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Foreign Language Proficiency (English as a Foreign Language)

Pictogram symbolising foreign language proficiency. A person appears to be talking to others. The speech bubble of the person speaking contains the word ‘Hello’, another speech bubble contains a seemingly incomprehensible word.

Foreign language skills are essential both at school and outside school. That is why foreign language assessment was included as an optional addition to the PISA survey in 2025. Since the end of 2018, the team at the PISA National Centre at the ZIB site in Munich have been actively involved in the planning and preparation of the PISA Foreign Language Assessment and the development of assessment tools.

Definition

In PISA, the term ‘foreign language proficiency’ encompasses the most important language skills required for studying and working in a globalised world. In 2025, English language skills were tested.

Tasks

The PISA tests and accompanying questionnaires focus on the following three skills:

  • Reading

  • Speaking

  • Listening.

Task are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The test covers the lowest (A1) and second-highest (C1) levels of the CEFR.

Further information on the PISA Foreign Language Assessment may be found here.