National and international assessment

British Columbia students take part in several national and international assessments. The results from these assessments help us to understand how B.C. is doing compared to other jurisdictions. National and international assessments are conducted on a random sample basis.

On this page:

• National assessment
• International assessments
• Questions and answers
• Connections between assessments
• Contact information

National assessments

National assessments are taken by students from across Canada. Results from these assessments allow for comparisons in student achievement over time and among the provinces. The three territories do not currently take part in national assessments, though the Yukon has participated in the past.

British Columbia participates in the following national assessment :

• Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP)

International assessments

International assessments are taken by students from around the world. The presentation of results is by jurisdiction. A jurisdiction is a country or a region (such as a province) with its own education system. International assessments results allow for the comparisons of student achievement over time, and among national and international jurisdictions. 

British Columbia participates in the following international assessments:

• Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
• Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Questions and answers

• QA's for National and International Assessment (PDF)

Connections between assessments

• Linking the British Columbia English Examination to the OECD Combined Reading Scale (PDF)
• Linking FSA 2008 Grade 4 Reading Results to PIRLS 2006
• Linking Provincial Students Assessments (PDF)

Contact Information

• Email:  NatIntQuestions@gov.bc.ca