Why does the United States report different findings for the same subjects from different international assessments?
• At times, different assessments report different findings for the same subject. One obvious factor to consider when examining findings across assessments is that the grade or age levels of the students assessed may differ. Another factor is that studies also differ in the specific subject matter or skills emphasized, (e.g., reading, mathematics, science). An additional difference between assessments that can affect findings in terms of the U.S. position relative to other countries is the groups of countries involved in a study. The United States may appear to perform better or worse depending on the number and competitiveness of the other participating countries.
