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Studies before 1995

Studies was conducted from 1959 to 1991. For those studies we provide data and documentation when these are available.

Table over studies before 1995

Years	Label	Name	Subject	Target population	N of education systems
1959-1962		The Pilot Twelve Country Study	Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Geography, Science, Non-verbal ability Mathematics	I:13-year-olds	12
1964	FIMS	First International Mathematics Study	Mathematics	I:13-year-olds; II:pre-university-year	12
1970-1971	SSS	Six Subject Study	Reading Comprehension, Science, Literature, French as foreign language,English as foreign language, Civic education	I:10-year-olds; II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school
1970-1971	SSS1	The Study of Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension	I:10-year-olds; II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	15
1970-1971	SSS2	The Study of Literature	Literature	II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	11
1971	SSS3	The Study of Civic Education	Civic education	I:10-year-olds; II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	10
1971	SSS4	The Study of French as Foreign Language	French as foreign language	II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	8
1971	SSS5	The Study of English as Foreign Language	English as foreign language	II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	9
1970-1971	SSS6, FISS	The First International Science Study	Science	I:10-year-olds; II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	19
1980-1981	SIMS	Second International Mathematics Study	Mathematics	I:10-year-olds; II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	20
1983-1984	SISS	Second International Science Study	Science	I:10-year-olds; II:14-year-olds; III:Final grade of secondary school	24
1985	WRC	Written Composition	Six types of writing	I:Grade 3; II:Grade 9; III:Grade 3 post sec	14
1990-1991	RL	Reading Literacy Study	Reading Literacy	I:9-year-olds; II:14-year-olds	31

Pilot Twelve-Country Study

The study was conducted in order to investigate the feasibility of undertaking more extensive investigations of educational achievement. Testing was carried out in the five areas of mathematics, reading comprehension, geography, science, and non-verbal ability. The data were collected in 1959–1960.

Target Population

The target population was 13-year-old students. In some countries, the national sample was only partially representative.

Participating Educational Systems

Belgium, England, Finland, France, Germany (FRG), Israel, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Yugoslavia.

Publications

Foshay, A.W., Thorndike, R.L., Hotyat, F., Pidgeon, D.A., & Walker, D.A. (1962). Educational Achievement of Thirteen-Year-Olds in Twelve Countries (downloadable from external website).