Catalonia has scored a massive fail in the 2022 PISA tests. The results have plummeted to very worrying levels in the three areas of assessment included in the tests, placing Catalan students below the average in Spain and the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The report, published this Tuesday, reveals that in the mathematics test, Catalonia students averaged 469 points - 21 fewer than the last tests, performed in 2018. This figure is already the lowest since 2006. In terms of scientific competences, Catalan teenagers obtained 477 points, 12 fewer than in 2018, and the worst since 2003. Finally, in reading comprehension the Catalan was also at lowest level since 2006, with 462 points, 22 fewer than in 2018, and at the tail end of the Spanish state, ahead of only Andalusia, with 461, Melilla, with 405 and Ceuta, with 404.
PISA tests assess the mathematics, science and reading comprehension skills of more than 700,000 15-year-old students in 81 countries around the world. In Catalonia, the tests took place in spring 2022. The OECD report establishes six levels according to student performance. Thus, in levels 5 and 6 are students with high abilities; in levels 3 and 4, students with moderate abilities; in level 2, students with basic abilities; and in level 1, students with low school performance.
Worst results in all subjects in Catalonia
In mathematics, Catalan students obtained 469 points, while in 2018 they obtained 490 points. These figures place Catalonia below the Spanish average, where the result in mathematical competence was 473 points. In addition, Catalan students were also below the average among OECD countries in the same subject, which is 472 points. In mathematics, Catalonia is at the bottom of the Spanish ratings, matching Extremadura (469), and ahead of Castile-La Mancha (464), Murcia (463), Andalusia (457), Canary Islands (447), Melilla (404), and Ceuta (395). The data confirms Catalonia's worst result in mathematical skills since 2006.
In terms of scientific abilities, Catalonia recorded the worst results since 2003. Catalan 15-year-olds obtained 477 points, 12 fewer than the 2018 tests, and 8 points behind the Spanish and OECD average of 485 points. In this area, only the communities of Castile-La Mancha (475), Andalusia (473), Canary Islands (473), Melilla (414) and Ceuta (410) obtained worse results than Catalonia.
Finally, to reading comprehension, where the results are also worrying: Catalan students recorded the worst data since 2006. In this test area, Catalonia achieved 462 points, that is, 22 fewer than in 2018. The score places Catalonia 12 points below the Spanish average of 474, and up to 14 below the average for OECD countries, at 476. At Spanish level, only Andalusia (461), Melilla (405) and Ceuta (404) have worse results than Catalonia.
Spain, worst result in mathematics
Across the Spanish state as a whole, there is not much cause for celebration either. Students in Spain obtained their worst results in the history of the PISA Report in mathematics in the 2022 edition, results in reading comprehension have also fallen compared to the 2018 report, but they did improve in science. Spanish students obtained 473 points in maths, which is their worst result in the history of the report - since 2003 they have always obtained at least 480 points - and 8 points fewer than in 2018, when they obtained 481 points.
Seventy-three percent of Spanish students achieved at least level 2 in maths, higher than the average for OECD countries (69%). Regarding reading, 76% of students in Spain achieved level 2 or higher, and finally, in science, 79% of Spanish students reached level 2 or higher, compared to the OECD average of 76%. The study also reveals gender differences in student performance. In Spain, boys surpassed girls in mathematics by 10 points, but the girls were ahead of the boys in reading comprehension by 25 points.
Singapore leads the ranking
At global level, Singapore leads the ranking in all three areas analyzed in the PISA 2022 report. In mathematical competence, the best results were obtained by Singapore (575), Japan (536), Korea (527), Estonia (510) and Switzerland (508). In reading comprehension, Singapore (543), Japan (516), Ireland (516), Korea (515), and Estonia (511) top the list of results. Finally, in scientific competency, the best results were recorded in Singapore (561), Japan (547), Korea (528), Estonia (526) and Canada (515).