PISA: 15-year-olds by reading proficiency level (%). Level 1B by country

About this data

Indicator

PISA: 15-year-olds by reading proficiency level (%). Level 1B

Source

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Licence

CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Coverage

54 places, 344 data points, 2000–2018

Last refreshed

07 August 2026

Percentage of 15-year-old students scoring higher than 262 but lower than or equal to 335 on the PISA reading scale. Readers at Level 1b can evaluate the literal meaning of simple sentences. They can also interpret the literal meaning of texts by making simple connections between adjacent pieces of information in the question and/or the text. Readers at this level can scan for and locate a single piece of prominently placed, explicitly stated information in a single sentence, a short text or a simple list. They can access a relevant page from a small set based on simple prompts when explicit cues are present. Tasks at Level 1b explicitly direct readers to consider relevant factors in the task and in the text. Texts at this level are short and typically provide support to the reader, such as through repetition of information, pictures or familiar symbols. There is minimal competing information. 2000, 2003, and 2006 PISA assessments used a different reading proficiency scale (Below Level 1 to Level 5) than later assessments. Data for 2000, 2003, and 2006 for Level 1B were not included in PISA reports, but values in this database were calculated based on the current Level 1B score range. Use caution in comparing proficiency scores across years. For more information on comparability of results, consult the PISA website: http://www.oecd.org/pisa/