mathematical literacy construct.
The second section, ‘Organisation of the Domain’, describes four aspects: a) mathematical
reasoning and the three mathematical
processes (of the modelling/problem solving cycle); b) the
way mathematical
content knowledge is organised in the PISA 2021 framework, and the content
knowledge that is relevant to an assessment of 15-year-old students; c) the relationship between
mathematical literacy and the so-called
21st Century skills ; and d) the
contexts in which students
will face mathematical challenges. The third section, ‘Assessing Mathematical Literacy’, outlines
structural issues about the assessment, including a test blueprint and other technical information.
14. For the sake of ensuring the preservation of trend, the majority of the items in the PISA 2021
will be items that have been used in previous PISA assessments. A large collection of release
items based on the previous framework can be found at http://www.oecd.org/pisa/test.
Annex A provides seven illustrative items that attempt to illustrate the most important new elements of the
2021 framework.
15. The 2021 framework was written under the guidance of the 2021 mathematics expert group
(MEG), a body appointed by the PISA contractor for the mathematics framework (RTI
International), in consultation with the PISA Governing Board (PGB). The eight MEG members
included mathematicians, statisticians, mathematics educators, and experts in assessment,
technology, and education research from a range of countries. The MEG were further supported by
an extended MEG (eMEG) group, made up of ten experts acting as peer reviewers of the
framework version created by the MEG. The eMEG included experts with a range of mathematics
expertise from differing countries. Additional reviews were undertaken by experts on behalf of the
over 80 countries constituting the PISA Governing Board. RTI International, as contracted by the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), conducted two further
research efforts: a face validity validation survey amongst educators, universities and employers;
and a cognitive laboratory with 15-year-olds in different countries to obtain student feedback on the
sample items presented in the framework. The work of the PISA 2021 MEG builds on previous
versions of the PISA Mathematics Framework and incorporates the recommendations of the
Mathematics Strategic Advisory Group convened by OECD in 2017.