Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is a comparative study of reading literacy of Fourth grade pupils (equivalent to Fourth class, in Ireland) in participating countries around the world. PIRLS is a project of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), and is managed at an international level by the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College. Within each participating country, a National Research Centre manages the study. In Ireland, this role is carried out by the Educational Research Centre (ERC). The ERC is supported in this work by a National Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Education and includes representatives of the main education stakeholders.
First conducted in 2001, PIRLS takes place every five years. Ireland participated for the first time in 2011. In 2016, Ireland was one of 14 countries to administer an additional computer-based assessment of digital literacy in a simulated internet environment, called ePIRLS.
The most recent cycle of PIRLS took place in 2021. As part of the transition to digital assessment in that cycle, computer-based testing was undertaken for the field trial in Ireland in spring 2020. However, due to the disruptions to schooling caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PIRLS main study in Ireland reverted to paper-based testing. As was the case for many other participating countries, the decision to opt for paper-based testing meant that Ireland could not participate in the ePIRLS component of the test. Furthermore, testing in Ireland and a number of other countries was postponed until autumn 2021 rather than spring and involved pupils who were at the start of Fifth class.
For PIRLS 2026, Ireland is one of about 60 participating countries and benchmarking entities (e.g., regions of countries). PIRLS 2026 will complete the transition to a fully digital assessment, integrating ‘class projects’ which were previously known as ePIRLS interactive tasks, as well as more traditional literacy texts. The PIRLS 2026 digital reading assessment will offer pupils an engaging, visually appealing, and interactive reading assessment experience.
The PIRLS 2025 Field Trial
In Ireland, the field trial for PIRLS will take place in March and April 2025 in approximately 40 randomly-sampled primary schools. Pupils participating in PIRLS are asked to complete a computer-based reading assessment, comprising two texts – literary or informational. Following the reading assessment, pupils will also be asked to complete an online questionnaire which asks questions about their home environment, their experience of school, along with their reading behaviours and attitudes.
Similar to previous assessment cycles, principals, teachers, and parents/guardians of participating pupils will be asked to complete questionnaires. Information collected as part of these questionnaires will provide valuable information on the context for learning to read.
For the main study in spring 2026, Ireland will also administer paper-based assessments to an additional sample of pupils, which will allow for a comparison of performance between the two administration modes.
The results of PIRLS 2021 were published on 16 May 2023 and the national report for Ireland can be downloaded here.
A contextual report, which explores pupils’ experiences and factors associated with achievement in more detail, can be downloaded here.
