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PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSESSMENT 2000 - SCOTLAND ANALYSIS
SECTION 5 - ENGAGEMENT WITH READING
Desire to Read
1. One third of 15 year olds in Scotland never or hardly ever read for pleasure. The average reading score for this group was considerably lower than for those who do read for pleasure. Those who read for between 30 minutes and 2 hours a day tend to score higher than those who only read for a short amount of time each day. However, in Scotland and in the OECD as a whole, 15 year olds who said that they read for more than 2 hours a day did not tend to perform as well as 15 year olds who read for pleasure for shorter periods of time.
Table 27. Percentage of students and performance on the PISA reading literacy scale, by length of time spent reading for pleasure, Scotland, UK & OECD
Proportion of 15 year olds and mean reading score of 15 year olds who: | Percentage | Mean reading score |
Scotland | UK | OECD | Scotland | UK | OECD |
| Do not read for enjoyment | 33% | 29% | 35% | 489 | 485 | 481 |
| read for up to 30 minutes a day for pleasure | 30% | 36% | 30% | 536 | 533 | 511 |
| read for between 30 and 60 minutes a day for pleasure | 22% | 23% | 21% | 563 | 559 | 522 |
| read for between 1 and 2 hours a day for pleasure | 11% | 9% | 10% | 563 | 556 | 524 |
| read for more than 2 hours a day for pleasure | 3% | 3% | 4% | 524 | 528 | 505 |
2. In Scotland 22 per cent of pupils stated that, for them, reading was a waste of time and 40 per cent stated that they only read if they have to. Both of these proportions are higher than the UK and OECD figures. The average scores of those who responded in this way were much lower than those of the students who disagreed with these statements. Twenty nine per cent considered reading to be one of their favourite hobbies, below the OECD average of 36 per cent.
Table 28a Percentage and performance on the PISA reading literacy scale of students by responses to questions on reading, Scotland
Proportion of 15 year olds who agree or disagree with the following statements: | Scotland | Scotland |
Disagree or disagree strongly | Agree or agree strongly | Disagree or disagree strongly | Agree or agree strongly |
| I read only if I have to | 60% | 40% | 553 | 489 |
| Reading is one of my favourite hobbies | 71% | 29% | 513 | 564 |
| I find it hard to finish books | 61% | 39% | 549 | 494 |
| For me, reading is a waste of time | 78% | 22% | 544 | 471 |
| I cannot sit still and read for long | 74% | 26% | 546 | 477 |
Table 28b Percentage and performance on the PISA reading literacy scale of students by responses to questions on reading, UK
Proportion of 15 year olds who agree or disagree with the following statements: | UK | UK |
Disagree or disagree strongly | Agree or agree strongly | Disagree or disagree strongly | Agree or agree strongly |
| I read only if I have to | 65% | 35% | 549 | 485 |
| Reading is one of my favourite hobbies | 70% | 30% | 513 | 558 |
| I find it hard to finish books | 60% | 40% | 544 | 500 |
| For me, reading is a waste of time | 81% | 19% | 539 | 473 |
| I cannot sit still and read for long | 74% | 26% | 544 | 476 |
Table 28c Percentage and performance on the PISA reading literacy scale of students by responses to questions on reading, OECD
Proportion of 15 year olds who agree or disagree with the following statements:
| OECD | OECD |
Disagree or disagree strongly | Agree or agree strongly | Disagree or disagree strongly | Agree or agree strongly |
| I read only if I have to | 61% | 39% | 518 | 478 |
| Reading is one of my favourite hobbies | 64% | 36% | 493 | 519 |
| I find it hard to finish books | 63% | 37% | 517 | 479 |
| For me, reading is a waste of time | 79% | 21% | 513 | 466 |
| I cannot sit still and read for long | 74% | 26% | 517 | 463 |
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