A short synthesis of findings from our large education studies Publications
Publication Details
This report provides a short synthesis of the six large scale sample-based research projects that monitor the performance of the New Zealand education system – PISA, PIRLS, TIMSS, TALIS, Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (replacing NMSSA) and PIAAC.
Author(s): Educational Measurement and Assessment, Ministry of Education
Date Published: May 2023
Summary
- In aiming for a system that delivers a world class education to all learners these studies are our most credible evidence. They tell us how our system is performing against both our own curriculum goals and relative to education systems of other countries and over time.
- In addition to giving achievement measures of learners, they collect contextual background information from students, teachers, principals, and parents. Student wellbeing and their schooling experiences, attitudes and beliefs are also included in surveys.
Figure 1: shows the year levels and domains each one covers. TALIS is the only study which does not have an assessment component.
Study | NZ Operation | Frequency | Current sample size | Who is measured | What is measured | Started |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NMSSA National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement | Otago University and NZCER | Annual | ~ 2,000 per level |
Year 4 and
Year 8 | All 8 areas of NZ Curriculum over a 5 year cycle | 2012-2022 |
Curriculum Insights and Progress Study | Otago University and NZCER | Annual | 1. School visit - 1200 per Year level 2. Cohort Study - 1200 3. Rapid Research Panel - 40 Schools | Year 3,6 and 8 | 1. School visits – All 8 areas of the NZ Curriculum over 4 years 2. Cohort study – Literacy and Numeracy every year 3. School Panel – qualitative feedback about curriculum and assessment matters. | 2023 |
PIRLS Progress in International Reading Literacy Study | Educational Measurement and Assessment, MOE | 5 years | ~ 5,500 | Year 5 | Reading literacy Student, parent, teacher and principal questionnaire | 2001 |
TIMSS Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study | Educational Measurement and Assessment, MOE | 4 years | ~ 5,000 Y5 ~ 6,000 Y9 | Year 5 and Year 9 | Mathematics and Science Student, parent, teacher and principal questionnaires | 1994 |
PISA Programme for International Student Assessment | Educational Measurement and Assessment, MOE | 3 years Moving to 4 years after 2025 | ~ 6,200 190 schools | 15 year olds | Reading, Mathematics and Science One innovative domain each cycle eg. Creative thinking in 2022 Student and principal questionnaire | 2000 |
TALIS Teaching and Learning International Survey | Educational Measurement and Assessment, MOE | 6 years | ~ 2,200 teachers ~ 190 principals | Teachers and Principals of Years 7-10 In 2024 expanded to ECE - Years 10. | Working conditions, job satisfaction, teaching/ learning environment. | 2013 |
PIAAC Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies | GAVC, MOE | 10 years | 7000 | 16-65 | Adult literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills. | 2014 |
Latest Results & Trends
| Year 4 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Age 15 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Measure | % achieving at or above expected curriculum level | % at Intermediate International | % achieving at or above expected curriculum level | % at Intermediate International | % at or above Proficiency level 2 |
Reading | 63% | 71% | 56% | 79% | |
Writing | 63% | 35% | |||
Mathematics | 82% | 56% | 42% | 53% | 71% |
Science | 94% | 64% | 20% | 63% | 80% |
Social Studies | 73% | 37% | |||
Health & PE | 87% | 33% | |||
The Arts | 61% | 52% | |||
Technology | 73% | 53% | |||
Excellence Story | While most Year 4 primary students achieved at the expected New Zealand curriculum level in maths and science, primary achievement at Year 5 is mediocre compared internationally. In reading, NMSSA shows our achievement is lower than most other learning areas of the curriculum and internationally PIRLS shows our Year 5’s are lower than most English-speaking countries. | ||||
Equity Story | New Zealand has one of the largest gaps between the highest and lowest-scoring students, who generally come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and this has not improved over time. This extends to Pacific and ākonga Māori being impacted the most. | ||||
Well-being Story | The percentage of New Zealand students that experience bullying is greater than most international peers. Sense of belonging and feelings of safety at school, while similar to international averages, has declined over the years. | ||||
Next Release | July 2024 (Literacy and Numeracy) | Dec 2024 (TIMSS 2023) | Sept 2024 (English and Social Sciences) | Dec 2026 (PISA 2025) |
Increase since last cycle Increase since first cycle
Decrease since last cycle Decrease since first cycle
PISA Ranking
| OECD countries/economies (37) | All participating countries/economies (81) | ||||
Subject | Range of ranks | Simple rank | Range of ranks | Simple rank | ||
Mathematics | 7th to 28th | 19th | 11th to 33rd | 23rd | ||
Reading | 3rd to 12th | 7th | 3rd to 17th | 10th | ||
Science | 4th to 20th | 7th | 8th to 25th | 11th |
Note: Luxembourg, the 38th OECD country, did not participate in PISA 2022.
Notes about ranking:
- ‘Simple Rank’ is the rank order of each country’s average score in either Reading, Maths or Science.
- However, a country’s PISA score is actually the mid-point within a range. The range comes from the margin of error allowed for due to the study being sample based.
- Where countries are close in score so that their ranges actually overlap, we cannot say (without perfect measurement) that they scored differently or in order of the simple rank.
- The range of ranks are calculated using simulation methods and a 97.5% confidence level.
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