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Student reading and math scores hit record lows in PISA 2025
Rule ChangesOECD average reading and math scores fall to lowest levels ever recorded
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Overview
Updated 2 hours agoFifteen-year-olds across the developed world are reading and doing math worse than any cohort the OECD has measured. The 2025 PISA results, released Tuesday, show average reading scores fell 28 points across OECD countries since 2015, about a year and a half of learning. Math fell 22 points, just over a year.
The decline is broad but not universal. Singapore topped reading and placed second in math and science. Across the OECD, one in five students is now a low performer in all three subjects, up from 16% in 2022.
Digital distraction is a growing factor. More than one in four students said classmates were distracted by digital devices in most or every science lesson. The share of 'hasty readers' who rush through texts and answer quickly but incorrectly almost doubled between 2018 and 2025.
Why it matters
A generation of students is entering adulthood with weaker reading and math skills than their parents.
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Key Indicators
28 points
Reading score decline (OECD average, 2015-2025)
Equivalent to about 1.5 years of learning.
22 points
Math score decline (OECD average, 2015-2025)
Equivalent to just over one year of learning.
20%
Students who are low performers in all three subjects
Up from 16% in 2022.
760,000
Students assessed
Across 91 countries and economies, the largest PISA cycle ever.
85 points
Science score gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students
Socio-economic background remains a powerful predictor of performance.
Related Media
OECD Education on X: "PISA found record-low performance in reading and maths across the OECD ... ...but some countries bucked the trend, improving their science scores by more than 30 points, equivalent
Student performance in PISA 2025: PISA 2025 Results (Volume I) | OECD
Images from Openverse under Creative Commons licenses.
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People Involved
Organizations Involved
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
International organization
Administered PISA 2025
The OECD is an intergovernmental organization of 38 member countries that promotes policies to improve economic and social well-being.
Programme for International Student Assessment
International assessment program
Administered by OECD
PISA measures 15-year-olds' skills in reading, math, and science every three years across dozens of countries.
Timeline
January 2000 September 2026
6 events
Latest: Today
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PISA 2025 results show record lows
Today AssessmentOECD average reading and math scores hit lowest levels ever recorded. Science stabilizes after a decade of decline.
-
PISA 2022 results show continued declines
AssessmentPrevious PISA cycle shows further drops, with pandemic disruptions cited as a factor.
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Hasty readers begin to rise
TrendShare of students who rush through texts and answer quickly but incorrectly starts climbing.
-
Reading and math scores begin sharp decline
TrendOECD average reading and math scores start falling, a decline that accelerates over the next decade.
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Science scores begin downward trend
TrendOECD science scores start a decline that continues through 2022 before stabilizing.
-
First PISA assessment launched
MilestonePISA measures reading, math, and science in 43 countries for the first time.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
December 2001
Germany's PISA shock (2000)
Germany's first PISA results placed it below the OECD average in reading, math, and science. The mediocre showing triggered a national debate about education quality and led to major reforms.
Then
Germany introduced national education standards, expanded all-day schooling, and increased early childhood education funding.
Now
German PISA scores improved in subsequent cycles, showing that assessment-driven reform can work.
Why this matters now
Shows how PISA results can drive policy change when they shock the public and policymakers.
December 2013
East Asian dominance in PISA 2012
Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other East Asian systems dominated the top of PISA rankings, while OECD averages remained relatively stable.
Then
The results sparked debates about education reform in Western countries and highlighted the success of East Asian education systems.
Now
East Asian systems have maintained their lead, though even they show some declines in the 2025 cycle.
Why this matters now
Contrasts with the current cycle, where even top performers show declines and OECD averages have fallen sharply.
2019-2022
US NAEP declines (2019-2022)
The National Assessment of Educational Progress showed the largest-ever drop in 9-year-old reading and math scores between 2019 and 2022, largely attributed to pandemic school closures.
Then
The declines prompted federal and state responses, including tutoring programs and literacy initiatives.
Now
Scores have not fully recovered, suggesting the losses may be persistent.
Why this matters now
Parallels the PISA findings and suggests the decline is not limited to one assessment or country.
Sources
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