The 2012 PISA Test results are in and the results continue to show the high performance of The International School of Macao! The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international survey which aims to evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students. The PISA test is administered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
TIS students performed above the Macau average, OECD average and the Canadian average in all 3 test areas – Reading Literacy, Mathematical Literacy, and Scientific Literacy. These test results are another indicator of the effectiveness of the TIS program and the teaching strategies that we use. Overall Macau results saw significant increases in all three areas, demonstrating Macau’s commitment to improvement and willingness to invest in education.
|
Mathematical Literacy |
Reading Literacy |
Scientific Literacy |
|
| TIS |
548 |
539 |
543 |
| Canada |
518 |
523 |
525 |
| Macau |
538 |
509 |
521 |
| OECD |
494 |
497 |
501 |
Literacy in a Foreign Language
The PISA tests are conducted in the language of the school. As such, TIS students wrote the test in English, despite the fact that it is not the first language for approximately 75% of our students. Their high performance is a good preparation for the exams that they will write in grade 12 in English.
Literacy is Everybody’s Responsibility
TIS is committed to improving literacy within the school through all course subjects. Literacy has a significant effect on performance in school and post-secondary study. Students who read well tend to perform well in school and in university. TIS uses a multifaceted approach to teaching literacy. It is not just the responsibility of Language Arts teachers; rather all teachers are committed to improving literacy throughout the school.
One Type of Indicator
It is important to note that the PISA tests are just one indicator of the strength of a school or a country’s education. It focuses on a small sample of students (just 15-year-olds) and on specific skill sets in reading, mathematics and science every 3 years. It is not designed to measure equally important skills such as collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking skills, which are essential for the 21st Century.
To view results of the top performers in the PISA test, click here. To view the PISA results for all 65 participating countries, click here.