Benchmarking learning systems: student performance assessment in international context

High-performing nations integrate curriculum, instruction, and assessment to improve both teaching and learning. As a large and increasing part of their examination systems, they use open-ended performance tasks and school-based assessments to give students opportunities to develop 21st century skills: The abilities to find and organize information to solve problems, frame and conduct investigations, analyze and synthesize data, and apply learning to new situations. This paper illustrates how several nations integrate these assessments into the curriculum to create stronger learning for both students and teachers, resulting in higher and more equitable achievement.