Math Scores Declining

Math scores are in decline, even in top countries. Scores have been decreasing for a decade, with test performances dropping to record lows during the pandemic. But some countries have maintained above-average scores. This chart shows the 23 countries whose 2022 test scores were above the global average of 472 in 2022 and how those scores compared to their 2018 scores. Overall, math test scores are headed in the wrong direction when compared to pre-pandemic testing in 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic seems an obvious factor to have impacted results in the 2022 period. However, educational trajectories were negative well before the pandemic hit. The secondary chart at the bottom shows the overall downward trajectory of student scores in math, science and reading since 2006. This indicates that longstanding issues in educational systems are also to blame for the drop in performance.

PISA stands for Programme for International Student Assessment. Administered throughout the world every three years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the test measures students’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges. The test assesses 15-year-olds only, as this is the last point at which most children are still enrolled in formal education. Each testing year focuses on a single topic and for 2022, it was math. Eighty countries participated in the 2022 testing cycle.

NOTE: The 2022 edition of PISA was originally planned to take place in 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The exceptional circumstances throughout this period, including lockdowns and school closures, led to occasional difficulties in collecting some data. While the vast majority of countries and economies met PISA’s technical standards, a small number did not. Given the unprecedented situation, PISA 2022 results include data from all participating education systems, including those where there were issues such as low response rates. Countries and economies where this may be an issue include Hong Kong, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, UK, Australia, Latvia and New Zealand.