PIRLS, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, is one of the core studies of IEA. Directed by the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College and conducted every five years since 2001, PIRLS is recognized as the global standard for assessing trends in reading achievement at the fourth grade and provides internationally comparative data on how well children read. Trend results across assessments permit countries to monitor the effectiveness of their educational systems in a global context.
This cycle marks the transition to digital assessment. Approximately half the countries evaluated students using a state-of-the-art digital assessment with engaging and interactive reading assessment materials, including simulated online projects with multiple websites, videos, and navigational features such as links and pop-ups.
For more information on the passages used in the digital assessment, see the demo videos on the IEA PIRLS 2021 YouTube playlist.
There are a wealth of publications that present and use data from PIRLS 2021 which include:
- PIRLS 2021 International Report
- PIRLS 2021 Encyclopedia: Education Policy in Curriculum and Reading
- PIRLS 2021 Assessment Frameworks
- PIRLS 2021 Technical Report: Methods and Procedures
- PIRLS 2021 Infographics Presentation
- PIRLS Insights: COVID-19 Research Resources in PIRLS 2021
- PIRLS Insights: Aspects of Student Well-Being and Reading Achievement in PIRLS 2021
- IEA Compass: Briefs in Education: Why Boys May Need More Support in Building Their Reading Motivation
Find out more about PIRLS