To get an idea of what international standards look like, a good place to start is to review the OECD report Assessing Scientific, Reading and Mathematical Literacy: A Framework for PISA 2006. This report presents the conceptual framework underlying the PISA 2006 survey.

Please note that this document takes a little time to download and review. It is arranged in the following domain areas: Chapter 1: “Scientific Literacy,” Chapter 2: “Reading Literacy” and Chapter 3: “Mathematical Literacy.” You can find it at: http://browse.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/pdfs/browseit/9806031E.pdf.