Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how cookies and similar technologies may be used when visitors access US Academic Scores, interact with site features or view advertising and analytics services.

Cookies are small text files stored on a visitor’s device by a web browser. They can help a website remember technical information, maintain functionality, understand usage patterns and support services such as analytics or advertising.

Cookies may be temporary and expire when a browser session ends, or they may remain on a device for a defined period. The duration and purpose of a cookie depend on the service that places it.

Cookies and similar technologies may be used for purposes including:

• maintaining essential website functionality;
• supporting security and preventing abuse;
• remembering visitor preferences;
• measuring traffic and website performance;
• understanding how pages and features are used;
• supporting advertising delivery and measurement;
• limiting repeated advertisements;
• maintaining consent or privacy choices where applicable.

Essential cookies support functions necessary for the website to operate securely and reliably. These may include cookies related to security, session management, preference storage or technical protections against malicious activity.

Some essential technologies may operate without optional consent where permitted by applicable law because disabling them could prevent normal website functionality.

Analytics technologies may collect information about how visitors use the website. This can include page views, visit duration, referral source, device type, browser characteristics and general interaction patterns.

Analytics information is generally used to understand site performance, identify popular or difficult-to-use pages and detect technical problems.

Analytics providers may process information according to their own privacy policies, retention rules and technical configurations.

Advertising services may use cookies or similar technologies to select, deliver, limit and measure advertisements. Depending on a visitor’s location and consent choices, these technologies may also be used to personalize advertising.

Advertising cookies can process information such as browser characteristics, previous interactions with advertisements, approximate location, device identifiers or activity across websites where permitted by applicable law and user settings.

Some cookies may be placed by third-party services rather than directly by US Academic Scores. These services can include analytics providers, advertising networks, security services, embedded content providers or other technical platforms.

Third-party cookies are governed by the policies and controls of the service that places them. Their names, purposes and retention periods may change when the underlying service changes its technology or policies.

Where applicable law requires consent for optional cookies or similar technologies, visitors may be presented with a consent interface or privacy controls.

Available choices can vary according to location, browser settings and the services operating on the website. A visitor may be able to accept, reject or manage certain categories of cookies through these controls.

Changing a consent choice does not necessarily remove cookies that were already stored. Existing cookies can generally be deleted through browser settings.

Most web browsers allow users to manage cookies directly. Common browser settings can include options to block cookies, delete stored cookies, limit third-party cookies or receive a warning when a website attempts to store a cookie.

Blocking all cookies may affect some website features, particularly functions that depend on session information, preference storage or security controls.

Technologies other than traditional browser cookies can perform related functions. These may include local storage, pixels, tags, scripts, software development kits or device identifiers.

References to cookies in this policy may also include similar technologies when they serve comparable purposes.

The time a cookie remains on a device varies according to its function. Session cookies normally expire when the browser is closed, while persistent cookies can remain until their specified expiration date or until they are manually deleted.

Third-party providers determine the duration of cookies placed through their services, subject to applicable settings, consent requirements and provider policies.

The assessment statistics presented on US Academic Scores are generally aggregated education data and are separate from information collected through website cookies.

Cookies do not alter the PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS, NAEP or ICILS scores displayed on the site and are not used to create individual academic profiles of the students represented by published assessment statistics.

Links to external sources may direct visitors to websites operated by organizations such as NCES, OECD, IEA or other institutions. Those websites may use cookies under their own policies.

This Cookie Policy does not control technologies used after a visitor leaves US Academic Scores and accesses an independent external website.

This Cookie Policy may change when website functionality, advertising services, analytics tools, privacy requirements or other technologies change.

The version available on this page reflects the cookie policy applicable to the website at the time it is viewed.