Analysis of the Advantages and Disadvantages of ILSAs in Developing Countries: A Case Study of China

Abstract

The International Large Scale Assessment (ILSA) is now widely recognized as an important tool for capturing the quality of education in a country or region, and it provides a platform for both developed and developing countries to reflect on and improve education. However, the effectiveness of ILSA has been criticized for underrepresentation due to domestic and international complexity, which also poses risks and inequities for some developing countries. This paper critically analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of ILSAs for developing countries with the example of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in China and attempts to establish a link with Bourdieu’s Capital Theory. This essay concludes with suggestions for ILSAs and further studies that more effort needs to be put into compatibility with internationalization and localization.