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Top Test Scores From Shanghai Stun Educators

Mark Schneider, a commissioner of the Department of Education’s research arm... said he had been skeptical about some PISA results in the past. But Mr. Schneider said he considered the accuracy of these results to be unassailable.

...Shanghai students apparently were told the test was important for China’s image and thus were more motivated to do well, he said.

 

“Can you imagine the reaction if we told the students of Chicago that the PISA was an important international test and that America’s reputation depended on them performing well?” Mr. Schneider said.

 

a) Why not try?

and b) that's a pretty sad statement.