INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SYSTEMS PISA, TIMSS: SYSTEM OF TASKS AND THEIR ANALYSIS

Abstract

In the last 20 years, international surveys assessing learning in reading, mathematics and science have been headline news because they put countries in rank order according to performance. The three most well-known surveys are TIMSS, PISA and PIRLS. The main difference between TIMSS and PISA is type of sample and focus of research. Pupils of the 4th and 8th classes take part in TIMSS. Only 15-year-old pupils of schools (7–12 classes) and colleges participate in PISA. TIMSS measures the academic knowledge (What? Where? When?), 80 % of the TIMSS tasks are directed to reproduction of knowledge. PISA measures functional competences – ability to effectively apply knowledge in various life situations, to logically think and draw valid conclusions (Why? What for? As?) to interpret information schedules and charts, etc. Our teenagers know the school program in biology, but don’t understand what GMO is. They are not bad in calculations, but have problems with statistics... Recently was published results of PISA-2015, sample is more than 400 thousand teenagers from 57 countries.