New test results suggest that students in the United States are performing above average in science and reading compared with other countries, but there may be more to the story.¶
The 2025 PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) results indicate that while American students’ exam scores are beginning to surpass those of other countries, it is not because their scores are rising; other countries’ scores are simply decreasing faster.¶
What is the PISA Exam
The PISA exam assesses the abilities of 15-year-old students worldwide in problem solving, critical thinking, and communication. It also includes questionnaires that provide information about students' learning environments. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) administers the test every three years, and more than 100 countries participate.¶
Since 2000, the United States has participated in PISA and has used the results to compare how its students are learning in math, reading, and science with those of other countries. The exam also allows policymakers to draw lessons from other global education practices and introduce new practices that support student success.¶
Overall, the PISA results indicate that achieving strong student performance remains a problem worldwide.¶
U.S. Results
Although U.S. students remain competitive in reading, approximately 24 countries perform better in mathematics. The United States averaged a score of 490 in reading and 463 in mathematics. The maximum score a country can get in each category is about 1,000 points, but the average is about 500.¶
U.S. reading scores have dropped sharply since 2022 and are now at their lowest level in 25 years, though they remain above the international average. National math scores are as low as they have been since 2000, but there has been no significant decline in science.¶
Comparison With Other Countries
On the surface, America may show declining scores, but because other countries' scores are declining faster, the U.S. is moving up in the rankings.¶
The OECD average has declined by about 20 points since 2010, with reading scores falling in many countries since 2012, and math scores are also down worldwide since 2018.¶
Among the countries that performed better than the United States were China, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Singapore, which ranked at or near the top in science, mathematics, and reading. Other high-performing countries include Estonia, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, and the United Kingdom.¶
Impact of AI
Experts have linked the falling scores partly to AI, smartphones, and social media, as well as the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though most declines began before 2020.¶
Specifically, student use of AI chatbots has become widespread, with more than half of students using AI several times a month for schoolwork, raising concerns that AI dependence may reduce learning opportunities.¶
The OECD also noted limitations in the U.S. dataset, including a smaller student sample than hoped for and a large amount of missing data from the background questionnaire, and said these points should be considered when interpreting certain findings about U.S. exam results.¶
