Examples of PISA test questions
PISA contains a mixture of questions, and most students will have to answer some
science, reading and mathematics questions. The combination of questions will
depend on which test booklet you are randomly assigned – PISA has 13 different test
booklets.
Not only are the topics varied, so are the types of questions. Sometimes,
you’ll be asked to tick a box, or circle one answer from a choice of four, while
sometimes you’ll be asked to write a short answer. On the next pages are examples
of reading, science and mathematics questions (in that order).
Reading Questions
Science Questions
Mathematics Questions
Reading Questions
FEEL GOOD IN YOUR RUNNERS
For 14 years the Sports Medicine Centre of Lyon (France) has been studying the injuries of
young sports players and sports professionals. The study has established that the best
course is prevention … and good shoes.
Knocks, falls, wear outgrowths either on the other problems, which
and tear... tibia or on the heel. This may even affect the knee.
is what is known as
Eighteen per cent of It must also provide
‘footballer’s foot’, a
sports players aged 8 to players with good stability
deformity caused by
12 already have heel so that they do not slip
shoes with soles and
injuries. The cartilage of on a wet ground or skid
ankle parts that are too
a footballer's ankle does on a surface that is too
flexible.
not respond well to dry.
shocks, and 25% of Protect, support, stabilise,
Finally, it must absorb
professionals have absorb
shocks, especially those
discovered for
If a shoe is too rigid, it suffered by volleyball and
themselves that it is an
restricts movement. If it basketball players who
especially weak point.
is too flexible, it increases are constantly jumping.
The cartilage of the
the risk of injuries and
delicate knee joint can Dry feet
sprains. A good sports
also be irreparably
shoe should meet four To avoid minor
damaged and if care is
criteria: but painful conditions
not taken right from
such as blisters or even
childhood (10–12 years Firstly, it must provide
splits or athlete’s foot
of age), this can cause exterior protection:
(fungal infections), the
premature osteoarthritis. resisting knocks from the
shoe must allow
The hip does not escape ball or another player,
evaporation of
damage either and, coping with unevenness
perspiration and must
particularly when tired, in the ground, and
prevent outside
players run the risk of keeping the foot warm
dampness from getting in.
fractures as a result of and dry even when it is
The ideal material for this
falls or collisions. freezing cold and raining.
is leather, which can be
According to the study, It must support the water-proofed to prevent
footballers who have foot, and in particular the the shoe from etting
been playing for more ankle joint, to avoid soaked the first time it
than ten years have bony sprains, swelling and rains.
Use the article to answer the questions below.
Question 1: RUNNERS R110Q01
What does the author intend to show in this text?
A That the quality of many sports shoes has greatly improved.
B That it is best not to play football if you are under 12 years of age.
C That young people are suffering more and more injuries due to their poor physical
condition.
D That it is very important for young sports players to wear good sports shoes.
Question 2: RUNNERS R110Q04- 0 1 9
According to the article, why should sports shoes not be too rigid?
................................................................................................................................
Question 3: RUNNERS R110Q05- 0 1 9
One part of the article says, “A good sports shoe should meet four criteria.”
What are these criteria?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Question 4: RUNNERS R110Q06
Look at this sentence from near the end of the article. It is presented here in two parts:
“To avoid minor but painful conditions such as blisters or even (first part)
splits or athlete’s foot (fungal infections),…”
“…the shoe must allow evaporation of perspiration and must (second part)
prevent outside dampness from getting in.”
What is the relationship between the first and second parts of the sentence?
The second part
A contradicts the first part.
B repeats the first part.
C illustrates the problem described in the first part.
D gives the solution to the problem described in the first part.
Science Questions
CATCHING THE KILLER
Read the following newspaper article, and answer the questions that follow.
DNA TO FIND KILLER
Smithville, yesterday: A man Photo of typical DNA profiles Police are now asking all
died from multiple stab from two people. The bars are citizens of Smithville to
wounds in Smithville different fragments of each come forward to have their
yesterday. Police say that person's DNA. Each person has DNA analysed.
there were signs of a struggle a different pattern of bars. Like
and that some of the blood fingerprints, these patterns can Sergeant Brown of the
found at the scene of the identify a person. Smithville police said, "We
crime did not match the just need to take a harmless
victim's blood. They suspect scraping from the inside of
that this blood came from the the cheek. From this
killer. scientists can extract DNA
and form a DNA profile like
To help find the killer, police the one pictured."
scientists have prepared a
DNA profile from the blood Except for identical twins,
sample. When compared to there is only a 1 in 100
DNA profiles of convicted million chance that two
criminals, kept on a people will have the same
computer database, no match DNA profile.
was found.
Person A Person B
Question 1: CATCHING THE KILLER S402Q01
This newspaper article refers to the substance DNA. What is DNA?
A A chemical substance in cell membranes that stops the cell contents leaking out.
B A chemical substance that contains the instructions to build our bodies.
C A protein found in the blood that helps carry oxygen to all the tissues.
D A hormone in blood that helps regulate glucose levels in the body cells.
Question 2: CATCHING THE KILLER S402Q02
The newspaper article says that, except for identical twins, there is only a 1 in 100
million chance that two people will have the same DNA profile.
Three students each gave an explanation of why there is such a variety of DNA.
Gina said that a person's DNA is made up at conception. It is not inherited.
Anna said that DNA can be altered by mutations to produce many different forms.
Tom said that each person gets a new mix of DNA as half comes from each parent.
Which one or more of the students gave a correct explanation?
A Gina only.
B Anna and Tom, but not Gina.
C Gina and Anna, but not Tom.
D All three students.
Photo of a blood sample as viewed through a microscope
Red blood cell (has no nucleus)
White blood cell (has a nucleus)
Cells float in a liquid called Plasma
Question 3: CATCHING THE KILLER S402Q03
DNA is to be extracted from a blood sample and from cheek scrapings. What is the
reason why DNA will be found in both samples?
A They are the only place where DNA can be found.
B Both samples contain red blood cells.
C Both samples contain cells with nuclei.
D Both samples contain body fluids.
Question 4: CATCHING THE KILLER S402Q04
The police are asking all citizens of Smithville to have a cheek scraping taken for DNA
analysis. Here is a list of proposed safeguards for the people involved in this
procedure.
Circle “Agree” or “Disagree” for each of these safeguards.
Proposed safeguard Agree or Disagree?
Any citizen with a cold should not give a sample. Agree / Disagree
A new scraper should be used for each citizen. Agree / Disagree
The blood pressure of each citizen should be measured. Agree / Disagree
Nurses taking the samples should wear safety gloves. Agree / Disagree
Question 5: CATCHING THE KILLER S402Q05
Which one of the following questions cannot be answered by scientific evidence?
A What was the medical or physiological cause of the victim’s death?
B Why was the victim stabbed many times?
C Is taking cheek scrapings a safe way to collect DNA samples?
D Do all identical twins have exactly the same DNA profile?
Mathematics Questions
SKATEBOARD
Eric is a great skateboard fan. He visits a shop called SKATERS to check some prices.
At this shop you can buy a complete board. Or you can buy a deck, a set of 4 wheels, a
set of 2 trucks and a set of hardware, and assemble your own board.
The prices for the shop’s products are:
Product Price in
zeds
Complete skateboard 82 or 84
40, 60 or
Deck
65
One set of 4 Wheels 14 or 36
One set of 2 Trucks 16
One set of hardware
(bearings, rubber pads, bolts 10 or 20
and nuts)
Question 1: SKATEBOARD M520Q01a
M520Q01b
Eric wants to assemble his own skateboard. What is the minimum price and the
maximum price in this shop for self-assembled skateboards?
(a) Minimum price: ................................ zeds.
(b) Maximum price: ............................... zeds.
Question 2: SKATEBOARD M520Q02
The shop offers three different decks, two different sets of wheels and two different
sets of hardware. There is only one choice for a set of trucks.
How many different skateboards can Eric construct?
A 6
B 8
C 10
D 12
Question 3: SKATEBOARD M520Q03
Eric has 120 zeds to spend and wants to buy the most expensive skateboard he can
afford.
How much money can Eric afford to spend on each of the 4 parts? Put your answer in
the table below.
Part Amount (zeds)
Deck
Wheels
Trucks
Hardware
