APPENDIX C

PIRLS Background Questionnaires

Note:

The final international versions of the PIRLS 2016 field test questionnaires, with proposed 

adaptations to the U.S. context (e.g., U.S. spelling and other conventions), are provided in 

this document. The final PIRLS 2016 field test questionnaires will be available in 

September 2014, after review and approval by the International Association for the 

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), at which point NCES will replace them in 

this document.
Identification Label

© IEA, 2014

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education 

1990 K St., NW 

Washington, DC 20006

Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

School

Questionnaire

Field Test Version

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control 

number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated 

to average 40 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the 

information collection. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or the status of your 

individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of 

Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017.

School ID Checksum

U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education 

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by 

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and 

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as 

required by law. 
School Questionnaire

PIRLS 2016

Your school has agreed to participate in

PIRLS 2016 (Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study), an educational research project 

sponsored by the International Association for the 

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). PIRLS 

measures trends in student achievement in reading, 

and studies differences in national education 

systems in more than 40 countries in order to help 

improve teaching and learning worldwide.

This questionnaire is addressed to school 

principals and department heads who are asked to 

supply information about their schools. Since your 

school has been selected as part of a nationwide 

sample, your responses are very important in 

helping to describe primary/elementary education 

in the United States

It is important that you answer each question 

carefully so that the information provided reflects 

the situation in your school as accurately as 

possible. Some of the questions will require that 

you look up school records, so you may wish to 

arrange for the assistance of another staff member 

to help provide this information. 

Since PIRLS is an international study and all 

countries are using the same questionnaire, you 

may find that some of the questions seem unusual 

or are not entirely relevant to you or schools in the 

United States. Nevertheless, it is important that 

you do your best to answer all of the questions so 

comparisons can be made across countries in the 

study.

It is estimated that you will need approximately 

40 minutes to complete this questionnaire. We 

appreciate the time and effort that this takes and 

thank you for your cooperation and contribution.

When you have completed the questionnaire, 

please place it in the accompanying envelope and 

return it to the PIRLS school coordinator.

Your response will be combined with those from 

other participants to produce summary statistics 

and reports.

Thank you.
Grade 4 School Questionnaire 2

School Enrollment and Characteristics

1

What is the total enrollment of students in your 

school as of March 1, 2015? 

_____________ students

Write in a number.

2

What is the total enrollment of fourth grade 

students in your school as of March 1, 2015?

_____________ students

Write in a number.

3

 Approximately what percentage of students in 

your school have the following backgrounds?

Check one circle for each line.

0 to 10%

 11 to 25%

 26 to 50%

 More than 50%

a) Come from economically 

disadvantaged homes --------- A A A A

b) Come from economically 

affluent homes----------------- A A A A

4

Approximately what percentage of students in your 

school have English as their native language?

Check one circle only.

More than 90% --- A

76 to 90% --- A

51 to 75% --- A

26 to 50% --- A

25% or less --- A

B. Of the students currently enrolled in your school, 

what percentage has been identified as limitedEnglish proficient (LEP)/English Language Learners 

(ELL)?

Check one circle only.

0% --- A

1 to 5% --- A

6 to 10% --- A

11 to 25% --- A

26 to 50% --- A

51 to 75% --- A

76 to 90% --- A
3 Grade 4 School Questionnaire

7

Does your school provide free breakfast for 

students?

Check one circle only.

Yes, for all students --- A

Yes, for some students --- A

No, free breakfast is 

not provided --- A

8

Does your school provide free lunch for 

students?

Check one circle only.

Yes, for all students --- A

Yes, for some students --- A

No, free lunch is not provided --- A

6

What type of school is this?

 Check one circle only.

Regular public school --A

A regular public school with a magnet program --A

A magnet school or school with a special program 

emphasis (e.g., Montessori, science/math school, 

performing arts school, talented/gifted school, 

foreign language immersion school, etc.) --A

Special education: a school that primarily serves 

students with disabilities --A

Alternative: a school designed to address the needs of 

students, typically at risk of educational failure, which 

cannot be met in regular schools --A

Vocational --A

Charter School --A

Private (independent) --A

Private (religiously affiliated) --A

Other --A

5

A. How many people live in the city, town, or area 

where your school is located?

Check one circle only.

More than 500,000 people --- A

100,001 to 500,000 people --- A

50,001 to 100,000 people --- A

30,001 to 50,000 people --- A

15,001 to 30,000 people --- A

3,001 to 15,000 people --- A

3,000 people or fewer --- A

Over 90% --- A

B. Which best describes the immediate area in which 

your school is located?

Check one circle only.

Urban–Densely populated --- A

Suburban–On fringe or

outskirts of urban area --- A

Medium size city or large town --- A

Small town or village --- A

Remote rural --- A

C. Which best characterizes the average income level 

of the school’s immediate area?

Check one circle only.

High --- A

Medium --- A

Low --- A
Grade 4 School Questionnaire 4

10

To what degree are the following health topics 

emphasized in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

 High

 Medium

 Low

a) Washing hands ---------------- A A A A

b) Brushing teeth ----------------- A A A A

c) A healthy diet/nutrition ------- A A A A

d) Disease prevention ------------ A A A A

Instructional Time

9

Around the first of October 2014, what percentage 

of students at this school were eligible to receive 

free or reduced-price lunches through the National 

School Lunch Program? 

_____________ percentage of students

Write in a number.

11

For the fourth grade students in your school:

A. How many days per year is your school open for 

instruction?

__________ days

Write in the number. 

B. What is the total instructional time, excluding

breaks, in a typical day?

__________ minutes

Write in the number of minutes per day.

Please convert the number of hours into minutes.

C. In one calendar week, how many days is the school 

open for instruction?

Check one circle only.

6 days --- A

5 1/2 days --- A

5 days --- A

4 1/2 days --- A

4 days --- A

Other --- A
5 Grade 4 School Questionnaire

14

Does your school have a school library?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A 

(If No, go to #15)

If Yes, 

A. Approximately how many books (print and digital) 

with different titles does your school library have 

(exclude magazines and periodicals)?

Check one circle in each column.

Print Digital

250 or fewer--- A A

251–500--- A A

501–2,000--- A A

2,001–5,000--- A A

5,001–10,000--- A A

More than 10,000--- A A

B. Approximately how many titles of magazines and 

other periodicals (print and digital) does your 

school library have?

Check one circle in each column.

Print Digital

0--- A A

1–5--- A A

6–10--- A A

11–30--- A A

31 or more--- A A

C. Can students borrow print or digital materials from 

the library to take home?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A

Resources and Technology

12

A. Does your school provide a place where students 

can work on their schoolwork before or after 

school?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A 

(If No, go to #13)

If Yes, 

B. Is someone available to assist them with their 

schoolwork?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A

13

As a general school policy, is student achievement 

used to assign fourth grade students to classes (e.g., 

streaming, tracking)?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A
Grade 4 School Questionnaire 6

16

How much is your school’s capacity to provide 

instruction affected by a shortage or inadequacy 

of the following?

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

 A little

 Some

 A lot

A. General School Resources

a) Instructional materials (e.g., 

textbooks) --------------------- A A A A

b) Supplies (e.g., papers, 

pencils, materials) ------------- A A A A

c) School buildings and 

grounds ------------------------ A A A A

d) Heating/cooling and lighting

systems ------------------------ A A A A

e) Instructional space (e.g., 

classrooms) -------------------- A A A A

f) Technologically competent

staff ---------------------------- A A A A

g) Audio-visual resources

for delivery of instruction

(e.g., interactive white

boards, digital projectors) ----- A A A A

h) Computer technology for

teaching and learning

(e.g., computers or tablets

for student use) ---------------- A A A A

i) Resources for students with

disabilities---------------------- A A A A

B. Resources for Reading 

Instruction

a) Teachers with a specialization

in reading ---------------------- A A A A

b) Computer software/

applications for reading

instruction --------------------- A A A A

c) Library resources (books, 

ebooks, magazines, etc.) ------ A A A A

d) Instructional materials for 

reading (e.g., reading series, 

textbooks) --------------------- A A A A

15

How many computers (including tablets) does your 

school have for use by fourth grade students? 

___________ computers 

Write in the number.
7 Grade 4 School Questionnaire

18

A. To what degree is each of the following a problem 

among fourth grade students in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

Not a problem

 Minor problem

 Moderate problem

 Serious problem

a) Arriving late at school --------- A A A A

b) Absenteeism (i.e., 

unjustified absences) ---------- A A A A

c) Classroom disturbance -------- A A A A

d) Cheating ----------------------- A A A A

e) Profanity ----------------------- A A A A

f) Vandalism---------------------- A A A A

g) Theft --------------------------- A A A A

h) Intimidation or verbal abuse

among students (including 

texting, emailing, etc.) -------- A A A A

i) Physical fights among 

students------------------------ A A A A

j) Intimidation or verbal abuse

of teachers or staff (including 

texting, emailing, etc.) -------- A A A A

B. To what degree is each of the following a problem 

among teachers in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

 Not a problem

 Minor problem

 Moderate problem

 Serious problem

a) Arriving late or

leaving early ------------------- A A A A

b) Absenteeism ------------------- A A A A

School Climate

17

How would you characterize each of the following 

within your school? 

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

 High

 Medium

 Low

 Very low

 

a) Teachers’ understanding of

the school’s curricular goals --- A A A A A

b) Teachers’ degree of 

success in implementing 

the school’s curriculum -------- A A A A A

c) Teachers’ expectations

for student achievement ------ A A A A A

d) Teachers working together

to improve student

achievement ------------------- A A A A A

e) Teachers’ ability to

inspire students---------------- A A A A A

f) Parental involvement

in school activities ------------- A A A A A

g) Parental commitment to

ensure that students are

ready to learn ------------------ A A A A A

h) Parental expectations for

student achievement ---------- A A A A A

i) Parental support for 

student achievement ---------- A A A A A

j) Parental pressure for the

school to maintain high

academic standards------------ A A A A A

k) Students’ desire to do

well in school ------------------ A A A A A

l) Students’ ability to reach

school’s academic goals ------- A A A A A

m)Students’ respect for

classmates who excel

in school ----------------------- A A A A A

School Emphasis

on Academic Success
Grade 4 School Questionnaire 8

School Readiness

19

About how many of the students in your school can 

do the following when they begin the first grade of 

primary/elementary school?

Check one circle for each line.

Less than 25%

 25–50%

 51–75%

 More than 75%

a) Recognize most of the 

letters of the alphabet --------- A A A A

b) Tell a story --------------------- A A A A

c) Read some words -------------- A A A A

d) Read sentences ---------------- A A A A

e) Read a story-------------------- A A A A

f) Write letters of the alphabet -- A A A A

g) Write some words ------------- A A A A

20

At which grade do the following reading skills 

and strategies first receive a major emphasis in 

instruction in your school?

Check one circle for each line.

First grade or earlier

 Second grade

 Third grade

 Fourth grade

 Not in

these

grades

a) Knowing letters of the 

alphabet ----------------------- A A A A A

b) Knowing letter-sound 

relationships ------------------- A A A A A

c) Reading words ----------------- A A A A A

d) Reading isolated sentences --- A A A A A

e) Reading connected text ------- A A A A A

f) Locating information within

the text ------------------------ A A A A A

g) Identifying the main idea

of a text ------------------------ A A A A A

h) Explaining or supporting 

understanding of a text ------- A A A A A

i) Comparing a text with

personal experience ----------- A A A A A

j) Comparing different texts ----- A A A A A

k) Making predictions about

what will happen next in

a text --------------------------- A A A A A

l) Making generalizations and

drawing inferences based

on a text ----------------------- A A A A A

m)Describing the style or

structure of a text ------------- A A A A A

n) Determining the author’s 

perspective or intention ------- A A A A A

Reading in Your School
9 Grade 4 School Questionnaire

24

Do you hold any of the following professional 

qualifications in educational leadership?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes

 No

a) Certificate or license------------------------------ A A

b) An academic Master’s degree, 

postgraduate certificate program 

(e.g., teaching) or first professional 

degree (e.g., law, medicine, dentistry)---------- A A

c) A doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.)----------------------- A A

Principal Professional 

Development and Experience

21

By the end of this school year, how many years will 

you have been a principal altogether?

_____________ years

Please round to the nearest whole number. 

22

By the end of this school year, how many years will 

you have been a principal at this school?

_____________ years

Please round to the nearest whole number. 

23

What is the highest level of formal education you 

have completed? 

Check one circle only.

Did not complete a 4-year 

college or university degree 

(i.e., Bachelor’s degree) --- A

Completed a 4-year college 

or university degree 

(i.e., Bachelor’s degree) --- A

 Completed an academic Master’s 

degree, postgraduate certificate 

program (e.g., teaching) or first 

professional degree (e.g., 

law, medicine, dentistry) --- A

Completed a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) --- A
Grade 4 School Questionnaire 10

25

During the past year, approximately how much time 

have you spent on the following school 

leadership activities in your role as a school 

principal?

Check one circle for each line.

No time

 A little time

 Some time

 A lot of time

a) Promoting the school’s

educational vision or goals ---- A A A A

b) Developing the school’s

curricular and

educational goals -------------- A A A A

c) Monitoring teachers’

implementation of the

school’s educational goals

in their teaching --------------- A A A A

d) Monitoring students’

learning progress to ensure

that the school’s educational

goals are reached -------------- A A A A

e) Keeping an orderly

atmosphere in the school ----- A A A A

f) Addressing disruptive

student behavior -------------- A A A A

g) Advising teachers who have

questions or problems with

their teaching ------------------ A A A A

h) Initiating educational

projects or improvements ----- A A A A

i) Participating in professional

development activities

specifically for school

principals ---------------------- A A A A

Leadership Activities

Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have 

put into completing this questionnaire.

Thank You
Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

pirls.bc.edu

© IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement

School

Questionnaire

Field Test Version
Identification Label

© IEA, 2014

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education 

1990 K St., NW 

Washington, DC 20006

Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

Teacher Questionnaire

Field Test Version

School ID Class ID Teacher ID

Link Number Checksum

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control 

number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated 

to average 40 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the 

information collection. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or the status of your 

individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of 

Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017.

U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education 

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by 

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and 

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as 

required by law. 
Teacher Questionnaire

PIRLS 2016

Your school has agreed to participate in

PIRLS 2016 (Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study), an educational research project 

sponsored by the International Association for the 

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). PIRLS 

measures trends in student achievement in reading 

and studies differences in national education 

systems in more than 40 countries in order to help 

improve teaching and learning worldwide.

This questionnaire is addressed to teachers of 

fourth grade students, and seeks information about 

teachers’ academic and professional backgrounds, 

classroom resources, instructional practices, and 

attitudes toward teaching. Since your class has 

been selected as part of a nationwide sample, your 

responses are very important in helping to describe 

primary/elementary education in the United States.

Some of the questions in the questionnaire refer 

to the “PIRLS class” or “this class”. This is the class 

that is identified on the front of this booklet, and 

which will be tested as part of PIRLS in your school. 

If you teach some but not all of the students in the 

PIRLS class, please think only of the students that 

you teach when answering these class-specific 

questions. It is important that you answer each 

question carefully so that the information that 

you provide reflects your situation as accurately as 

possible.

Since PIRLS is an international study and all 

countries are using the same questionnaire, you may 

find that some of the questions seem unusual or are 

not entirely relevant to you or schools in the United 

States. Nevertheless, it is important that you do your 

best to answer all of the questions so comparisons 

can be made across countries in the studies.

It is estimated that you will need approximately 

40 minutes to complete this questionnaire. We 

appreciate the time and effort that this takes and 

thank you for your cooperation and contribution.

When you have completed the questionnaire, 

please place it in the accompanying envelope and 

return it to the PIRLS school coordinator.

Your response will be combined with those from 

other participants to produce summary statistics 

and reports.

Thank you.
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 2

About You

1

By the end of this school year, how many years will 

you have been teaching altogether?

_____________ years

Please round to the nearest whole number.

2

Are you female or male?

Check one circle only.

Female --- A

Male --- A

3

How old are you?

Check one circle only.

Under 25 --- A

25–29 --- A

30–39 --- A

40–49 --- A

50–59 --- A

60 or more --- A

4

What is the highest level of formal education you 

have completed?

Check one circle only.

Did not complete high school --- A

Completed high school --- A

Completed a vocational/technical 

certificate after high school --- A

Completed an Associate’s degree (AA) 

in vocational/technical program--- A

Completed a 2-year college or university 

degree (i.e., Associate’s degree) --- A

Completed a 4-year college or university 

degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree) --- A

Completed an academic Master’s 

degree, postgraduate certificate program 

(e.g., teaching) or first professional 

degree (e.g., law, medicine, dentistry) --- A

Completed a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D) --- A
3 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

6

In the past two years, how many hours in total 

have you spent in formal in-service/professional 

development (e.g., workshops, seminars, lesson 

studies, etc.) that dealt directly with reading or 

teaching reading (e.g., reading theory, instructional 

methods)?

Check one circle only.

None --- A

Less than 6 hours --- A

6–15 hours --- A

16–35 hours --- A

More than 35 hours --- A

5

A. During your college or university education, what 

was your major or main area(s) of study? 

Check one circle for each line.

Yes

 No

a) Education—Primary/Elementary -------------- A A

b) Education—Secondary ------------------------- A A

c) English ------------------------------------------- A A

d) Mathematics ------------------------------------- A A

e) Science ------------------------------------------- A A

f) Other --------------------------------------------- A A

B. As part of your formal education and/or training, 

to what extent did you study the following areas?

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

 Overview or introduction to topic

 It was an area of emphasis

a) English ------------------------- A A A

b) Literature ---------------------- A A A

c) Pedagogy/teaching reading -- A A A

d) Educational psychology ------- A A A

e) Remedial reading -------------- A A A

f) Reading theory ---------------- A A A

g) Special education -------------- A A A

h) Second language learning ---- A A A

i) Assessment methods 

in reading ---------------------- A A A
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 4

School Emphasis on Academic Success

7

How would you characterize each of the following within your school? 

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

 High

 Medium

 Low

 Very

low

a) Teachers’ understanding of

the school’s curricular goals --- A A A A A

b) Teachers’ degree of 

success in implementing 

the school’s curriculum -------- A A A A A

c) Teachers’ expectations

for student achievement ------ A A A A A

d) Teachers working together

to improve student

achievement ------------------- A A A A A

e) Teachers’ ability to

inspire students---------------- A A A A A

f) Parental involvement

in school activities ------------- A A A A A

g) Parental commitment to

ensure that students are

ready to learn ------------------ A A A A A

h) Parental expectations for

student achievement ---------- A A A A A 

i) Parental support for 

student achievement ---------- A A A A A

j) Parental pressure for the

school to maintain high

academic standards ----------- A A A A A

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

 High

 Medium

 Low

 Very

low

k) Students’ desire to do

well in school ------------------ A A A A A

l) Students’ ability to reach

school’s academic goals ------- A A A A A

m) Students’ respect for

classmates who excel

in school ----------------------- A A A A A

n) Clarity of the school’s

educational objectives--------- A A A A A

o) Collaboration between

school leadership and

teachers to plan instruction --- A A A A A

p) Amount of instructional

support provided to teachers 

by school leadership----------- A A A A A

q) School leadership’s

support for teachers’

professional development----- A A A A A
5 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

School Environment

8

Thinking about your current school, indicate the 

extent to which you agree or disagree with each of 

the following statements.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

 Agree a little

 Disagree a little

 Disagree a lot

a) This school is located in

a safe neighborhood ---------- A A A A

b) I feel safe at this school -------- A A A A

c) This school’s security policies

and practices are sufficient ---- A A A A

d) The students behave in an

orderly manner ---------------- A A A A

e) The students are respectful

of the teachers ----------------- A A A A

f) The students respect

school property ---------------- A A A A

g) This school has clear rules

about student conduct -------- A A A A

h) This school's rules are

enforced in a fair and

consistent manner ------------- A A A A

9

In your current school, how severe is each problem?

Check one circle for each line.

Not a problem

 Minor problem

 Moderate problem

 Serious problem

a) The school building needs

significant repair -------------- A A A A

b) Teachers do not have 

adequate workspace (e.g., for

preparation, collaboration,

or meeting with students) ---- A A A A

c) Teachers do not have

adequate instructional 

materials and supplies -------- A A A A

d) The school classrooms are

not cleaned often enough ----- A A A A

e) The school classrooms need

maintenance work ------------ A A A A

f) Teachers do not have

adequate technological

resources ----------------------- A A A A

g) Teachers do not have

adequate support for

using technology -------------- A A A A
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 6

About Being a Teacher

10

How often do you have the following types of 

interactions with other teachers?

Check one circle for each line.

Very often

 Often

 Sometimes

 Never or almost never

a) Discuss how to teach 

a particular topic -------------- A A A A

b) Collaborate in planning 

and preparing instructional 

materials ----------------------- A A A A

c) Share what I have

learned about my 

teaching experiences ---------- A A A A

d) Visit another classroom

to learn more about teaching - A A A A

e) Work together to

try out new ideas -------------- A A A A

f) Work as a group on

implementing the

curriculum --------------------- A A A A

g) Work with teachers from

other grades to ensure

continuity in learning --------- A A A A

11

How often do you feel the following way

about being a teacher?

 Check one circle for each line.

Very often

 Often

 Sometimes

 Never or almost never

a) I am content with my

profession as a teacher -------- A A A A

b) I am satisfied with being

a teacher at this school -------- A A A A

c) I find my work full of

meaning and purpose --------- A A A A

d) I am enthusiastic

about my job------------------- A A A A

e) My work inspires me----------- A A A A

f) I am proud of the work I do --- A A A A

g) I am going to continue

teaching for as long as I can --- A A A A
7 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

12

Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree 

with each of the following statements.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

 Agree a little

 Disagree a little

 Disagree a lot

a) There are too many

students in the classes--------- A A A A

b) I have too much material to 

cover in class ------------------- A A A A

c) I have too many teaching 

hours --------------------------- A A A A

d) I need more time to prepare 

for class ------------------------ A A A A

e) I need more time to assist 

individual students ------------ A A A A

f) I feel too much pressure 

from parents ------------------- A A A A

g) I have difficulty keeping up 

with all of the changes to the 

curriculum --------------------- A A A A

h) I have too many administrative 

tasks --------------------------- A A A A

About Teaching the PIRLS Class

13

A. How many students are in this class?

_____________ students

Write in a number.

B. How many of the students in #13A are in

fourth grade?

_____________ fourth grade students

Write in a number.

14

How many fourth grade students experience 

difficulties understanding spoken English?

_____________ students in this class

Write in a number.

15

A. How many students need remedial instruction 

in reading?

_____________ fourth grade students in this class

Write in a number.

B. How many of the students in #15A receive

remedial instruction in reading?

_____________ students

Write in a number.

16 

How many students in the class are advanced 

readers?

_____________ fourth grade students in this class

 Write in a number.
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 8

17

In your view, to what extent do the following limit 

how you teach this class?

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

 Some

 A lot

a) Students lacking prerequisite

knowledge or skills ------------ A A A

b) Students suffering from 

lack of basic nutrition ---------- A A A

c) Students suffering from 

not enough sleep -------------- A A A

d) Disruptive students ------------ A A A

e) Uninterested students --------- A A A

f) Students with physical 

disabilities --------------------- A A A

g) Students with mental, 

emotional, or psychological 

impairment -------------------- A A A

18

How often do you do the following in teaching this 

class?

Check one circle for each line.

Every or almost every lesson

 About half the lessons

 Some lessons

 Never

a) Relate the lesson to

students’ daily lives ------------ A A A A

b) Ask students to explain

their answers ------------------ A A A A

c) Bring interesting materials

to class ------------------------- A A A A

d) Ask students to complete

challenging exercises

that require them to

go beyond the instruction ----- A A A A

e) Encourage classroom

discussions among

students------------------------ A A A A

f) Link new content to

students’ prior knowledge----- A A A A

g) Ask students to decide

their own problem

solving procedures------------- A A A A

h) Encourage students to

express their ideas in class----- A A A A
9 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

19

In a typical week, how much time do you spend on 

English language instruction and/or activities with 

the students?

Include instruction or activities in reading, writing, 

speaking, literature, and other language skills.

_____________ minutes per week

Write in the number of minutes per week. Please convert the number 

of hours into minutes. 

20

Regardless of whether or not you have formally 

scheduled time for reading instruction, in a typical 

week about how much time do you spend on 

reading instruction and/or activities with the 

students?

Include things you do across curriculum areas and 

during formally scheduled time for reading instruction.

_____________ minutes per week

Write in the number of minutes per week. Please convert the number 

of hours into minutes. 

Teaching Reading to the 

PIRLS Class

21

When you have reading instruction and/or do 

reading activities, how often do you organize 

students in the following ways?

Check one circle for each line.

Always or almost always

 Often

 Sometimes

 Never

a) I teach reading as a

whole-class activity ----------- A A A A

b) I create same-ability groups -- A A A A

c) I create mixed-ability groups -- A A A A

d) I use individualized

instruction for reading--------- A A A A

e) Students work independently

on an assigned plan or goal --- A A A A

f) Students work independently 

on a goal they choose

themselves--------------------- A A A A
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 10

23

When you have reading instruction and/or do 

reading activities with the students, how often 

do you do the following?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

 Once or twice a week

 Once or twice a month

 Never or almost never

a) Read aloud to students -------- A A A A

b) Ask students to read aloud --- A A A A

c) Ask students to read silently

on their own ------------------- A A A A

d) Teach students strategies for

decoding sounds and words -- A A A A

e) Teach students new 

vocabulary systematically ----- A A A A

f) Teach or model skimming 

or scanning strategies --------- A A A A

22

When you have reading instruction and/or do 

reading activities with the students, how often 

do you have the students read the following 

types of text (in print or digitally)?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

 Once or twice a week

 Once or twice a month

 Never or almost never

A. Literary Reading Materials

a) Short stories (e.g., fables, fairy 

tales, action stories, science 

fiction, detective stories) ------ A A A A

b) Longer fiction books with

chapters ------------------------ A A A A

c) Plays --------------------------- A A A A

B. Informational Reading

Materials 

a) Nonfiction subject area 

books or textbooks ------------ A A A A

b) Longer nonfiction books with

chapters ------------------------ A A A A

c) Nonfiction articles that

describe and explain about

things, people, events, or

how things work -------------- A A A A

d) Authentic materials 

(e.g., menus, brochures, 

cartoons, newspaper articles, 

song lyrics) --------------------- A A A A
11 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

24

How often do you do the following in teaching this 

class?

Check one circle for each line.

Every or almost every lesson

 About half the lessons

 Some lessons

 Never

a) Provide reading materials

that match the

students’ interests ------------- A A A A

b) Encourage students to

develop their understandings

of the text ---------------------- A A A A

c) Allow students to

shift discussion in a

new direction ------------------ A A A A

d) Encourage students to ask

questions that challenge the

opinions of the teacher or

other students ----------------- A A A A

e) Encourage students to

challenge the opinion

expressed in the text ---------- A A A A

f) Use multiple perspectives

(among students, texts,

and other voices) to

enrich understanding --------- A A A A

g) Give students time to read

books of their own choosing -- A A A A

h) Give students an opportunity

to explain their answers

to classroom tests-------------- A A A A

i) Give individualized feedback 

to each student ---------------- A A A A

25

How often do you ask the students to do the 

following things to help develop reading

comprehension skills or strategies?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

 Once or twice a week

 Once or twice a month

 Never or almost never

a) Locate information within 

the text ------------------------ A A A A

b) Identify the main ideas

of what they have read -------- A A A A

c) Explain or support their

understanding of what they

have read ---------------------- A A A A

d) Compare what they have

read with experiences they

have had ----------------------- A A A A

e) Compare what they have

read with other things they

have read ---------------------- A A A A

f) Make predictions about

what will happen next in the

text they are reading ---------- A A A A

g) Make generalizations and

draw inferences based on

what they have read ----------- A A A A

h) Describe the style or

structure of the text they

have read ---------------------- A A A A

i) Determine the author’s 

perspective or intention ------- A A A A
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 12

26

After students have read something, how often do 

you ask them to do the following?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

 Once or twice a week

 Once or twice a month

 Never or almost never

a) Write something about or

in response to what they

have read ---------------------- A A A A

b) Answer oral questions

about or orally summarize

what they have read ----------- A A A A

c) Talk with each other about

what they have read ----------- A A A A

d) Take a written quiz or test

about what they have read ---- A A A A

If Yes,

B. How often do you do the following computer

activities during reading lessons?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day or almost every day

 Once or twice a week

 Once or twice a month

 Never or almost never

a) Ask students to read

digital texts -------------------- A A A A

b) Teach students strategies

for reading digital texts ------- A A A A

c) Teach students to be 

critical when reading on 

the Internet -------------------- A A A A

d) Ask students to look up

information (e.g., facts,

definitions, etc.) --------------- A A A A

e) Ask students to research

a particular topic

or problem --------------------- A A A A

f) Ask students to write

stories or other texts ---------- A A A A

27

A. Do the students in this class have computers 

(including tablets) available to use during their 

reading lessons?

Check one circle only.

Yes, each student has 

a computer --- A

Yes, the class has computers 

that students can share --- A

Yes, the school has 

computers that the class 

can use sometimes --- A

No --- A 

(If No, go to #28A)

Computer and Library Resources
13 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

28

A. Do you have a library or reading corner in your 

classroom?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A 

(If No, go to #29)

If Yes,

B. About how many books are in your classroom 

library?

Check one circle only.

0–25 --- A

26–50 --- A

51–100 --- A

More than 100 --- A

C. About how many magazines with different titles 

are in your classroom library?

Check one circle only.

0 --- A

1–2 --- A

3–5 --- A

More than 5 --- A

D. How often do you give the students in your 

class time to use the classroom library or 

reading corner?

Check one circle only.

Every day or almost every day --- A

Once or twice a week --- A

Once or twice a month --- A

Never or almost never --- A

E. Can the students borrow books from the classroom 

library or reading corner to take home?

Check one circle only.

Yes --- A

No --- A

29

How often do you take or send the students to a 

library other than your classroom library?

Check one circle only.

At least once or twice a week --- A

Once or twice a month --- A

A few times a year --- A

Never or almost never --- A
Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire 14

Questions 30–32 ask about homework for the 

fourth grade students in this class.

30

How often do you assign reading as part of 

homework (for any subject)?

Check one circle only.

I do not assign reading

for homework --- A 

(Go to 33)

Less than once a week --- A

1 or 2 times a week --- A

3 or 4 times a week --- A

Every day --- A

31

In general, how much time do you expect students 

to spend on homework involving reading (for any 

subject) each time you assign it?

Check one circle only.

15 minutes or less --- A

16–30 minutes --- A

31–60 minutes --- A

More than 60 minutes --- A

Reading Homework

32

How often do you do the following with the reading 

homework assignments for this class?

Check one circle for each line.

Always or almost always

 Sometimes

 Never or almost never

a) Correct assignments and give

feedback to students ---------- A A A

b) Discuss the homework

in class ------------------------- A A A

c) Monitor whether or not the

homework was completed ---- A A A

Reading Difficulties

34

What do you usually do if a student begins to fall 

behind in reading?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes

 No

a) I have the student work with a specialized 

professional (e.g., reading specialist, 

speech therapist) -------------------------------- A A

b) I wait to see if performance improves with 

maturation --------------------------------------- A A

c) I spend more time working on reading 

individually with that student ------------------ A A

d) I ask the parents to help the student

with reading ------------------------------------- A A

e) I recommend that the student be

enrolled in a special reading program ---------- A A

Questions 33–34 ask about how you deal with 

reading difficulties of fourth grade students in 

this class.

33

Are the following resources available to you to work 

with students who have difficulty with reading?

Check one circle for each line.

Always

 Sometimes

 Never

a) A specialized professional 

(e.g., reading specialist, 

speech therapist) -------------- A A A

b) A teacher-aide ----------------- A A A

c) An adult/parent volunteer ---- A A A
15 Grade 4 Teacher Questionnaire

35

How much emphasis do you place on the

following sources to monitor students’

progress in reading?

Check one circle for each line.

Major emphasis

 Some emphasis

 Little or no emphasis

a) Assessment of students’ 

ongoing work ------------------ A A A

b) Classroom tests (for 

example, teacher-made 

or textbook tests) -------------- A A A

c) State or district 

achievement tests ------------- A A A

Assessing Reading
Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have 

put into completing this questionnaire.

Thank You
Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

pirls.bc.edu

© IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement

Teacher Questionnaire

Field Test Version
Identification Label

© IEA, 2014

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education 

1990 K St., NW 

Washington, DC 20006

Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

Student

Questionnaire

Field Test Version

School ID Class ID Student ID

Checksum ACH BG

Participation Status

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control 

number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to 

average 30 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments or concerns 

regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in 

International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017.

U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education 

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by 

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and 

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as 

required by law. 
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 1

In this booklet, you will find questions about you and what you think. For each 

question, you should choose the answer you think is best.

Let us take a few minutes to practice the kinds of questions you will answer in this 

booklet.

Example 1 is one kind of question you will find in this booklet.

Example 2 is another kind of question you will find in this booklet.

Example 1

Do you go to school?

 

Fill one circle only.

Yes -- A

No -- A

Example 2

How often do you do these things?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) I talk with my friends ------------------ A A A A

b) I play sports ------------------------------- A A A A

c) I ride a skateboard ---------------------- A A A A

Directions
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 2

Example 3 is another kind of question you will find in this booklet. 

Example 3

What do you think? Tell how much you agree with these 

statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) Watching movies is fun --------------- A A A A

b) I like eating ice cream ----------------- A A A A

c) I do not like waking up early -------- A A A A

d) I enjoy doing chores -------------------- A A A A

• Read each question carefully, and pick the answer you think is best.

• Fill in the circle next to or under your answer.

• If you decide to change your answer, draw an through your first answer,

like this: A. Then, fill in the circle next to or under your new answer.

• Ask for help if you do not understand something or are not sure how to 

answer.
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 3

About you

1

A. Are you a girl or a boy?

Fill one circle only.

Girl -- A

Boy -- A

B. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

Fill one circle only.

Yes, I am Hispanic or Latino -- A

No, I am not Hispanic or Latino -- A

C. Which of the following best describes you?

 Fill one or more circles.

White -- A

Black or African American -- A

Asian -- A

American Indian or Alaska Native -- A

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander -- A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 4

2

When were you born?

Fill the circles next to the month and year you were born.

a) Month b) Year

January -- A 2003 -- A

February -- A 2004 -- A

March -- A 2005 -- A

April -- A 2006 -- A

May -- A 2007 -- A

June -- A 2008 -- A

July -- A 2009 -- A

August -- A Other -- A

September -- A

October -- A

November -- A

December -- A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 5

3

A. How often do you speak English at home?

Fill one circle only.

I always speak

English at home -- A

I almost always speak

English at home -- A

I sometimes speak English 

and sometimes speak

another language at home -- A

I never speak English 

at home -- A

B. What language do you speak at home (other than 

English)? 

Fill one circle only.

Spanish -- A

Other -- A

(Please specify)________________

 
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 6

4

A. Was your mother (or stepmother or female legal 

guardian) born in the United States? (“United 

States” includes the 50 states, its territories, the 

District of Columbia, and U.S. military bases 

abroad.) 

Fill one circle only.

Yes -- A

No -- A

B. Was your father (or stepfather or male legal 

guardian) born in the United States? 

Fill one circle only.

Yes -- A

No -- A

C. Were you born in the United States? 

Fill one circle only.

Yes -- A

No -- A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 7

5

About how many books are there in your home? (Do not 

count magazines, newspapers, or your school books.) 

Fill one circle only.

None or very few (0–10 books) -- A This shows 10 books

Enough to fill one shelf (11–25 books) -- A This shows 25 books

Enough to fill one bookcase 

(26–100 books) -- A This shows 100 books

Enough to fill two bookcases

(101–200 books) -- A This shows 200 books

Enough to fill three or more bookcases

(more than 200) -- A This shows more than 200 books
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 8

6

Do you have any of these things at your home?

Fill one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) A computer or tablet 

of your own -------------------------------- A A

b) A computer or tablet

that is shared with other

people at home --------------------------- A A

c) Study desk/table for your use -------- A A

d) Your own room --------------------------- A A

e) Internet connection --------------------- A A

f) Your own mobile phone ---------------- A A

g) A gaming system (e.g.,

PlayStation®, Wii®, XBox®) --------- A A

h) VCR, DVD, or Blu-ray player ------- A A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 9

7

How often do you use a computer or tablet in each of 

these places?

Fill one circle for each line. 

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never 

a) At home ------------------------------------- A A A A

b) At school ------------------------------------ A A A A

c) Some other place ------------------------ A A A A

8

About how often are you absent from school?

Fill one circle only.

Once a week -- A

Once every two weeks -- A

Once a month -- A

Never or almost never -- A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 10

9

How often do you feel this way when you arrive at 

school?

Fill one circle for each line.

 

Every Almost 

day every day Sometimes Never

a) I feel tired ----------------------------------A A A A

b) I feel hungry-------------------------------A A A A

10

How often do you eat breakfast on school days?

Fill one circle only.

Every day -- A

Almost every day -- A

Sometimes -- A

Never -- A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 11

Your School

11

What do you think about your school? Tell how much 

you agree with these statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I like being in school -------------------- A A A A

b) I feel safe when I am at school ------ A A A A

c) I feel like I belong at this school ---- A A A A

d) I like to see my classmates

at school ------------------------------------ A A A A

e) Teachers at my school are

fair to me ---------------------------------- A A A A

f) I am proud to go to this school------- A A A A

g) I learn a lot in school ------------------- A A A A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 12

12

During this year, how often have other students from 

your school done any of the following things to you? 

Also, include through texting or the Internet. 

Fill one circle for each line. 

At least Once or A few

once a twice a times a

week month year Never

a) Made fun of me or

called me names ------------------------- A A A A

b) Left me out of their

games or activities ---------------------- A A A A

c) Spread lies about me ------------------- A A A A

d) Stole something from me -------------- A A A A

e) Hit or hurt me

(e.g., shoving, hitting, kicking)------- A A A A

f) Made me do things

I didn’t want to do ----------------------- A A A A

g) Shared embarrassing

information about me ------------------ A A A A

h) Threatened me --------------------------- A A A A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 13

Lessons about reading

13

Think about the reading you do for school. How much 

do you agree with these statements about your 

reading lessons?

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I like what I read about in school--- A A A A

b) My teacher gives me interesting 

things to read ----------------------------- A A A A

c) I know what my teacher

expects me to do ------------------------- A A A A

d) My teacher is easy to understand -- A A A A

e) I am interested in what my

teacher says ------------------------------- A A A A

f) My teacher encourages me to

say what I think about what

I have read -------------------------------- A A A A

g) My teacher is enthusiastic about

what we read for class ----------------- A A A A

h) My teacher has clear answers to 

my questions ------------------------------ A A A A

i) My teacher lets me show what I 

have learned------------------------------- A A A A

j) My teacher does a variety of

things to help us learn ----------------- A A A A

k) My teacher tells me how to do 

better when I make a mistake ------- A A A A

l) My teacher listens to what I have 

to say ---------------------------------------- A A A A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 14

14

In school, how often do these things happen? 

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) I read silently on my own ------------- A A A A

b) I read things that I choose myself -- A A A A

Reading in school
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 15

Using the library

15

How often do you borrow books (including ebooks) 

from your school or local library?

Fill one circle only.

At least once a week -- A

Once or twice a month -- A

A few times a year -- A

Never or almost never -- A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 16

Reading outside of school

16

How much time do you spend reading outside of school

on a normal school day?

Fill one circle only.

Less than 30 minutes -- A

30 minutes up to 1 hour -- A

From 1 hour up to 2 hours -- A

2 hours or more -- A

17

How often do you do these things outside of school?

Fill one circle for each line.

Every day Once or Once or Never or

or almost twice a twice a almost

every day week month never

a) I read for fun ----------------------------- A A A A

b) I read things that I

choose myself ----------------------------- A A A A

c) I read to find out about things I 

want to learn ----------------------------- A A A A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 17

18

What do you think about reading? Tell how much you 

agree with each of these statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I read only if I have to ----------------- A A A A

b) I like talking about what I read

with other people ------------------------ A A A A

c) I would be happy if someone gave 

me a book as a present ---------------- A A A A

d) I think reading is boring -------------- A A A A

e) I would like to have more 

time for reading -------------------------- A A A A

f) I enjoy reading --------------------------- A A A A

g) I learn a lot from reading ------------- A A A A

h) It is important to

be a good reader ------------------------- A A A A

i) I like to read things that

make me think --------------------------- A A A A

j) I like it when a book helps

me imagine other worlds -------------- A A A A

k) My parents like it when I read ------ A A A A

What you think about reading
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 18

19

How well do you read? Tell how much you agree with 

each of these statements.

Fill one circle for each line.

Agree Agree Disagree Disagree

a lot a little a little a lot

a) I usually do well in reading ---------- A A A A

b) Reading is easy for me ----------------- A A A A

c) I have trouble reading

stories with difficult words ----------- A A A A

d) Reading is harder for me than

for many of my classmates ----------- A A A A

e) My teacher tells me I am

a good reader ----------------------------- A A A A

f) Reading is harder for me than

any other subject ------------------------ A A A A

g) I am just not good at reading -------- A A A A

h) I like to read out loud

to other people --------------------------- A A A A

i) I can understand hard stories ------- A A A A
Grade 4 Student Questionnaire 19

Activities outside of school

20

The following questions ask about activities you do 

outside of school. 

Fill one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) Do you play on a sports 

team outside of school? ---------------- A A

b) Do you often play a musical 

instrument outside of school? ------- A A

c) Are you studying something 

in a class outside of school? ----------- A A

d) Do you belong to a club 

outside of school (like 

Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, 

4-H, or Boys and Girls Club)? ------- A A
Thank You!

Thank you for filling out the questionnaire!
Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL READING LITERACY STUDY

pirls.bc.edu

© IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement

Student

Questionnaire

Field Test Version
Identification Label

© IEA, 2014

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education 

1990 K St., NW 

Washington, DC 20006

Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL 

READING LITERACY STUDY

Learning to 

Read Survey

Field Test Version

U.S. participation in this study is sponsored by the National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, and authorized by the Education 

Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543). Your responses are protected by 

federal statute (20 U.S.C., § 9573) and may be used only for statistical purposes and 

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as 

required by law. 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to 

respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB 

control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information 

collection is 1850-0645. The time required to complete this information collection 

is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time to review 

instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete 

and review the information collection. If you have any comments or concerns 

regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, 

or the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Progress in 

International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), National Center for Education Statistics, 

U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

OMB No. 1850-0645, Approval Expires xx/xx/2017.
PIRLS 2016

Your child’s class has been selected to participate 

in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 

(PIRLS), a research study about how children learn to 

read. PIRLS 2016 is sponsored by the International 

Association for the Evaluation of Educational 

Achievement (IEA) and is being conducted in more than 

40 countries around the world.

This survey asks about your child’s early learning 

experiences. We are interested in what you and your 

child do together and what you think about different 

things related to your child’s school. There are no right 

or wrong answers to these questions. 

The information being collected will be extremely 

useful for helping understand how young children 

learn to read and for helping to improve the teaching 

and learning of reading for all children. We ask that you 

respond to all of the questions you feel comfortable 

answering. We would like to reassure you, however, that 

your responses to this survey are confidential. 

It is estimated that you will need approximately 30 

minutes to complete this questionnaire. We appreciate 

the time and effort that this takes and thank you for 

your cooperation and contribution.

Your response will be combined with those from 

other participants to produce summary statistics and 

reports.

Learning to Read Survey

This survey should be 

completed by the child’s 

parent or current legal 

guardian, or jointly by 

both parents or legal 

guardians.
Learning to Read Survey 2 

Please turn the page

1

This survey was completed by:

Check one circle for each line.

Yes No

Mother, stepmother, or

female guardian --------------- A A

Father, stepfather, or

male guardian ----------------- A A

Other --------------------------- A A
3 Learning to Read Survey 

2

Before your child began primary/elementary 

school, how often did you or someone else in 

your home do the following activities with him 

or her?

Check one circle for each line.

Often

 Sometimes

 Never or almost never

a) Read books -------------------- A A A

b) Tell stories --------------------- A A A

c) Sing songs --------------------- A A A

d) Play with alphabet toys

(e.g., blocks with letters

of the alphabet) --------------- A A A

e) Talk about things you 

had done ----------------------- A A A

f) Talk about what you had read - A A A

g) Play word games -------------- A A A

h) Write letters or words --------- A A A

i) Read aloud signs and labels --- A A A

j) Say counting rhymes or 

sing counting songs ----------- A A A

k) Play with number toys 

(e.g., blocks with numbers) --- A A A

l) Count different things --------- A A A

m)Play games involving

shapes (e.g., shape

sorting toys, puzzles) ---------- A A A

n) Play with building blocks or

construction toys -------------- A A A

o) Play board or card games ----- A A A

p) Write numbers ----------------- A A A

Before Your Child Began 

Primary/Elementary School
Learning to Read Survey 4 

3

A. Was your child born in the United States?

Check one circle only.

Yes--- A No--- A

If No,

B. How old was your child when he/she came to the 

United States?

Check one circle only.

Younger than 3 years old--- A

3 to 5 years old--- A

6 to 7 years old--- A

8 years old or older--- A

4

What language did your child speak before 

he/she began school?

If your child spoke more than one language check 

“Yes” for more than one language.

Check one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) English ------------------------- A A

b) Spanish ------------------------- A A

c) Other --------------------------- A A

Please specify _________________

(If Yes, go to #4)
5 Learning to Read Survey 

5

A. Did your child attend the following before first 

grade?

Check one circle for each line.

Yes No

a) Early childhood educational 

development program for 

children under 3 ------------------------ A A

b) Pre-primary education program

including Kindergarten

for children age 3 or older -------------- A A

B. Approximately, how long was your child in these 

programs altogether?

Check one circle only.

4 years or more--- A

3 years--- A

2 years--- A

1 year--- A

Less than 1 year--- A
Learning to Read Survey 6 

6

How old was your child when he/she began the 

first grade of primary/elementary school?

Check one circle only.

5 years old or younger--- A

6 years old--- A

7 years old--- A

8 years old or older--- A

7

How well could your child do the following 

when he/she began the first grade of primary/

elementary school?

Check one circle for each line. 

Very well

 Moderately well

 Not very well

 Not at all

a) Recognize most of the 

letters of the alphabet --------- A A A A

b) Tell a story---------------------- A A A A

c) Read some words -------------- A A A A

d) Read sentences ---------------- A A A A

e) Read a story-------------------- A A A A

f) Write letters of the alphabet--- A A A A

g) Write some words-------------- A A A A

Beginning Primary/

Elementary School
7 Learning to Read Survey 

Studying Outside of School

B. How often do you or someone else in your home do 

the following things?

Check one circle for each line.

Every day

 3 or 4 times a week

 1 or 2 times a week

 Less than once a week

 Never or almost

never

a) Ask if your child has done

his/her homework ------------- A A A A A

b) Help your child with

homework --------------------- A A A A A

c) Review your child’s

homework to make

sure it is correct ---------------- A A A A A

8

A. Approximately, how often does your child do 

homework?

Check one circle only.

My child does not

have homework to do--- A 

(If your child does not

have homework, go to #9)

Every day--- A

3 or 4 times a week--- A

1 or 2 times a week--- A

Less than once a week--- A
Learning to Read Survey 8 

9

A. Since beginning primary school, has your child 

attended extra lessons or tutoring outside of 

school in school subjects?

Check one circle only.

Yes--- A

No--- A 

(If No, go to #10)

If Yes,

B. What is the primary reason your child attended 

these extra lessons or tutoring?

Check one circle only.

To excel in school--- A

To not fall behind in school--- A

Other reason--- A

C. Is your child currently attending extra lessons

or tutoring?

Check one circle only.

Yes, about 1 hour per week--- A

Yes, about 2 hours per week--- A

Yes, about 3 hours per week--- A

Yes, about 4 hours per week--- A

Yes, about 5 hours

or more per week--- A
9 Learning to Read Survey 

10

Please indicate how much you agree with the 

following statements.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

 Agree a little

 Disagree a little

 Disagree a lot

a) I support school efforts to

maintain high academic

standards ---------------------- A A A A

b) I have high expectations for

my child’s academic success --- A A A A
Learning to Read Survey 10 

11

What do you think of your child’s school?

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

 Agree a little

 Disagree a little

 Disagree a lot

a) My child’s school does a 

good job including 

me in my child’s education ---- A A A A

b) My child’s school provides

a safe environment ------------ A A A A

c) My child’s school cares

about my child’s progress

in school ----------------------- A A A A

d) My child’s school does a 

good job informing me 

of his/her progress ------------ A A A A

e) My child’s school does a

good job in helping him/her

become better in reading ----- A A A A

Your Child’s School
11 Learning to Read Survey 

12

In a typical week, how much time do you usually 

spend reading for yourself at home, including 

books, magazines, newspapers, and materials for 

work (in print or digital media)? 

Check one circle only.

Less than one hour a week--- A

1–5 hours a week--- A

6–10 hours a week--- A

More than 10 hours a week--- A

13

When you are at home, how often do you read for 

your own enjoyment?

Check one circle only.

Every day or almost every day--- A

Once or twice a week--- A

Once or twice a month--- A

Never or almost never--- A

Literacy in the Home
Learning to Read Survey 12 

14

Please indicate how much you agree with the 

following statements about reading.

Check one circle for each line.

Agree a lot

 Agree a little

 Disagree a little

 Disagree a lot

a) I read only if I have to ---------- A A A A

b) I like talking about what

I read with other people ------- A A A A

c) I like to spend my spare 

time reading ------------------- A A A A

d) I read only if I need

information -------------------- A A A A

e) Reading is an important

activity in my home ----------- A A A A

f) I would like to have more

time for reading --------------- A A A A

g) I enjoy reading----------------- A A A A

h) Reading is one of my

favorite hobbies --------------- A A A A
13 Learning to Read Survey 

15

About how many books are there in your home? 

(Do not count ebooks, magazines, newspapers or 

children’s books.)

Check one circle only.

0–10--- A

11–25--- A

26–100--- A

101–200--- A

More than 200--- A

16

About how many children’s books are there in 

your home? (Do not count ebooks, children’s 

magazines or school books.)

Check one circle only.

0–10--- A

11–25--- A

26–50--- A

51–100--- A

More than 100--- A
Learning to Read Survey 14 

17

A. Do you have a device that you use for reading 

ebooks (e.g., an e-reader, a tablet, a computer)?

Check one circle only.

Yes--- A

No--- A 

B. Do you have a device that your child can use for 

reading ebooks?

Check one circle only.

Yes--- A

No--- A

18

How many digital information devices are 

there in your home? Count computers, tablets, 

smartphones, smart TVs, and e-readers. (Do not 

count other devices.)

Check one circle only.

None--- A

1-3 devices--- A

4-6 devices--- A

7-10 devices--- A

More than 10 devices--- A
15 Learning to Read Survey 

19

When talking at home with your child, what 

language does the child’s father (or stepfather or 

male guardian) use? What language does

the child’s mother (or stepmother or female

guardian) use?

Check all that apply.

Child’s father Child’s mother

a) English ---------------------------------- A A

b) Spanish --------------------------------- A A

c) Other ------------------------------------ A A

Please specify ______________________

20

How often does your child speak English at 

home?

Check one circle only.

Always--- A

Almost always--- A

Sometimes--- A

Never--- A
Learning to Read Survey 16 

Additional Information

21

What is the highest level of education completed

by the child’s father (or stepfather or male 

guardian) and mother (or stepmother or female 

guardian)?

 Check one circle only.

Child’s father Child’s mother

a) Did not complete high school ---------- A A

b) Completed high school ----------------- A A

c) Completed a vocational/

technical certificate 

after high school ----------------------- A A

d) Completed an Associate’s 

degree (AA) in vocational/

technical program ---------------------- A A

e) Completed a 2-year 

college or university 

degree (i.e., Associate’s 

degree) --------------------------------- A A

f) Completed a 4-year 

college or university 

degree (i.e., Bachelor’s 

degree) --------------------------------- A A

g) Completed an academic 

Master’s degree, postgraduate 

certificate program (e.g., 

teaching) or first professional 

degree (e.g., law, medicine, 

dentistry) ------------------------------- A A

h) Completed a doctorate 

(Ph.D. or Ed.D)--------------------------- A A

i) Not applicable -------------------------- A A
17 Learning to Read Survey 

22

How far in his/her education do you expect your 

child to go?

Check one circle only.

Finish high school --- A

Finish a vocational/technical 

certificate after high school --- A

Finish an Associate’s degree 

(AA) in vocational/technical program--- A

Finish a 2-year college or university 

egree (i.e., Associate’s degree) --- A

Finish a 4-year college or university 

degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree) --- A

Finish an academic Master’s degree, 

postgraduate certificate program (e.g., 

teaching) or first professional degree 

(e.g., law, medicine, dentistry) --- A

Finish a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D) --- A
Learning to Read Survey 18 

23

Which best describes the employment situation 

of the child’s father (or stepfather or male 

guardian) and mother (or stepmother or female 

guardian)?

Check one circle in each column.

Child’s father Child’s mother

a) Working at least full-time

for pay (this could be one

or more full-time jobs or

several part-time jobs that

add up to full-time work) -------------- A A

b) Working part-time only for pay -------- A A

c) Not working for pay -------------------- A A

d) Other ------------------------------------ A A

e) Not applicable -------------------------- A A
19 Learning to Read Survey 

24

What kind of work do the child’s father 

(or stepfather or male guardian) and mother 

(or stepmother or female guardian) do for their 

main jobs?

For each, check the circle for the job category that best describes 

what he/she does (opposite page). Each category has a few 

examples to help you decide the correct category. If the father or 

mother is not working now, think about the last job he/she had.
Learning to Read Survey 20 

24

Check one circle in each column.

Child’s Child’s

father mother

a)Has never worked for pay -------------- A A

b)Small Business Owner ------------------- A A

Includes owners of small businesses (fewer than 25 

employees) such as retail shops, services, restaurants

c) Clerk ------------------------------------------ A A

Includes office clerks; secretaries; typists; data entry operators; 

customer service clerks

d)Service or Sales Worker ----------------- A A

Includes travel attendants; restaurant service workers; 

personal care workers; protective service workers; junior 

military and police; salespersons; street vendors

e) Skilled Agricultural or

Fishery Worker ---------------------------- A A

Includes farmers; forestry workers; fishery workers; hunters 

and trappers

f) Craft or Trade Worker -------------------- A A

Includes builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians,

metal workers; machine mechanics; handicraft workers

g)Plant or Machine Operator ------------ A A

Includes plant and machine operators; 

assembly-line operators; motor-vehicle drivers

h)General Laborers ------------------------- A A

Includes domestic helpers and cleaners; building caretakers; 

messengers, porters, and doorkeepers; farm, fishery, 

agricultural, and construction workers

i) Corporate Manager or

Senior Official ----------------------------- A A

Includes corporate managers such as managers of large 

companies (25 or more employees) or managers of 

departments within large companies; legislators or senior 

government officials; senior officials of special-interest 

organizations; military officers

j) Professional -------------------------------- A A

Includes scientists; mathematicians; computer scientists; 

architects; engineers; life science and health professionals; 

teachers; legal professionals; social scientists; writers and 

artists; religious professionals

k) Technician or Associate

Professional -------------------------------- A A

Includes science, engineering, and computer associates and 

technicians; life science and health technicians and assistants; 

teacher aides; finance and sales associate professionals; 

business service agents; administrative assistants

l) Not applicable ----------------------------- A A

(continued)
Thank You

Thank you for taking the time 

to fill out this survey.
Grade 4

PROGRESS IN INTERNATIONAL 

READING LITERACY STUDY

Learning to 

Read Survey

pirls.bc.edu

© IEA, 2014

International Association

for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement

Field Test Version