The latest ‘PISA 2025 Results’ from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveal that many countries scored higher than the United States in student achievement. This assessment, known as PISA, measures the abilities of 15-year-old students across reading, math, and science.
PISA 2025: U.S. Scores and Global Comparisons
In the 2025 PISA exam, American 15-year-olds achieved a reading score of 490 and a math score of 463. Twenty-four countries performed better than the U.S. in math, while ten of these also outperformed in reading. More than 760,000 students from 91 countries participated, including 4,600 American students.
Countries Outperforming the U.S.
Singapore led with the highest reading score at 535. China followed at 527. In math, China scored 612, and Singapore 563. China’s scores represent only four regions: Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Notably, Chinese Taipei also surpassed U.S. scores in both subjects.
Japan, Korea, and Estonia excelled over the U.S. in both math and reading. Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand scored higher in reading only. Countries such as Switzerland, Canada, and Poland outperformed in math alone. Germany and Sweden narrowly exceeded U.S. math scores.
U.S. Performance Vs. OECD Averages
Despite not leading, U.S. students scored above the average of the 38 OECD countries in reading and science, and near average in math. They also excelled in computational problem solving, led by China, Singapore, and Japan.
A Decade of Declining Scores
Global student performance in reading, math, and science has been declining over the past decade. PISA 2025 results highlight this trend, continuing a decrease that began before the pandemic. Science scores among OECD countries fell from 489 in 2015 to 482 in 2025, while math dropped from 485 in 2015 to 463 in 2025. Reading recorded the biggest decline.
Around 20% of OECD 15-year-olds are low performers in all three subjects, rising from 16% in 2022. This issue underscores a lack of foundational skills for future success, as stated by OECD’s Andreas Schleicher.
Socioeconomic Achievement Gaps
Achievement gaps persist across socioeconomic groups. Wealthier students experienced the most significant declines, narrowing the performance gap. The number of ‘hasty readers’ who rush through texts increased, impacting results.
Rankings and Challenges for U.S. Schools
The U.S. rankings improved not due to its own performance but due to faster declines in other countries. American reading scores are near a 25-year low. For math, scores are among the lowest since 2000.
American proficiency in reading reached 74%, compared to 69% for the OECD average. Math proficiency stood at 65%. Only 8% of American students scored at the highest level in math, compared to 37% in Singapore.
Caveats and Sample Bias
The U.S. results came with several caveats. The American sample of students did not meet PISA’s response-rate targets, suggesting possible bias. Additionally, incomplete questionnaires prevented analysis by race and income.
Impact of Digital Devices and AI on Learning
Digital devices distracted many students during science lessons. However, moderate classroom use was associated with stronger scores, whereas leisure use led to lower performance. Engagement with AI tools showed mixed impacts on student performance.
Bullying had a negative correlation with scores. Students facing threats or online embarrassment scored significantly lower, though such incidents remained relatively uncommon.
Positive Trends in Other Countries
Certain countries saw improvements in science scores. Costa Rica, Slovakia, and Türkiye, along with others, achieved gains in their OECD scores. Türkiye’s scores increased by nearly 70 points over a decade, equivalent to three years of learning.
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