OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Indigenous students

How did Indigenous students compare to Non-Indigenous students?

In 2000, Australia took part in the inaugural OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Approximately 500 Australian Indigenous students were assessed in PISA, providing a representative sample of the 15-year-old Indigenous population.

Australian Indigenous students were compared to other Australian students and in relation to other countries' students. Some of the characteristics of the Indigenous students were also examined.

The key findings were:

• Australia 's Indigenous students performed at a lower level than the non-Indigenous students in the three assessment areas - reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. Their results were below the OECD mean.

• Gender differences were similar to the other Australian students, with females outperforming the males in reading literacy. No significant gender differences were found in mathematical or scientific literacy.

• Results using the Reading Proficiency Levels show an over-representation of students in the lower levels (35 per cent) and an under-representation at the highest proficiency level (8 per cent). However, 40 per cent of Indigenous students performed at Level 3 or better.

• The influence of home background factors on performance was examined. Resources, such as books in the home, were fewer in homes of Indigenous students than in non-Indigenous students' homes. The mean socioeconomic status of Indigenous students was lower than that of non-Indigenous students. There was, however, a higher level of equity, with less difference in performance between low and high socioeconomic status Indigenous students than for the performance between low and high socioeconomic status non-Indigenous students.

• In the learning environment, Indigenous students reported fewer disciplinary problems in their English lessons and they had a more positive sense of belonging at school than the non-Indigenous students. They also reported spending less time on homework.

• Differences were found in the learning strategies, learning preferences and behaviours of Indigenous students compared to non-Indigenous students. Indigenous students had less preference for a competitive learning environment. They were also less likely to use elaboration and control strategies.

The full version of the report on Australian Indigenous students in PISA 2000 can be downloaded from the reports page.