Administering PISA in your school

School Contact Checklist

 
BEFORE ASSESSMENT DAY:

As soon as possible and before March 2025:

• Read the “Before the assessment” section of the PISA administration website.
• Complete the School Information Form and submit it to your ministry/department of education.
  • If necessary, contact school or board/district IT support for assistance with device verification.
  • Inform school staff of assessment plans. 
• Complete the Student Identification Form and submit it to CMEC.

2 to 3 weeks before the assessment date:

• Receive test administrator (TA) call/email: confirm assessment date(s) and schedule a pre-assessment meeting.
• Reserve assessment room(s) and equipment for each session.
• Allocate staff for assessment day, including the IT specialist, if possible, for assistance setting up devices and troubleshooting.
• Receive assessment forms by email, print forms, and store them in a secure location at your school.
• Provide the school principal or designate with the School Questionnaire Login Form.
• During the pre-assessment meeting with the primary TA go through the Pre-assessment Meeting Checklist.
• Prepare and distribute the student and parent/guardian letters using templates found online or provided by the department/ministry of education.

A week before the assessment date:

• Remind students of the assessment date and location a few days prior to the assessment day. If possible, present the PISA informational video to students, which explains the value of participating.
• Set aside extra paper, pens, pencils, and calculators for students to use on assessment day, as well as some books/magazines for students who finish the assessment early.

 

ON ASSESSMENT DAY:

Before the assessment:

• Meet with the TA(s) at least one hour before the assessment start time.
• Review Student Tracking Form with the TA(s).
• Set up room, materials, and devices with the TA(s) and IT support staff.

After the assessment:

• Meet with the TA(s) and complete the following:
  • Discuss how the assessment administration went.
  • Secure all test materials until next session, if applicable.
  • Once all groups have participated in the assessments, determine whether a makeup session is required and set a date, if applicable.

Once the assessment has been fully administered:

• Review all completed assessment forms with the TA(s) before they return them to CMEC.
• If applicable, assist the TA in returning all loan laptops to CMEC, using the waybill provided.
• Confirm completion of the School Questionnaire. NB: the questionnaire must be completed online by the assessment date or by May 31, 2025, at the latest.
• Complete the School Feedback Survey.

Click here to download a printable version of the School Contact Checklist.