852L1 Data Processing, Coding & Visualisation Project – A1

Background information
The dataset provided is derived from the OECD's Programme for International Student
Assessment (PISA) which measures 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading,
mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges.

The file “PISA-2018-UK” contains data on students’ scores on Maths, Reading, and
Science tests, as well as additional information on students’ individual characteristics,
family background, and school characteristics. In particular, it refers to the 2018 wave of
PISA evaluation and it focuses on students and schools in the United Kingdom.

Dataset description
The dataset includes a rich set of data on students’ academic performance, their home
background, and school characteristics.

The dataset contains 29 variables organised in three main groups:

• Academic performance: Students’ performance measured by test scores in three
subjects, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.
• Home background: Information on students’ home background collected via
survey.
• School characteristics: Information on students’ school characteristics.

Each observation (row) in the dataset refers to an individual student’s academic
performance (scores), home background (survey response), and respective school
characteristics.

Variables description
Below is detailed description of each variable in the dataset. Name of the variables below
matches exactly those in the file “PISA-2018-UK”.

math_score: Student score in Mathematics test
• Average score in Mathematics tests. Higher values indicate higher ability.

read_score: Student score in Reading test
• Average score in Reading tests. Higher values indicate higher ability.

scie_score: Student score in Science test
• Average score in Science tests. Higher values indicate higher ability.

gender: Student Gender
• “Female” or “Male”

852L1 Data Processing, Coding & Visualisation Project – A1
immig: Index Immigration status
• “Native” if student was born in UK with at least one parent born in UK
• “Second-Generation” if student was born in UK and both parents were born in
another country
• “First-Generation” if both student and parents were born in another country

homelang: What language do you speak at home most of the time?
• “Language of the test” if student speaks English at home most of the time, and
“Other language” otherwise

desk: In your home: A desk to study at
• “Yes” if student has access to a desk to study at home, “No” otherwise

room: In your home: A room of your own
• “Yes” if student has a room of their own at home, “No” otherwise

quietplace: In your home: A quiet place to study
• “Yes” if student has a quiet place to study at home, “No” otherwise

homecomputer: In your home: A computer you can use for school work
• “Yes” if student has access to a computer they can use for school work, “No”
otherwise

homeinternet: In your home: A link to the Internet
• “Yes” if student has a link to internet at home, “No” otherwise

books: In your home: Books to help with your school work
• “Yes” if student has books to help with their school work at home, “No” otherwise

booksqty: How many books are there in your home?
• Quantity of books at home indicated in ranges, e.g. “0-10 books”, “11-25 books”,
etc.

timeread: About how much time do you usually spend reading for enjoyment?
• Time spent reading indicated in ranges, e.g. “30 minutes or less a day”, “1 to 2
hours a day”, etc.

joyread: Enjoy reading (Index standardised)
• Numerical index constructed from a series of survey questions regarding reading
as a hobby. Positive values on this scale mean that the student enjoyed reading to
a greater extent than the average student across OECD countries.




852L1 Data Processing, Coding & Visualisation Project – A1
misced: Mother’s Education (ISCED)
• Index of education for mother
• “None” (no education)
• “ISCED 1” (primary education)
• “ISCED 2” (lower secondary)
• “ISCED 3B, C” (vocational/pre-vocational upper secondary)
• “ISCED 3A, ISCED 4” (general upper secondary and/or non-tertiary post-
secondary)
• “ISCED 5B” (vocational tertiary)
• “ISCED 5A, 6” (theoretically oriented tertiary, e.g. university, and post-graduate)

fisced: Father’s Education (ISCED)
• Index of education for father
• Same as above

hisced: Highest Education of parents (ISCED)
• Index of education for highest educated parent
• Same as above

pared: Index highest parental education in years of schooling
• Years of schooling of highest educated parent

cultposs: Cultural possessions at home (Index standardised)
• Numerical index constructed from a series of survey questions regarding the
presence of cultural possessions at home, such as books of poetry or classical
literature, works of art (e.g. paintings), musical instruments, etc.
• Higher values on this scale indicates a higher number of cultural possessions

hedres: Home educational resources (Index standardised)
• Numerical index constructed from a series of survey questions regarding the
presence of educational resources at home, such as a desk to study at, a quiet place
to study, educational software, books to help with school work, a dictionary, etc.
• Higher values on this scale indicates a higher number of educational resources

wealth: Family wealth (Index standardised)
• Numerical index constructed from a series of survey questions regarding the
presence of household items that are seen as appropriate measures of family
wealth.
• Can be interpreted as an estimate of family wealth. Higher values on this scale
indicates a wealthier family.

ictres: ICT resources (Index standardised)
• Numerical index constructed from a series of survey questions regarding the
presence of technological resources at home, such as computers, mobile phones,
tables, etc.
852L1 Data Processing, Coding & Visualisation Project – A1
• Higher values on this scale indicates a higher number of ICT resources

schlregion: School Region
• UK region where the school is located

schllocation: School Location
• Indicates where the school is located, e.g. village, town, city, etc.

schltype: School Ownership
• Indicates whether the school is public or private

stratio: Student-Teacher ratio
• Number of students per teacher in the school expressed as a fraction

schsize: School Size
• Total number of students in the school

clsize: Class Size
• Average class size in the school expressed as ranges, e.g. “16-20 students”, “21-25
students”, etc.

schid: School ID
• School unique identifier

stuid: Student ID