The document presents a sample test from the PISA exams given to 15-year-olds internationally to assess student achievement in mathematics. It summarizes the US performance on 42 questions from 2000 and 2003 exams, scoring above average on 12, equal on 1, and below average on 29. It discusses research arguing US curriculum emphasis on equality and accelerating low performers may disadvantage high-achieving students, and that improving math requires acknowledging student heterogeneity. Eight sample math questions are presented to test the reader's skills against international 15-year-olds.

1. Are you smarter than
a 10 th grader?

2. The following are mathematics questions developed by
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development in an attempt to monitor the outcomes of
education systems by measuring student achievement.
The PISA exams are administered every three years to
15 year olds in dozens of countries, including in the
U.S.

3. Of the 42 questions in the sample test pulled from the 2000 and 2003 PISA exams, the
U.S. scored above the OECD average on 12 questions, equal in one question and
below average on 29.
AEI adjunct scholar Jacob L. Vigdor of Duke University contends in a recent paper that
the overall low scores in math among U.S. students may be attributed to the emphasis
on equality of curriculum, which forces students of a similar age to study at the same
course level despite variations in aptitude. Vigdor suggests the emphasis on
accelerating poor- and moderate-performing students comes at the expense of high-
performing students, whose overall achievements are declining. He concludes that
“American students are heterogeneous, and a rational strategy to improve math
performance must begin with that premise.”

4. Take the test
The following questions are among those in the 2000 and 2003
exams. See how you stack up against the world’s 15 year olds.
(answers are provided at the end)

5. Question 1: Best car
Car Safety Fuel External Internal
Features Efficiency Appearance Fittings
(S) (F) (E) (T)
CA 3 1 2 3
M2 2 2 2 2
Sp 3 1 3 2
N1 1 3 3 3
KK 3 2 3 2

6. Question 1: Best car (continued)

7. Question 2: Skateboard
Product Price in zeds
Complete skateboard 82 or 84
Deck 40, 60 or 65
One set of four wheels 14 or 36
One set of trucks 16
One set of hardware (bearings, 10 or 20
rubber, pads, bolts and nuts)

8. Question 2: Skateboard (continued)

9. Question 3: Exchange rate

10. Question 4: Colored candies
7 Red
6
Orange
5
Yellow
4
3 Green
2 Blue
1 Pink
0 Purple
Brown

11. Question 5: Bookshelves

12. Question 6: Space station

13. Question 7: Rock concert

14. Question 8: Coins

15. Answer key and comparison chart to OECD and US averages

16. Answer key and comparison chart