The Answer Sheet: International Tests


Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 01/15/2013

U.S. scores on international test lowered by sampling error: report
By Valerie Strauss
A sampling error in the U.S. administration of the most recent international test known as PISA resulted in average scores being lower than they should have been, according to a new report that questions just how much these international exams reveal about American public education.

By Valerie Strauss  |  01:22 PM ET, 01/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  International Tests, Results Questioned

Posted at 12:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012

What international test scores really mean
By Valerie Strauss
Here we go again. New international test scores were released today and their meaning are in the eye of the interpreter. Here are some headlines from different new sites with some different takes on the results -- and one headline you didn't see but should.

By Valerie Strauss  |  12:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  International Tests, Test Scores, The Headline You Didn't See

Posted at 04:43 PM ET, 12/14/2010

How Shanghai topped PISA rankings -- and why it's not big news in China
By Valerie Strauss
Q) How did Shanghai students, participating in a high-profile international exam for the first time, able to land at the top of the math, reading and science rankings? A) An obsession with test taking, to the exclusion of a lot of other things. Diane Ravitch and Yong Zhao explain.

By Valerie Strauss  |  04:43 PM ET, 12/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Standardized Tests | Tags:  Yong Zhao, diane ravitch, finland and pisa, international test comparisons, international test rankings, international test scores, pisa, pisa rankings, pisa results, shanghai and pisa, shanghai students, u.s. performance on international tests, u.s. performance on pisa