The Pisa test explained: what is it and how does the UK perform?

The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) compares how well students across the world perform in reading, maths and science, offering a snapshot of how different countries’ education systems measure up.

Commonly referred to as the Pisa test, this assessment is carried out every three years and is designed to measure how effectively students can apply their knowledge to meet real-life challenges. The results are monitored by governments and often shape debates around education policy.

Here’s what the tests involve, how the rankings work and how the UK nations compare.

What is the Pisa test?

The Pisa test has been run by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an international membership organisation focused on economic and social development, since 2000. A total of 81 countries and economies took part in the most recent Pisa test in 2022.

Pisa compares how well education systems perform by looking at how effectively students can use what they have learned, rather than testing memory or knowledge of a specific curriculum.

Governments use the results to assess performance and inform education policy.

In 2022, around 690,000 students across the world took part, making it one of the largest international education studies.

Students answer a shared set of questions, allowing results to be compared fairly across countries. The assessment is designed to represent national education systems, rather than evaluate individual pupils.

What do the Pisa tests involve?

The Pisa test is taken by a sample of 15-year-old students - typically in Year 10 in England - with schools and students selected at random to represent each country’s education system.

It takes place every three years and is usually completed in school using a computer-based format. The assessment itself consists of a two-hour test, followed by a 40-minute student questionnaire.

The test focuses on three core areas: reading, maths and science. While all three subjects are tested in every cycle, one subject is designated as the main focus on a rotational basis. Mathematics was the primary focus in 2022.

Rather than testing knowledge of a specific curriculum, it assesses how well students can apply what they have learned in real-life situations.

For example, students might be asked to analyse a graph on climate change, interpret a train timetable, work through multi-step problems or explain how a vaccine works.

What are the Pisa rankings?

Pisa rankings are based on the average scores that countries achieve in reading, maths and science. Each country receives a score based on student performance.

These scores are set against the OECD averages. In 2022, the OECD average scores were 472 in maths, 476 in reading and 485 in science.

While countries are often ranked from highest to lowest, the scores themselves are more important than position in a league table.

In the 2022 results, countries such as Singapore, Japan and Estonia were among the highest performers, scoring well above the OECD average.

At the other end of the scale, countries including the Philippines, Morocco and the Dominican Republic were among the lowest-performing, with significantly fewer students reaching higher scores.

The Pisa results have shown a global decline, particularly in maths and reading, with some of the largest drops between 2018 and 2022. While some countries continue to perform strongly, others score significantly below the OECD average, highlighting gaps between education systems.

A country can move up the rankings even if its score falls, depending on how other countries perform.

How does the UK perform?

Overall, the UK performs above the OECD average across reading, maths and science, although results have fallen in some areas in recent years. In 2022, the UK scored 489 in maths, 494 in reading and 500 in science - all above the OECD averages.

However, performance varies across the UK’s four nations.

England is the highest performer, scoring above the OECD average in all three subjects and remaining relatively stable over time. However, Scotland has seen a gradual decline, with results now sitting closer to the average, particularly in maths and science.

Wales remains the lowest-performing UK nation. Its scores were below the OECD average across all subjects, with the country having experienced a sharper drop since 2018.

Northern Ireland’s results have been consistent and generally aligned with the OECD average, with performance varying slightly by subject but still above Wales and below England.

Why does Pisa matter?

As one of the biggest international studies of education, the Pisa programme provides a global picture of how well students are performing. Its findings are closely watched and often shape education policy, helping governments to identify strengths and weaknesses in their systems.

Kira Sutton is a freelance journalist