The United States participates in multiple international education studies and comparisons that provide information on various topics, including student achievement from kindergarten through 12th grade (Kâ12), teachers and principals, and adult skills. Click on the links below to access the topic-related resources from across the International Activities Program (IAP).
Student Achievement
Click one of these studies to learn more:
TIMSS Mathematics (Grade 4 & Grade 8)
TIMSS Advanced Mathematics (Grade 12)
PISA Mathematics Literacy (15-year-olds)
PIAAC Numeracy (Adults ages 16-74)
IELS Emergent Numeracy Skills (5-year-olds)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
TIMSS Science (Grade 4 & Grade 8)
TIMSS Physics (Grade 12)
PISA Science Literacy (15-year-olds)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PIRLS Reading (Grade 4)
ePIRLS Online Informational Reading (Grade 4)
PISA Reading Literacy (15-year-olds)
PIAAC Literacy (Adults ages 16-74)
Released Literacy Assessment Items
Released Reading Components Items
IELS Emergent Literacy Skills (5-year-olds)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PISA Problem Solving (15-year-olds)
PISA Collaborative Problem Solving (15-year-olds)
PIAAC Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments (Adults ages 16-74)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PISA Financial Literacy (15-year-olds)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
ICILS Computer and Information Literacy and Computational Thinking (Grade 8)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
CivED Civic Knowledge (Grade 9)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
IELS Self-regulation (5-year-olds)
Click one of these studies to learn more:
IELS Social and Emotional Skills: Empathy (5-year-olds)
Teachers and Principals
Click one of these studies to learn more:
TALIS Teaching and Learning (Teachers and Principals of Students in Grades 7-9)
ICILS Computer and Information Literacy and Computational Thinking (Teachers of Students in Grade 8)
Teacher Pathways Data Story (ITPS, TALIS, TIMSS)
Adult Skills and Education
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PIAAC Numeracy (Adults ages 16-74)
Released Numeracy Assessment Items
U.S. Skills Map: State and County Indicators of Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PIAAC Literacy (Adults ages 16-74)
Released Literacy Assessment Items
Released Reading Components Items
U.S. Skills Map: State and County Indicators of Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PIAAC Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments (Adults ages 16-74)
Released Problem Solving Assessment Items
U.S. Skills Map: State and County Indicators of Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Click one of these studies to learn more:
PIAAC Prison Study (Adults ages 16â74)
Additional Resources
The Condition of Education presents international comparison indicators on topics such as international student assessments, enrollment rates, educational attainment, and education expenditures.
Chapter 6 of the Digest of Education Statistics contains tables on international comparisons of education, including on population, enrollment, and teachers; achievement, instruction, and school environment; attainment, degrees, and outcomes; skills of adults; and finances.