§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the conceptual difference is in the science and maths questions asked in the OECD(a) TIMSS and (b) PISA surveys; [65132]
(2) when the OECD PISA 2000 technical report will be published. [65136]
§ Mr. MilibandI have been asked to reply.
The OECD report, "Knowledge and Skills for Life", published in December 2001, made the distinction as follows. The assessment materials in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which was conducted in 1995 by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) among students in international grades 3–4, 7–8 and the final year of secondary school, and repeated in 1999 among students in the eighth grade only, were constructed on the basis of an analysis of the intended curriculum in each participating country, so as to cover the core material common to the curriculum in the majority of participating countries. The assessment materials in PISA 2000 covered the range of skills and competencies that were, in the respective assessment domains, considered to be crucial to an individual's capacity to fully participate in, and contribute meaningfully to, a successful modern society.
585WWe understand from OECD that the web version of the PISA technical report is likely to be available in July and the published version in August.