How to Improve Student Test Scores

Section 1: Top 35 Countries with the Highest PISA Scores

Data Source: PISA 2022 Results (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)). Data year: 2022. Countries with population over 5 million included.

Source: OECD PISA 2022 Results. Available at: (www.oecd.org)

United States Ranking: The United States ranked 33rd among PISA 2022 participating countries with populations over 5 million, achieving a composite PISA score of 465. The United States has historically performed below the OECD average due to several systemic factors.

These include significant achievement gaps between socioeconomic groups, inconsistent curriculum standards across states, disparities in school funding between wealthy and poor school districts, teacher shortages in critical STEM fields, and a cultural de-emphasis on academic achievement compared to top-performing East Asian nations.

In the most recent 2022 PISA cycle, the United States scored 465 in mathematics, reading, and science combined, placing it in the lower third of OECD nations. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated learning loss, particularly in mathematics, contributing to a decline from prior cycles.

The 8 Top Rated Countries with PISA Scores

References for Section 1 Data Sources:

1. OECD PISA 2022 Results: (www.oecd.org)

2. National Center for Education Statistics - PISA: (nces.ed.gov)

3. OECD iLibrary PISA Reports: (www.oecd-ilibrary.org)

Section 2: What Other Countries Have Done to Increase Their PISA Scores

The 8 Top Rated Countries with PISA Scores

Singapore

Singapore's exceptional PISA performance results from a highly coordinated national education strategy. The Ministry of Education Singapore (MOE) (www.moe.gov.sg) implemented the Teach Less, Learn More (TLLM) initiative, which shifted classrooms from rote memorization toward deep conceptual understanding and critical thinking.

The Singapore Teaching Practice framework mandates ongoing professional development for all teachers, ensuring instructional quality remains world-class. The National Institute of Education (NIE) (www.nie.edu.sg) rigorously trains teachers. The government invested in the Edusave scheme, providing every student with individual educational funds.

Singapore's Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) was reformed to reduce over-emphasis on grades.

Bilingual education policies have strengthened both English and mother-tongue proficiency. The Applied Learning Programme integrates real-world applications into the curriculum across all secondary schools.

Nippon (Japan)

Nippon has maintained elite PISA standings through its Monbukagakusho (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology - MEXT) (www.mext.go.jp) national curriculum reform programs.

The 2020 Course of Study introduced active learning methodologies and emphasized inquiry-based education.

Nippon's structured lesson study (jugyou kenkyuu) system requires teachers to collaborate in professional learning communities to design, observe, and refine lessons. The Japanese Teachers' Union and local boards of education fund professional development.

Nippon's Zenkoku Gakuryoku Chosa (National Assessment of Academic Ability) provides annual benchmarks. After a dip in earlier PISA cycles, MEXT launched emergency reading improvement programs including enhanced phonics instruction. The government's Society 5.0 initiative integrates technology into schools under the GIGA School Program, providing every student a device and high-speed internet.

Hanguk (South Korea)

Hanguk's education success is driven by the Ministry of Education (MOE) (english.moe.go.kr) and supported by Confucian cultural values that place the highest importance on academic achievement.

The Hanguk Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) (www.kice.re.kr) designs and annually revises the national curriculum. Government investments in hagwon (private tutoring academies) regulation aim to balance access.

Hanguk 's National Scholarship Program ensures economically disadvantaged students can attend top universities.

The government legislated the School Violence Prevention and Countermeasure Act to improve school environment and student well-being.

Hanguk invests approximately 5.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in education, among the highest proportions in the OECD. Teacher selection is highly competitive, drawing candidates from the top 5% of university graduates.

台灣 (Taiwan)

Taiwan Ministry of Education (english.moe.gov.tw) implemented the 12-Year Basic Education Curriculum Reform in 2019, transforming instruction from test-driven approaches to competency-based learning. The Curriculum Guidelines emphasize core competencies including self-directed learning, systemic thinking, and communication.

The National Academy for Educational Research (NAER) (www.naer.edu.tw) conducts research to improve learning standards.

Taiwan launched Technology-Enhanced Learning projects in all middle and high schools and significantly increased science and math instructional hours.

The government subsidizes teacher professional development through the 台灣 Taiwan Sustainable Education Initiative.

Canada

Canada's strong PISA performance is attributed to inclusive education policies and provincial investments.

The Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) (www.cmec.ca) coordinates national education strategy while provinces such as Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia lead implementation. Ontario's Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, operating under the Ontario Ministry of Education (www.cmec.ca), introduced evidence-based instructional coaching and school-level data analysis that improved reading scores dramatically. (www.ontario.ca)

Canada's multiculturalism policy and support for English Language Learner (ELL) students have ensured that immigrant students quickly reach grade-level proficiency.

Teacher unions negotiate strong professional development clauses, and teachers average 240 hours of professional learning annually.

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong's Education Bureau (EDB) (www.edb.gov.hk) has implemented the New Academic Structure Reform that shifted from a colonial British examination model to a more student-centered, locally relevant curriculum.

The Quality Education Fund finances innovation grants for schools implementing new pedagogical approaches. Hong Kong introduced Life-wide Learning policies that integrate outdoor education, service-learning, and arts programs alongside core academics to develop whole-person competencies.

The Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) (www.scolar.gov.hk) has driven biliteracy and trilingualism programs that significantly strengthen reading performance.

Estonia

Estonia has emerged as Europe's top PISA performer through strategic reforms by the Ministry of Education and Research (www.hm.ee).

Estonia's Tiger Leap (Tiigrihupe) program, launched in 1997, made Estonia one of the world's first nations to integrate digital technology into every classroom.

The national curriculum, revised in 2011 and 2014, emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, independent learning, and entrepreneurship.

Estonia's Innove Foundation and the Education and Youth Authority (Harno) (harno.ee) coordinate teacher development and monitor school effectiveness. Autonomous school governance, allowing principals and teachers to adapt curricula to local needs, has proven highly effective. Estonia allocates over 6% of GDP to education.

Nederland (Netherlands)

The Nederland' Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science) (www.government.nl) maintains PISA excellence through a uniquely decentralized school governance system. Dutch law (Article 23 of the Constitution) grants 'freedom of education,' allowing schools significant autonomy while the government sets attainment targets. The Onderwijsraad (Education Council) provides independent policy advice.

The Nederland invests in the Masterplan Basisvaardigheden (Basic Skills Master Plan), which targets literacy and numeracy improvements in primary school.

The Dutch Inspectorate of Education conducts regular school quality reviews. The SLO (National Institute for Curriculum Development) (www.slo.nl) develops and evaluates national curriculum standards.

References for Section 2:

1. OECD PISA Framework: (www.oecd.org)

2. Singapore MOE: (www.moe.gov.sg)

3. MEXT Nippon: (www.mext.go.jp)

4. Korea MOE: (english.moe.go.kr)

5. Estonia Ministry of Education: (www.hm.ee)

Section 3: What the United States Can Do to Increase Its PISA Scores

The United States' 33rd-place PISA ranking reflects a complex set of systemic challenges that require coordinated federal, state, and local action. The following broad strategies are recommended to substantially raise PISA performance:

1. Elevate Teacher Quality and Compensation

The United States could raise the social and economic status of the teaching profession.

Congress and state legislatures could enact legislation requiring competitive teacher salaries, with federal incentive grants tied to states that raise minimum teacher salaries to match median engineer compensation.

The Department of Education could fund Teacher Residency Programs modeled on medical residencies, ensuring new teachers receive two years of mentored clinical practice before leading classrooms independently.

States could adopt Nationally Board Certified Teacher standards and require ongoing professional development of at least 100 hours annually.

2. Reduce Achievement and Funding Gaps

Congress could reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to equalize per-pupil funding across rich and poor districts.

The Department of Education could expand the Title I program to ensure high-poverty schools receive at minimum 120% of per-pupil expenditure compared to affluent schools.

States could reform property tax-based school funding formulas to reduce disparities.

Federal early childhood education investment could expand Head Start to universal pre-K access for all three- and four-year-olds.

3. Reform Curriculum and Instruction

The Department of Education could create national frameworks for evidence-based math and reading curricula, similar to Singapore's Mathematics and Canada's balanced literacy program reforms.

States could mandate adoption of high-quality, evidence-based instructional materials. The National Science Foundation could fund STEM instructional innovation grants in underperforming districts.

Congress could establish a National Institute for Education Sciences with significantly expanded budget authority to evaluate and scale effective educational interventions.

4. Improve School Leadership and Governance

The Department of Education could create a Principal Excellence Fund to develop high-quality school leaders.

States could revise principal preparation programs to require data-driven instructional leadership training. School boards could adopt transparency and accountability policies including public publication of academic performance data disaggregated by race, income, and English learner status.

5. Expand Access to Technology and Innovation

Congress could fund a national Digital Equity in Education Act guaranteeing every student a learning device and broadband access.

The Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology could publish and fund adoption of digital learning standards. Federal grants could support development of artificial intelligence-assisted tutoring tools for personalized learning.

Section 4: References

Section 2 References:

OECD PISA 2022 Results: (www.oecd.org)

NCES PISA Data: (nces.ed.gov)

Singapore Ministry of Education: (www.moe.gov.sg)

Nippon MEXT: (www.mext.go.jp)

Hanguk Ministry of Education: (english.moe.go.kr)

台灣 Ministry of Education: (english.moe.gov.tw)

Council of Ministers of Education Canada: (www.cmec.ca)

Hong Kong Education Bureau: (www.edb.gov.hk)

Estonia Ministry of Education and Research: (www.hm.ee)

Nederland Ministry of Education: (www.government.nl)

Section 3 References:

U.S. Department of Education: (www.ed.gov)

National Science Foundation Education: (www.nsf.gov)

National Institute of Education Sciences: (ies.ed.gov)

Education Trust - Achievement Gap Research: (edtrust.org)

Learning Policy Institute: (learningpolicyinstitute.org)

Section 5: U.S. Organizations Advocating to Improve Student Test Scores

Section 6: Individuals Advocating to Improve Student Test Scores

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the United States rank on the 2022 PISA international student assessment?

The United States ranked 33rd among countries with populations over 5 million in the 2022 PISA assessment, achieving a composite score of 465. This places the US in the lower third of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations and below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average in mathematics, reading, and science.

What are the main reasons American students score lower than peers in top-performing countries?

Key factors include significant achievement gaps between socioeconomic groups, inconsistent curriculum standards across states, and wide disparities in school funding between wealthy and poor districts. Teacher shortages in STEM fields and a cultural de-emphasis on academic achievement compared to top-performing East Asian nations also contribute.

How did COVID-19 affect US student performance on international assessments?

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened learning loss across the United States, particularly in mathematics, contributing to a measurable decline from prior PISA cycles. This learning loss disproportionately affected students from lower-income households who had less access to remote learning resources.

What has Singapore done to achieve the highest PISA scores in the world?

Singapore implemented the Teach Less, Learn More initiative to shift from rote memorization toward critical thinking and deep conceptual understanding. The government also rigorously trains teachers through the National Institute of Education, funds individual student education accounts through the Edusave scheme, and integrates real-world learning through the Applied Learning Programme.

What education reforms has Japan used to improve its international test scores?

Japan's Ministry of Education introduced active and inquiry-based learning through its 2020 Course of Study reform. Teachers participate in a structured lesson study system where they collaborate to design and refine lessons, and the government's GIGA School Program has provided every student with a personal device and high-speed internet access.

What lessons from top-ranked PISA countries could the United States apply to improve student achievement?

The US could adopt more consistent national curriculum standards, invest heavily in teacher professional development and training quality as Singapore and Japan have done, and reduce funding disparities between school districts. Shifting classroom emphasis toward critical thinking and inquiry-based learning, rather than standardized test preparation, is another strategy shared by the highest-performing nations.

About the Author

Ronald Bonfilio has devoted his career to public service spanning more than five decades. His service began with the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, where he conducted medical laboratory research at Fort Detrick and at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He subsequently held a distinguished series of federal positions, including roles with the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (Vietnam), the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, and the U.S. State Department (Iraq), where he served as a Senior Economic Advisor and Agricultural Advisor. He also served 15 years with the U.S. Government Accountability Office as a Program Analyst and Auditor.

Ronald Bonfilio holds a degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, and degrees in Chemistry and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. He is a former Certified Public Accountant.