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.

• The Reading Assessment Framework is the foundation for the achievement portion of PIRLS 2026. It describes how PIRLS defines reading literacy and assesses reading achievement, based on two main purposes for reading (for literary experience and to acquire and use information) and four reading comprehension processes that serve those purposes.
• The Contextual Framework describes the information PIRLS 2026 collects about the contexts of students’ reading development, both in school and at home. It explains the rationale behind the factors investigated in the context questionnaires, which are administered to students, their parents, and education professionals.
• The Assessment Design describes the organization of the PIRLS 2026 reading assessment, including details about implementation of the group-adaptive design.