PISA Foreign Language Assessment
Cambridge English has partnered with OECD to develop the English language tests for the first PISA Foreign Language Assessment
About PISA Foreign Language Assessment
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international survey conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to assess the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science. In 2025, the areas assessed will be joined by an optional assessment of foreign language skills, starting with English.
The first cycle of the Foreign Language Assessment (FLA) will see thousands of 15-year-old students worldwide tested in English as a foreign language in reading, listening and speaking.
Cambridge is working with OECD to develop the foreign language assessment, which will be based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), a widely recognized framework for language proficiency. The assessment will be computer-based and will include tasks that measure reading, listening and speaking skills.
The European Commission is assisting with expertise built on previous work and co-funding the technical design, framework, questionnaire development and pilot.
Cambridge’s role
Working together with OECD, we bring our unique combination of assessment expertise, research capability and extensive portfolio of international benchmarking tools.
In close collaboration with OECD, we are developing the English language tests for the first PISA FLA which will be a game changer for English language education all over the world.
It will give the world unprecedented data and insights into what makes effective English language teaching and learning in different school systems.
“We’ll need data to help us all stay ahead in English language learning and assessment. That’s just one of the many reasons we’re delighted to be working with Andreas and the team at OECD on the PISA FLA, because it will give us a glimpse into the future and provide this essential data for English language learning and teaching. And with the right insights, the possibilities are endless”
Fran Woodward
Global Managing Director of English
“Cambridge and OECD are the perfect partnership because Cambridge brings the experience of assessing student learning in a foreign language, and OECD provides the world’s largest global assessment of learning outcomes. And if you put those things together, we are creating an incredibly important dataset.”
Andreas Schleicher
OECD Director for Education and skills
PISA FLA timeline
Reporting of results
The PISA Foreign Language Assessment (FLA) framework utilises the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as a foundation for evaluating students' language proficiency.
The CEFR is a series of descriptions of abilities which can be applied to any language. These descriptors can be used to set clear targets for achievements within language learning, to help define language proficiency levels and to interpret language qualifications. It has become accepted as a way of describing language ability, not only within Europe but worldwide, and plays a central role in language and education policy.
Using the CEFR levels for reporting results will make the FLA data easy to interpret and use.
Cambridge and the CEFR
Cambridge English was involved in the development of the CEFR and we continue to work towards its future development through projects such as English Profile.
All of our examinations are aligned with the levels described by the CEFR. The CEFR offers a valuable frame of reference for our work and our stakeholders. This is consistent with the original aspirations behind the Framework as described by Professor John Trim, one of the CEFR authors:
‘What we were aiming at was something which will be a common reference point that people working in different fields and people using it for entirely different things and in very different ways could refer to in order to feel that they were part of a common universe’ (Dr Nick Saville, 2005).
Our English-language partnership with PISA
Find out more about Cambridge and our work with OECD
The PISA FLA at the Cambridge English Leadership Summit 2024
Hear from Francesca Woodward and Catalina Covacevich as they delve into the 2025 PISA FLA, the significance of this collaboration, and the major trends shaping the future of assessment.
News from Cambridge
Contact us
For any enquiries, please contact:
Multi Level Testing and benchmarking: Jon Grant, Head of Learning Solutions Key Accounts jxgrant@cambridge.org
Education reform and assessment queries: Graeme Harrison, Head of Impact operations g.harrison@cambridge.org
PR and Comms: Stuart Giblin, Senior PR and Communications Manager stuart.giblin@cambridge.org
