PISA Practice Test
Updated for October 2026
What changed for PISA in 2026
- 8 September 2026 – PISA 2025 results released: the OECD launched Volume I of the PISA 2025 report at 9:30 CEST. Over 760,000 15-year-olds in 91 countries and economies took part, the largest PISA to date. (source)
- Headline findings: across OECD countries average reading scores fell 28 points and mathematics 22 points between 2015 and 2025, the lowest averages PISA has recorded; science was stable between 2022 and 2025. One in five 15-year-olds is now a low performer in all three subjects (up from 16% in 2022). (source)
- PISA 2025 domains: science was the major (focus) domain, with reading and mathematics as minor domains, plus a new innovative domain, Learning in the Digital World (LDW), assessed for the first time. (source)
- More PISA 2025 volumes in 2027: results on self-regulated learning in a digital world and on English as a foreign language (22 participating countries and economies) will be published in 2027. (source)
- How students take part (US, spring 2025): PISA is a school-based sample survey. In the US, 144 schools and 4,625 students born in 2009 (aged 15 years 3 months to 16 years 2 months) were selected in a two-stage sample; testing ran 9 April to 2 June 2025, computer-based, about 60 minutes per assessed domain. Individuals cannot register to sit PISA and no individual student scores are ever reported. (source) (source)
- Cycle change: PISA moves from a three-year to a four-year cycle after 2025. The next assessment is PISA 2029, with results expected in 2030. (source)
- PISA 2029 plans: the 10th edition keeps the two-hour computer-based test in reading, mathematics and science, with reading as the focal domain and Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy (MAIL) as the new innovative domain; participation agreements are being signed in mid-2026. (source) (source)
- Last verified: September 16, 2026 against the OECD. (source)
Prepare for the PISA assessment with our free PISA test questions covering all three core domains: reading literacy, mathematical literacy, and scientific literacy. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is administered by the OECD roughly every three years (moving to a four-year cycle after PISA 2025, with the next round in 2029) to evaluate how well 15-year-old students can apply knowledge to real-world situations. There is no PISA test in 2026 itself: 2026 is the year the PISA 2025 results were published, and the next round of PISA tests is PISA 2029.
Our practice tests mirror the PISA question format — complex stimulus texts, data interpretation charts, and scenario-based problems — giving you the most realistic preparation available online. For more exam practice, try our ICAS practice test.
For a fuller set of questions on this topic, see our test pisa resource.
For a fuller set of questions on this topic, see our pisa test resource.
PISA Practice Test Questions
Prepare for the PISA - Program for International Student Assessment exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Confirm your exam appointment and location Bring required identification documents Arrive 30 minutes early to check in Read each question carefully before answering Flag difficult questions and return to them later Manage your time — don't spend too long on one question Review flagged questions before submitting How to Use These PISA Test Questions
Start with the domain you find most challenging. Each practice quiz presents questions in the same applied-knowledge style as the real PISA assessment. Review explanations after each question to understand the reasoning process, not just the answer.
Students aiming for top PISA performance should focus on reading between the lines of complex texts, interpreting graphs and statistical data, and reasoning through multi-step scientific problems. Students also find our EOG practice test helpful for building exam-ready skills.
PISA Test Sample Questions: What the Released OECD Units Look Like
The most reliable sample questions are the units the OECD itself retires and publishes after each cycle. Its official PISA test page offers interactive versions: reading units based on PISA 2018 such as Chicken Forum, Rapa Nui, Cow's Milk and Galapagos Islands; mathematics units based on PISA 2022 such as Car Purchase, Moving Truck and Solar System; and science units based on PISA 2025 such as Fast Fashion, Energy Source, Loss of Biodiversity and Black Soldier Fly. Because they run in a web browser, these released units are the closest thing to an official "test PISA en ligne" (online PISA test) that anyone can take. A separate PDF collects the released Learning in the Digital World items, the innovative domain assessed for the first time in PISA 2025.
These units show what PISA exam questions actually demand. Each begins with a stimulus (a forum thread, a set of charts, a short science briefing) followed by questions that move from multiple choice to open responses where the student must justify a claim with evidence. Nothing is pure recall: a mathematics item asks you to compare offers or extend a pattern; a science item asks you to interpret data or judge an experimental design.
Because PISA test results by country are reported as averages on a scale originally set so that the OECD mean was 500, with proficiency levels from 1 to 6, released units are the most realistic gauge of where a student sits. The free quizzes above follow the same stimulus-then-question structure, so practice can continue beyond the limited number of released items.
PISA Test Results by Country: PISA 2025 Rankings Released in 2026
The PISA 2025 results, published by the OECD on 8 September 2026, cover 91 countries and economies (38 OECD members and 53 partners). B-S-J-Z (China), the provinces of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, had the highest mean scores in science (597 points) and mathematics (612 points), while Singapore had the highest mean score in reading (535 points).
| Country / economy | Science | Reading | Mathematics |
|---|
| B-S-J-Z (China) | 597 | 527 | 612 |
| Singapore | 560 | 535 | 563 |
| Macao (China) | 541 | 501 | 549 |
| Chinese Taipei | 540 | 508 | 546 |
| Japan | 538 | 503 | 525 |
| United States* | 502 | 490 | 463 |
| OECD average | 482 | 461 | 463 |
Across the OECD, PISA 2025 recorded the lowest averages so far in all three core domains. Between 2022 and 2025 reading fell by about 14 points and mathematics by 9, while science was broadly stable. Over the longer 2015-2025 period, the OECD reading average dropped from 489 to 461 and mathematics from 485 to 463. Scores are national averages from a sample, so small gaps between neighbouring countries are often not statistically significant. *The United States has limited reporting because some PISA sampling standards were not met.
Source: OECD, PISA 2025 Results (Volume I), Table I.1.
Pros
- Validates your knowledge and skills objectively
- Increases job market competitiveness
- Provides structured learning goals
- Networking opportunities with other certified professionals
Cons
- No individual student scores are ever reported
- Exam anxiety can affect performance
- Requires dedicated preparation time
- Cannot be taken on request: only randomly sampled schools and students participate
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Validates your knowledge and skills objectively | No individual student scores are ever reported |
| Increases job market competitiveness | Exam anxiety can affect performance |
| Provides structured learning goals | Requires dedicated preparation time |
| Networking opportunities with other certified professionals | Cannot be taken on request: only randomly sampled schools and students participate |
PISA Test Key Facts
📚 🎓 Who takes the PISA test?
PISA assesses 15-year-old students, chosen through a school-based sample in each participating country or economy. In PISA 2025 more than 760,000 students in 91 countries and economies took part.
🎯 📝 Can I register to sit PISA myself?
No. Only schools and students selected in the sample participate, and there is no registration or fee. No individual student scores are ever reported.
💡 ⏱️ How long is the PISA test?
The core PISA test is a two-hour, computer-based assessment. Students also complete a background questionnaire about their home, school and attitudes to learning.
🔑 📚 Which subjects does PISA cover?
Every cycle assesses reading, mathematics and science, with one domain as the major focus. PISA 2025 focused on science and added Learning in the Digital World as a new innovative domain.
📝 📅 When were the PISA 2025 results published?
The OECD released Volume I of the PISA 2025 report on 8 September 2026. Further volumes on self-regulated learning in a digital world and on English as a foreign language follow in 2027.
⭐ 📊 How is PISA scored?
Results are reported on a scale originally set with an OECD average of 500 and a standard deviation of 100. Students are also placed on proficiency levels from Level 1 to Level 6.
📚 🔁 How often does PISA run?
PISA ran every three years from 2000 to 2018, then in 2022 and 2025. After 2025 it moves to a four-year cycle, so the next assessment is PISA 2029 with results expected in 2030.
🎯 📖 What does a PISA reading question look like?
Reading units start with a real-world text such as a forum thread or an article, then ask students to locate information, interpret meaning and evaluate the reliability of what they read. Released examples include Chicken Forum and Rapa Nui.
💡 🔬 What does a PISA science question look like?
Science units present a scenario such as Fast Fashion or Loss of Biodiversity and ask students to explain phenomena, evaluate an investigation or interpret data. Reasoning matters more than memorised facts.
🔑 💰 Is financial literacy part of PISA?
Financial literacy is an optional domain that participating countries can add to the core test. The OECD has released financial literacy units such as New Bike and Selling Online for practice.
Sample PISA - Program for International Student Assessment Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free PISA - Program for International Student Assessment practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A student selected to participate in PISA has a formally documented disability and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that allows for accommodations like extended time. Which of the following is a primary way the PISA administration addresses this student's needs while maintaining standardization?
- A. The student is automatically excluded to ensure data is comparable.
- B. The student's classroom teacher is allowed to paraphrase difficult questions.
- C. The student may be offered a separate testing session with extended time or the shorter 'Une Heure' (UH) assessment form.
- D. The student is given the test with all other students but their results are flagged and not included in the national average.
Answer: C. The student may be offered a separate testing session with extended time or the shorter 'Une Heure' (UH) assessment form.
PISA aims to be as inclusive as possible. For students with special educational needs, accommodations such as separate testing sessions and extended time are permitted. For students who cannot participate in the full two-hour assessment, a special one-hour test form (the 'Une Heure' or UH form) is available.
A student is presented with two online articles about a recent international trade agreement. One article, from a government agency, highlights the economic benefits. The other, from a non-governmental organization, focuses on the negative impact on small farmers. The PISA cognitive assessment of global competence would most likely ask the student to:
- A. State their personal feelings about the trade agreement.
- B. Evaluate the purpose and intended audience of each source to understand their different perspectives.
- C. Memorize the key statistics presented in both articles.
- D. Choose which article is more interesting to read.
Answer: B. Evaluate the purpose and intended audience of each source to understand their different perspectives.
A key cognitive process in the PISA global competence assessment is the ability to evaluate information, sources, and perspectives. This involves recognizing that sources have different purposes and biases which influence how they present information. This skill is crucial for making sense of complex global issues by analyzing data and arguments from multiple viewpoints.
A student is working on a group project with an exchange student from a culture where it is considered impolite to directly disagree with others in a group setting. The exchange student remains quiet and nods during brainstorming, even when they seem hesitant. The most globally competent approach for the first student to take is to:
- A. Privately and respectfully ask the exchange student for their thoughts, creating a comfortable space for them to share.
- B. Directly ask the exchange student in front of the group why they are not contributing ideas.
- C. Assume the exchange student's silence means they agree with all the ideas presented.
- D. Report to the teacher that the exchange student is not participating in the project.
Answer: A. Privately and respectfully ask the exchange student for their thoughts, creating a comfortable space for them to share.
This scenario assesses the dimension of 'Engaging in open, appropriate, and effective interactions across cultures'. The correct approach demonstrates an awareness of potential cultural differences in communication styles and seeks a respectful and effective way to include the team member, rather than making assumptions or creating a confrontational situation.
A high school class is discussing the global impact of fast fashion. One student, whose family works in the textile industry, argues that it provides essential jobs in developing countries. Another student presents data on the industry's environmental pollution and poor labor conditions. A globally competent student would be best able to:
- A. Decide which of the two viewpoints is factually correct and argue against the other.
- B. Synthesize both perspectives to acknowledge the complex economic and ethical trade-offs involved.
- C. Conclude that the issue is too complex to have a valid opinion.
- D. Focus only on the environmental impact as it is the most significant global issue.
Answer: B. Synthesize both perspectives to acknowledge the complex economic and ethical trade-offs involved.
PISA's framework for global competence emphasizes the ability to understand and appreciate different perspectives and world views. This involves recognizing that complex global issues have multiple facets and that different stakeholders may have valid, though conflicting, viewpoints. Synthesizing these perspectives to understand the complexity demonstrates a higher level of cognitive skill than simply choosing one side.
Take the full PISA - Program for International Student Assessment practice test
PISA Questions and Answers
What is the PISA test?
The PISA test is the Programme for International Student Assessment, an OECD study that measures how well 15-year-old students apply reading, mathematics and science to real-world problems. It is a two-hour, mostly computer-based test given to a random sample of schools and students in each country. PISA tests rank education systems, not individuals, and were held every three years through 2025, moving to every four years after that.
Is there a PISA test in 2026?
No new PISA test is held in 2026. The latest round, PISA 2025, was taken by students in spring and summer 2025 (March to September in most countries), and the OECD published its results on 8 September 2026. Further PISA 2025 volumes on self-regulated learning and English as a foreign language follow in 2027. PISA then moves to a four-year cycle, so the next assessment is PISA 2029, with reading as the focus domain.
What are the PISA test results by country?
In PISA 2025, B-S-J-Z (China) had the highest mean scores in science (597) and mathematics (612), and Singapore had the highest in reading (535). Macao (China), Chinese Taipei, Japan, Estonia and Korea followed among the top systems. The OECD averages were 482 in science, 461 in reading and 463 in mathematics, the lowest PISA has recorded. The United States scored 502, 490 and 463 respectively.
Which countries participate in PISA?
91 countries and economies took part in PISA 2025: all 38 OECD member countries plus 53 partner countries and economies. Over 760,000 students sat the test, representing about 33 million 15-year-olds, making it the largest PISA so far. First-time participants included Armenia, Ecuador, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and the Kurdistan Region (Iraq). Participation is decided by governments, which sign up with the OECD for each cycle.
What subjects does the PISA assessment cover?
PISA assesses three core domains: reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. Each cycle tests one domain in depth while the other two are assessed in less depth. PISA 2025, whose results were released on 8 September 2026, had science as its major domain and added Learning in the Digital World as a new innovative domain. PISA 2029 will focus on reading and add Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy.
How is the PISA assessment scored?
PISA has no pass mark. Results are reported as country averages on scales originally set so that the OECD mean was 500 points with a standard deviation of 100, plus proficiency levels from below Level 1 up to Level 6. Level 2 is the baseline proficiency; Levels 5 and 6 mark top performers. In PISA 2025 the OECD averages were 482 in science, 461 in reading and 463 in mathematics.
Can you take the PISA test online?
You cannot sign up to take the official PISA test. Only randomly sampled schools and students in participating countries take it, and no individual scores are reported. You can, however, try a PISA test online for free: the OECD publishes released units such as Chicken Forum, Car Purchase and Fast Fashion as interactive browser versions, and the free PISA-style practice quizzes on this page follow the same stimulus-then-question format.
How can students prepare for PISA-style questions?
PISA does not test memorised facts, so the best preparation is applied practice. Work through reading passages that require evaluating sources, multi-step mathematics problems set in everyday contexts, and science tasks that ask you to interpret data or judge an experiment. Start with the released OECD units, then use free PISA-style practice tests and review each explanation to understand the reasoning, not just the right answer.