Collection

International comparisons of education

International comparison studies of education including reports of England’s results in OECD PISA, and IEA TIMSS and PIRLS studies.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 30 September 2016
• Last updated: 17 January 2025 — See all updates

PISA survey reports

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international survey that evaluates education systems worldwide. It tests the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old pupils and offers insight on characteristics that influence their lives.

• PISA 2022: national report for England
  • 5 December 2023
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2018: national report for England
  • 14 January 2020
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2018 in England: additional analysis
  • 20 May 2021
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2015: national report for England
  • 21 November 2017
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2012 in England: additional analysis
  • 11 September 2015
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2012: national report for England
  • 1 April 2014
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2009: how does the social attainment gap in England compare with countries internationally?
  • 26 April 2012
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2009 study: how big is the gap? - A comparison of pupil attainment in England with the top-performing countries
  • 12 October 2011
  • Research and analysis
• PISA 2009: achievement of 15-year-olds in England
  • 7 December 2010
  • Research and analysis
• Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA): results for England - 2009
  • 7 December 2010
  • Official Statistics

TIMSS reports

Reports from IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) comparing the knowledge of pupils in mathematics and science at ages 10 and 14.

• Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023: England
  • 4 December 2024
  • Research and analysis
• Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2019: England
  • 8 December 2020
  • Research and analysis
• TIMSS 2015: national report for England
  • 29 November 2016
  • Research and analysis
• TIMSS 2011: mathematics and science achievement in England - brief
  • 12 November 2012
  • Research and analysis

PIRLS reports

Reports from IEA’s Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) comparing pupils in reading at age 10.

• PIRLS 2021: reading literacy performance in England
  • 27 September 2024
  • Research and analysis
• PIRLS 2016: reading literacy performance in England
  • 5 December 2017
  • Research and analysis
• PIRLS 2011: reading literacy performance in England
  • 12 November 2012
  • Research and analysis

PIAAC reports

Reports from the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).

• Adult skills international survey 2012
  • 8 October 2013
  • Research and analysis

IELS reports

Reports from the international early learning and child wellbeing study (IELS).

• International early learning and child wellbeing
  • 8 July 2021
  • Research and analysis

Other international education comparison studies

• Teachers in primary and secondary schools: TALIS 2018
  • 23 March 2020
  • Research and analysis
• Teachers in secondary schools: evidence from TALIS 2013
  • 2 November 2017
  • Research and analysis
• European survey on language competences: language proficiency in England
  • 14 February 2013
  • Research and analysis
• Young people's civic attitudes and practices
  • 25 November 2010
  • Research and analysis

Published 30 September 2016
Last updated 17 January 2025 + show all updates

1. 17 January 2025

   Added TALIS research to the collection and separated PIRLS and TIMSS reports.

2. 4 December 2024

   Added 'Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023: England'.

3. 5 December 2023

   Added 'PISA 2022: national report for England' to PISA survey reports section.

4. 16 May 2023

   Added 'PIRLS 2021: reading literacy performance in England' to the TIMSS and PIRLS reports section.

5. 10 February 2021

   Added 'PISA 2018 in England: additional analysis'.

6. 8 December 2020

   Added 'TIMSS 2019: national report for England'.

7. 3 December 2019

   Added PISA 2018: national report for England.

8. 5 December 2017

   Added PIRLS 2016: reading literacy performance in England

9. 6 December 2016

   Added 'PISA 2015: national report for England' to collection.

10. 29 November 2016

    Added report named 'TIMSS 2015: national report for England'.

11. 30 September 2016

    First published.