This first volume of PISA 2009 survey results provides comparable data on 15-year-olds' performance on reading, mathematics and science across 65 countries. The volume opens with an introduction explaining what PISA is and how PISA 2009 is different from previous PISA surveys.  The introduction also explains what PISA 2009 measures and how.  A reader's guide provides information needed to interpret the data. Chapter 2 provides a summary of the findings related to performance in reading, the focus of the 2009 survey. Chapter 3 provides a summary of the findings related to performance in mathematics and science. A final chapter explores policy implications in five areas: low performance, pursuing excellence, strengths and weaknesses in different kinds of reading, student performance in math and science, and the potential to improve performance across the world. Annexes provide detailed statistical data and technical information.Table of Content :ForewordExecutive SummaryChapter 1. Introduction-PISA -  An overview-What is different about the PISA 2009 survey?-What PISA measures and how-Reporting results from PISA 2009Readers GuideChapter 2. A Profile of Student Performance in Reading-A context for comparing the performance of countries-The PISA approach to assessing student performance in reading-Student performance in different areas of reading across participating countriesChapter 3. A Profile of Student Performance in Mathematics and Science-What students can do in mathematics-Student performance in mathematics-What students can do in science-Student performance in sciencePolicy Implications-Tackling low performance-Pursuing excellence-Strengths and weaknesses in different kinds of reading-Student performance in math and science-The potential to improve performance across the worldReferencesAnnex A - Technical background-Annex A1. Indices from the student, school and parent context questionnaires-Annex A2. The PISA target population, the PISA samples and the definition of schools-Annex A3. Standard errors, significance tests and subgroup comparisons-Annex A4. Quality assurance-Annex A5. Development of PISA assesment instruments-Annex A6. Reliability of the coding of responses to open-ended itemsAnnex B - Tables of results-Annex B1. Results for countries and economies-Annex B2. Results for regions within countriesAnnex C - The development and implementation of pisa a collaborative effort