Around two years before the test

The first and second National Research Coordinator (NRC) meeting take place, bringing together representatives from each participating country. Questionnaires and test questions are subsequently developed; these are presented at the third NRC meeting about six months later.

Around one year before the test

There is then a fourth NRC meeting at which the participating countries’ scorers are trained up. In the spring, a field test is conducted that serves as a trial run for the context questionnaires and test tasks ahead of the main survey.  

Around six months before the test

In the summer, the results of the field test are discussed and analyzed at a fifth NRC meeting, following which the survey instruments are finalized.

Testing

The year after testing

The seventh and eighth NRC meetings, held in spring and summer respectively, serve as preparation for the international reporting phase.

One and a half years after testing

In late summer or fall of the year after testing, data is sent to the participating countries for analysis. In December, the national and international results are released, after which the national and international data and reports are published.