The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an assessment designed to show how well students are able to apply the knowledge they have learned throughout their education. Created by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and designed by education experts around the world, the test has existed since 2000.
15-year-old students in Grade 10 are tested for proficiency in math, reading, and science. They are evaluated for their ability to comprehend their readings, work through math problems, and use reasoning to explain scientific phenomena. These rankings are an excellent indicator of the quality that educational systems offer. This year, the 2018 results have been released and Canada, once again, has ranked high on the list in all areas.
Continue reading to learn more about the excellent results achieved by Canadian schools.
The Rankings Achieved By Canadian High Schools
PISA tests students every 3 years, with the aim of seeing whether educational systems have improved since previous tests. It also provides a comparison amongst countries. The test not only looks at what students know about the subjects of science, reading, and math, but also how they use that knowledge and can apply it. This is an important aspect of performance to evaluate, as it indicates how well students truly understand their course material. It also shows how well students will be able to apply the skills and knowledge they learn in school to their lives, future studies and careers.
Canadian students have shown that they can apply their knowledge, rather than simply memorize facts
The 2018 test focused on the reading portion in particular. Out of the 79 countries that participated, Canada ranked 6th for reading scores, well ahead of the United States (13th), the United Kingdom (14th), New Zealand (12th), Ireland (8th), and Australia (16th). In fact, Canada placed above all five of these countries in every aspect of the test, including mathematics and science. In math, Canada ranked 12th, above Ireland (21st), New Zealand (27th), The United States (37th), the United Kingdom (18th), and Australia (29th). Finally, in science, Canadian students ranked 8th, again well ahead of Ireland (22nd), New Zealand (12th), the United States (18th), the United Kingdom (14th), and Australia (17th).
For parents looking for a quality international education for their child, this means that choosing a Canadian high school for international students places them in an educational system that has a proven track record of excellence.
Canadian High Schools Help Students Reach Their Full Potential
PISA tests students’ ability to solve problems, rather than how well they can recite or memorize facts learned in school. This is a way of assessing the concrete results of their education. Data from this test shows where students are most capable of solving unexpected problems using the skills, resources, and knowledge they have. The students who can do this best are well equipped to meet future challenges, as they’ll be able to tackle problems in creative, intelligent, and efficient ways.
If you’re looking for an international student program in Canada for your child, you’re in the right place. Your child will be supported in an educational system that prepares students for the future. When students are accustomed to facing new experiences and using what they’ve learned to address a variety of diverse situations, they can feel confident tackling new challenges and unexpected situations. In fact, the 2018 PISA results noted that “Over 80 per cent of Canadian students are confident or very confident about their reading abilities, and students who are more confident tend to have higher scores, and vice versa.”
Are you considering an international education program for your child?
Contact CAPS-I for more information about public Canadian high schools.