Sixty-five countries and economies took part in PISA 2012. Over half a million 15-year-old students, including 21,000 Canadians, were tested on their skills and knowledge in three core learning areas: mathematics, reading, and science.
The international report shows Canadian students rank among the best in the world. Only nine countries and economies performed better than Canada in mathematics, four in reading, and only seven in science
The main focus of PISA 2012 was mathematics, which was assessed through:
- three mathematics processes: formulating situations mathematically; employing mathematical concepts, facts, procedures, and reasoning; and interpreting, applying, and evaluating mathematical outcomes;
- four content areas: quantity, space and shape, change and relationships, and uncertainty and data; and
- four contexts: personal, educational, societal, and scientific.
Reading and science were assessed as minor domains.
Canada is releasing its own companion report, Measuring Up: Canadian Results of the OECD PISA Study, to provide further information on student performance at the provincial level. Results are compared to other participating countries and across Canadian provinces.
Canada's participation in PISA 2012 was made possible through close collaboration among Canada's three partners, CMEC, Employment and Social Development Canada, and Statistics Canada.