Pairwise Comparison Method (PCM)

The UIS has developed a menu of options to enable countries to report against SDG 4.1.1, of which the Pairwise Comparison Method (PCM) for measuring global learning outcomes. The PCM allows countries to determine the benchmark on their assessment for meeting global minimum proficiency. This is achieved by subject matter experts undertaking a pairwise comparison exercise using items from the country’s assessment and items that have already been located in relation to the Learning Progression Scales (LPSs) for reading and mathematics, developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

• For more information, read the Pairwise Comparison Method Concept Note.

Pairwise Comparison Method (PCM) Toolkit (2024)

Co-authored by the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Centre at the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the Pairwise Comparison Method (PCM) toolkit was developed in 2024 to support countries in aligning their learning assessments with global standards and report against SDG 4.1.1. Where appropriate, and to support consistency, some content of the PCM toolkit is based on one of the other options for countries, the Policy Linking Toolkit (PLT).

Download the Pairwise Comparison Method Toolkit.