{"id":83249,"date":"2026-09-08T17:37:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T09:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=83249"},"modified":"2026-09-08T17:37:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T09:37:05","slug":"spore-students-top-pisa-in-reading-second-in-math-and-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=83249","title":{"rendered":"S&#8217;pore students top Pisa in reading, second in math and science"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary article-summary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE &#8211; Singapore\u2019s 15-year-olds have emerged among the top performers in an international benchmarking study to measure how well education systems are preparing students for complex challenges and the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Republic came in first for reading, and second for mathematics and science in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) 2025, based on the performance of 6,551 students across 157 schools here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Singapore was ranked second in computational problem-solving, a new section that evaluated how 15-year-olds break down complex tasks and design algorithms to solve real-world challenges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A record 91 countries and economies took part in the latest assessment, up from 81 in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/singapore-students-rank-top-in-maths-science-and-reading-in-oecd-study?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">previous test in 2022<\/span><\/a>. The latest study, which is done every three years by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), was released on Sept 8.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Pisa 2025 survey focused on science, with mathematics and reading as minor areas. It also assessed <!-- -->for the first time <!-- -->learning in the digital world, <!-- -->measuring students\u2019 capacities to build knowledge and solve problems using computational tools.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/TNyii\/4\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">China and Singapore were the highest performers across science, mathematics and reading in 2025, with China <!-- -->leading in<!-- --> math and science, and Singapore <!-- -->emerging first<!-- --> in reading.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Estonia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Taiwan and <!-- -->Britain<!-- --> also ranked among the top 10 performing education systems in all three domains. Macau came out tops for computational problem solving<!-- -->, a new segment that assessed how well students can solve problems using computational practices such as analysing data.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/VcGxU\/3\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Pisa report noted that<!-- --> many parents still wrongly regard computer science as a specialist subject, useful mainly for aspiring software engineers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThis is a mistake. The real value of computational problem solving lies not in coding itself, but in the habits it develops,\u201d said the report, citing <!-- -->skills like<!-- --> logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and the ability to break complex challenges into manageable parts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThese are becoming essential skills for a world increasingly shaped by technology and data.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/mCRMu\/3\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Test questions<!-- --> in this area examined students\u2019 capacity to use modelling and programming tools, conduct experiments and build and <!-- -->debug computational artefacts &#8211; such as programming a robotic claw to sort objects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Overall, Pisa 2025 recorded the lowest OECD-average performance observed so far in science, reading and mathematics. <!-- -->Science scores have declined gradually over the past decade, and mathematics scores fell especially sharply after 2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Reading performance saw the most significant drop over the past decade, after peaking around 2012.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In reading, Pisa saw a decline in the skills that matter most in the AI age: evaluating information, making connections across multiple sources, and thinking critically, said the latest report. <!-- -->Across countries<!-- -->, the share of \u201chasty readers\u201d \u2013 students who rush through texts and give quick but incorrect answers \u2013 almost doubled between 2018 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Compared with the 2022 results, students in Singapore recorded lower scores in mathematics and reading, and maintained their performance in science.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/bQlZu\/4\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In a statement, t<!-- -->he Education Ministry said the results affirm the strengths of students here in applying knowledge to solve complex problems and being engaged with learning, \u201cputting them in good stead for lifelong learning\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cMore than half of our students are top performers in computational problem solving, compared to a quarter of students in OECD countries on average.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They are \u201chighly effective\u201d in conducting experiments, analysing data, and building and debugging computational artefacts to solve complex real-world problems, MOE added.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Do9K4\/4\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The ministry also noted how Singapore\u2019s proportion of academic all-rounders (15%) &#8211;<!-- --> top performers who did well<!-- --> in reading, mathematics, and science &#8211; is the highest among all participating education systems, and five times that of the OECD average (3%).<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Singapore also continues to have one of the highest proportions of top performers, and one of the lowest <!-- -->shares<!-- --> of low performers in Pisa 2025, <!-- -->across mathematics, reading and science<!-- -->, said MOE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But the gap between students here with scores in the top and bottom 10 per cent widened across all three <!-- -->areas<!-- --> from 2022 to 2025. This underscores the importance of continuing to support students with different learning needs, said MOE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Pisa report noted that Singapore\u2019s students in the top 25 per cent by socio-economic background outperformed those in the bottom 25 per cent by the equivalent of more than four years of <!-- -->learning in science.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">MOE said it has been expanding efforts to support academically weaker students and those from more vulnerable backgrounds. It will continue to do so through ComLink+, and by providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/more-support-for-disadvantaged-students-review-of-milestone-exams-among-moe-initiatives?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">additional manpower and resourcing to more schools<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Schools with a higher number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive additional manpower and resourcing to support students\u2019 social-emotional and well-being. These efforts include strengthened after-school engagements and partnerships with the community to support students and their families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">ComLink+, a national programme, has family coaches and volunteer befrienders work with lower-income families with children on their plans to support their needs and aspirations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Speaking to The Straits Times on the findings, OECD\u2019s director for education and skills Dr Andreas Schleicher said reading is a \u201cgreat strength\u201d in Singapore. \u201cReading is the mother of all skills. If you can\u2019t read, you\u2019re not going to be successful in anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">MOE\u2019s <!-- -->director-general of education Liew Wei Li said the Pisa results provide useful insights about Singapore\u2019s students as learners, showing that they are curious, perseverant, and care about the world. This is on top of having strong foundations in reading, mathematical and scientific literacies, and competencies essential for thriving in life and at work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe findings also show where we can do better. We will continue to help our children, regardless of their background or starting point, to thrive and learn confidently,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"border-default\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">Are you as smart as Singapore\u2019s 15-year-olds?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Try answering these four science and computational problem-solving questions. Click or tap the images to enlarge them.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-primary-headline-sm-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">1. Wind turbine farm: Explain phenomena scientifically<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static1.straitstimes.com.sg\/s3fs-public\/2026-09\/pisa-turbine-farm.pdf?VersionId=YnzxHni90y.tZAFDIwdSFWesCJZISwM_\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_self\" data-testid=\"inline-image-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/5f2be630257e14aeff8e0d50126a71c7a7b95ebf8e23c0407ceffaaa0a75a525?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/5f2be630257e14aeff8e0d50126a71c7a7b95ebf8e23c0407ceffaaa0a75a525?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/5f2be630257e14aeff8e0d50126a71c7a7b95ebf8e23c0407ceffaaa0a75a525?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/5f2be630257e14aeff8e0d50126a71c7a7b95ebf8e23c0407ceffaaa0a75a525\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/5f2be630257e14aeff8e0d50126a71c7a7b95ebf8e23c0407ceffaaa0a75a525\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"font-primary-headline-sm-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">2. Fast fashion: Explain phenomena scientifically<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static1.straitstimes.com.sg\/s3fs-public\/2026-09\/pisa-fast-fashion.pdf?VersionId=KblO8MtlhEnTx5MDsTvcBhxi48vP9tLp\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_self\" data-testid=\"inline-image-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8ad7461988b7d02ad6df5254a545a6c8e594a0da46bbe33edaa456bdd701df14?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8ad7461988b7d02ad6df5254a545a6c8e594a0da46bbe33edaa456bdd701df14?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8ad7461988b7d02ad6df5254a545a6c8e594a0da46bbe33edaa456bdd701df14?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8ad7461988b7d02ad6df5254a545a6c8e594a0da46bbe33edaa456bdd701df14\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8ad7461988b7d02ad6df5254a545a6c8e594a0da46bbe33edaa456bdd701df14\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"font-primary-headline-sm-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">3. Recycling claw: Build and debug computational artefacts<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static1.straitstimes.com.sg\/s3fs-public\/2026-09\/pisa-recycling-claw.pdf?VersionId=zbg781rHibrw26RWiu53tmaOGckGnofz\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_self\" data-testid=\"inline-image-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/f70602c9919d7cca7b805f22f6704a5a4eb089e7ab95d1928313f09641627999?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/f70602c9919d7cca7b805f22f6704a5a4eb089e7ab95d1928313f09641627999?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/f70602c9919d7cca7b805f22f6704a5a4eb089e7ab95d1928313f09641627999?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/f70602c9919d7cca7b805f22f6704a5a4eb089e7ab95d1928313f09641627999\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/f70602c9919d7cca7b805f22f6704a5a4eb089e7ab95d1928313f09641627999\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"font-primary-headline-sm-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">4. Fitness app: Conduct experiments and analyse data<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static1.straitstimes.com.sg\/s3fs-public\/2026-09\/pisa-fitness-app.pdf?VersionId=YCQPCcOqicBuTINTcnw6JhSGNCxIG7ZT\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_self\" data-testid=\"inline-image-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/babc9830ddc627c6acf7c7dcc55568fc4c2dd4f4d79f70f4f32b59dcddff1844?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/babc9830ddc627c6acf7c7dcc55568fc4c2dd4f4d79f70f4f32b59dcddff1844?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/babc9830ddc627c6acf7c7dcc55568fc4c2dd4f4d79f70f4f32b59dcddff1844?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/babc9830ddc627c6acf7c7dcc55568fc4c2dd4f4d79f70f4f32b59dcddff1844\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/babc9830ddc627c6acf7c7dcc55568fc4c2dd4f4d79f70f4f32b59dcddff1844\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/parenting-education\/singapore-students-rank-top-in-reading-second-in-math-and-science-in-oecd-study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE &#8211; Singapore\u2019s 15-year-olds have emerged among the top performers in an international benchmarking study to measure how well education systems are preparing students for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":83250,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=83249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/83250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=83249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=83249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=83249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}