Exhibit 4.9 shows the changes in percentages of students reaching the benchmarks for countries that have comparable data from previous assessments. The trends indicate more improvement at the two higher benchmarks than declines, in contrast to similar improvements but more declines at lower benchmarks. Of the 33 countries participating in both 2015 and 2019, 10 increased and only 1 decreased at the Advanced International Benchmark, 9 increased and 4 decreased at the High Benchmark, 10 increased and 8 decreased at the Intermediate Benchmark, and 8 increased and 8 decreased at the Low Benchmark.

The longer-term trends also show a similar pattern. Between 2007 and 2019, the 23 countries participating in those two assessments had 13 increases and 2 decreases at the Advanced level, 12 increases and 4 decreases at the High level, 10 increases and 5 decreases at the Intermediate level, and 8 increases and 9 decreases at the Low level. Between 1995 and 2019, the 18 countries participating in both assessments had 7 increases and 2 decreases at the Advanced level, 8 increases and 2 decreases at the High level, and 7 increases and 3 decreases at the Intermediate level, as well as 5 increases and 6 decreases at the Low level.