International Comparisons of Student Learning Outcomes

Abstract

Parents, students and those who teach and run education systems seek good information on how well their education systems prepare students for life. Most countries monitor students’ learning in order to provide answers to this question. Comparative international assessments can extend and enrich the national picture by providing a larger context within which to interpret national performance. They have gained prominence, over recent years, since the benchmarks for public policy in education are no longer solely national goals or standards, but increasingly the performance of the most successful education systems internationally. International assessments can provide countries with information that allows them to identify areas of relative strengths and weaknesses and monitor the pace of progress of their education system. They can also stimulate countries to raise aspirations by showing what is possible in education, in terms of the quality, equity and efficiency of educational services provided elsewhere, and they can foster better understanding of how different education systems address similar problems.