PISA test reveals alarming drop in reading and math skills

The 2025 PISA study has recorded a sharp deterioration in reading and mathematics performance among 15-year-olds around the world, with the steepest declines concentrated in OECD countries.

Published on September 8, the assessment measured how well students apply reading, mathematics and science skills to real-life situations. More than 760,000 students in 91 countries and economies took part. Unlike tests based on memorized school material, PISA focuses on problem-solving and practical application.

Between 2015 and 2025, reading scores fell by 28 points on average in OECD countries and by 16 points elsewhere. Mathematics scores declined by 22 points across the OECD, compared with eight points in other participating countries and economies. Science, the main focus of the 2025 assessment, dropped by seven points in OECD countries, while results elsewhere remained broadly stable.

Around 29% of OECD students were classified as low performers across reading, mathematics and science. These students may struggle to interpret simple data, locate information in basic texts or understand the relationship between units and prices. Reading suffered the sharpest overall decline, falling by 25 points across the OECD. The study says 20 points roughly equal a year of learning, suggesting that many 15-year-olds performed at a level normally expected of 14-year-olds.

Iceland and Slovenia recorded the largest OECD reading declines, each losing more than 50 points. Only five countries improved their reading scores: Qatar, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Philippines and Zambia. The study said those systems deserved recognition for making measurable gains despite the broader decline. It also noted major differences between schools in some countries, including Germany, while others showed far less variation.