I The results
On 2 December 2019, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published its triennial Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results. These are tests that 15-year-old students from 79 countries[1] last sat in 2018. PISA measures (from each of the countries that participates) a sample of 15-year-old students’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges. According to the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) analysis, the results of UK students in mathematics improved significantly on three years ago.
- In reading, the UK was 14th, up from 22nd in the previous tests three years ago.
- In science, the UK was 14th, up from 15th.
- In maths, the UK was 18th, up from 27th.