End of the gold rush

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The United States has won just one medal at the Education Olympics, 109 short of the hefty haul its team took home from Beijing.

The online event, run every four years to coincide with the 'real' Olympics, is designed to highlight differences in the United States' sporting and academic achievements. In doing so, it also pits itself against other countries' scholastic prowess.

Students compete in 58 different 'events', which are based on specific sections of four internationally recognised tests, PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) and CIVED (Civic Education Study).

The results, which are only intended to be a general indication of countries' academic ability, are calculated based on sample studies. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt all competed this year, but none received a medal.

The Education Olympics is organised by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a non-profit education policy organisation which aims to raise standards, strengthen accountability and expand education options for American parents and families.

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