Thousands of students in Wales are preparing to take the latest international education assessments as the results of the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests are set to be published later this year. With Wales’ education system previously ranked as the lowest in the UK for five consecutive assessments, the upcoming results will be crucial in determining whether recent educational reforms have had a positive impact.
The PISA tests, conducted every three years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), provide a comparative analysis of educational performance among 15-year-olds across various countries. In 2022, Wales scored its lowest ever results, lagging significantly in mathematics, reading, and science compared to other UK nations. Data released three years ago indicated that Wales fell behind by 54 points in mathematics, 53 points in reading, and 55 points in science, equating to a loss of nearly a full year of education.
This year, over 3,000 students from 114 schools in Wales participated in the online tests, a significant increase from the 89 schools involved in the previous assessment. The results are expected to be announced in September 2025. In the lead-up to this assessment, the Welsh Government has intensified efforts to improve literacy and numeracy, which have been identified as key priorities.
Education Minister Lynne Neagle expressed optimism about the potential for improved results this time around. “We are very enthusiastic about continuing to participate in PISA and I am hopeful we will have some improvement in our results,” she stated. Neagle acknowledged that while the PISA results from 2022 were disappointing, there has been a concerted effort to enhance educational standards since then.
The Welsh Government’s strategy has included familiarizing students with the testing format and enhancing curriculum delivery. Neagle noted that students sitting the tests this year were better prepared, as they had been provided with resources and guidance on PISA expectations.
Despite these efforts, skepticism remains among some educators. Professor Alma Harris from Cardiff Metropolitan University expressed concern that PISA may not effectively capture the nuances of Wales’ evolving education system. “Education reform is a slow burn,” she remarked, suggesting that the impact of recent curriculum changes may not yet be reflected in the upcoming assessment results.
Similarly, Professor Graham French from Bangor University questioned the overall value of PISA as a measurement tool, urging that it be considered alongside other indicators of educational success. He emphasized the need to understand how students arrive at and leave school, rather than relying solely on standardized tests for assessment.
The OECD has previously endorsed Wales’ educational reforms and indicated that the country is on the right path. The organization emphasizes that the PISA tests are only one of many tools needed to evaluate an education system comprehensively.
Unlike traditional exams, the PISA tests are adaptive and randomly assign different questions to participants, making direct comparisons across countries complex. With more than 700,000 students worldwide taking the tests in 2025, the results will provide an important snapshot of educational performance.
As Wales awaits the outcome of this pivotal assessment, the focus remains on whether the changes implemented in recent years will translate into improved educational outcomes. The outcome of the PISA tests may not only reflect the current state of education in Wales but also influence future policies and reforms aimed at enhancing student achievement.
