2016.

ePIRLS: From Vision to Reality

IEA's ePIRLS—a forward-thinking computer-based extension to PIRLS in 2016—provides an opportunity for countries to examine how well their fourth grade students read, comprehend, interpet, and critique online information. After a successful field test in April 2015, the ePIRLS assessment will be conducted during the 2015–2016 school year.