PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study)

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an educational research study on children’s reading literacy achievement conducted in countries around the world. The first study was conducted in 35 countries during 2001. Now administered every five years, the study is designed to measure trends in the achievement of middle primary school students as well as providing countries with a snapshot of achievement at each cycle. The study involves New Zealand’s Year 5 students.

As well as assessing students, PIRLS also collects background information from the students, their parents/caregivers, their reading teachers, and from the principals of the schools at which they attend.

New Zealand took part in the second cycle of PIRLS, with the data collection for the main study completed in November 2005. Just over 40 countries and education systems around the world participated in this second cycle.  The international results were released in November 2007.

PIRLS is conducted under the auspices of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), which is an independent international co-operative of national research institutions and government agencies. The Ministry of Education’s Comparative Education Research Unit manages the implementation of the TIMSS studies in New Zealand.

For more information please refer to the PIRLS-2010/2011, PIRLS-2005/2006 and PIRLS-01 pages.

For further information on PIRLS you can visit the international PIRLS site maintained by Boston College: http://www.pirls.org/.

Latest Publications

PIRLS 2005/2006 in New Zealand: An overview of national findings from the second cycle of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

This document provides an overview of the national-level results from New Zealand's participation in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2005/2006. This report focuses on the reading literacy achievement of Year 5 students by their ethnicity, and their home and school context. PIRLS-2005/2006 was administered in New Zealand in November 2005.

Author:  Megan Chamberlain
Date published:  October 2008

PIRLS 2005/2006 in New Zealand: A Summary of National Findings

This brochure summarises some of the national level findings pertaining to Year 5 student's from their participation in the 2005/2006 PIRLS assessment.

Author:  Comparative Education Research Unit, Ministry of Education
Date published:  October 2008

Contact Us 

If you have any questions about PIRLS, please contact us on info.pirls@minedu.govt.nz or research.info@minedu.govt.nz, you may also contact New Zealand 's National Research Coordinator, PIRLS 2005/06 at.

International Sites of Interest