How PISA 2022 Results Highlighted 6 Factors That Reduce Academic Achievement

In December 2023, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presented the results of an international study on the assessment of educational achievements of students within the PISA programme, conducted in 2022. This study assesses the level of education in various countries and identifies key factors influencing student achievement. PISA results help educational institutions and policymakers develop strategies to improve the quality of education and enhance learning processes.

About 690,000 adolescents from 81 countries and territories participated in PISA 2022. Russia did not participate in this study, but learning about its results may be useful and engaging. The study identified the main factors that reduce the educational achievement of 15-year-olds. These reasons can occur in any country, including Russia. Understanding these factors allows us to develop effective strategies to improve the quality of education and address current issues.

This time, the study focused on mathematical literacy, devoting half of the test time to solving mathematical problems. In addition, levels of natural science and reading literacy were traditionally assessed, as well as financial literacy, with tasks on the latter included in the test on a voluntary basis. The participants' creative thinking was also tested.

How bad are the results of the last wave of PISA?

The organizers of the PISA study assumed that the results of the current wave would be lower compared to 2018 due to the transition to distance learning during the pandemic. However, the decline turned out to be unprecedented. This underscores the serious impact that the pandemic has had on education systems around the world and calls into question the level of student preparation in the new realities.

According to the OECD, over the course of long-term studies, the average score of PISA participants in various types of literacy changed by no more than four to five points between testing waves. This indicates the stability of the results and confirms the resilience of education systems in different countries.

In 2022, compared with 2018, the results in mathematical literacy decreased by almost 15 points, and in reading literacy - by about 10 points. The indicators for natural science literacy remained at the same level. This decline highlights the need to improve educational programs and teaching methods to improve student proficiency.

The scores, which dropped by 10-15 points, represent the average scores for all participating countries. These data reflect a general deterioration in results observed in almost all countries, and in some cases the decline was even more significant.

The PISA results can be found in the first volume of the OECD report. This document provides detailed data and analysis that help understand the level of education in different countries. The PISA study focuses on assessing students’ knowledge and skills in areas such as mathematics, reading, and natural sciences. The results obtained can be useful for educational institutions, policymakers, and researchers seeking to improve the quality of education and increase the competitiveness of students in the international arena.

Mathematical literacy plays a key role in modern society. It includes the ability not only to perform arithmetic operations but also to apply mathematical knowledge to solve real-world problems. In a rapidly changing world where data and analytics are becoming key decision-making tools, the ability to work with numbers and graphs is essential. Developing mathematical literacy improves critical thinking and the ability to analyze information, which is important in both personal and professional life. Improving your mathematical skills can boost your confidence and open up new educational and career opportunities. To succeed in mathematics, it is important not only to memorize formulas but also to understand basic concepts, which helps you apply knowledge in different situations.

In Albania, Jordan, Iceland, Norway, and Malaysia, the average mathematical literacy score has dropped more than 30 points compared to 2018.
Mathematics scores have dropped by more than 20 points (but less than 30) in Baku (Azerbaijan), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Thailand.

Reading literacy is an important aspect of education, impacting a person's ability to understand and analyze textual information. It is a key skill necessary for successful learning and work in a modern society, where information is available in various forms. Developing reading literacy involves not only reading but also interpreting what you've read, drawing conclusions, and critically evaluating information.

To improve reading literacy, it's important to focus on a variety of texts, including fiction, scientific articles, and informational materials. Reading a variety of genres helps develop skills in analyzing and comparing information and broadens your horizons. It's also important to actively discuss what you've read to deepen your understanding and exchange opinions.

Modern technology offers additional opportunities for developing reading literacy. E-books, online courses, and educational platforms can be effective tools in this process. Using interactive assignments and quizzes not only tests your knowledge but also makes the learning process more engaging and accessible.

Maintaining interest in reading and developing reading literacy requires a systematic approach and ongoing practice. This not only enriches a person's inner world, but also contributes to their personal and professional growth.

The average scores of schoolchildren in Albania, Iceland, and North Macedonia dropped by more than 30 points.
On average, scores were lost in Baku, Finland, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Slovenia.

On average, the level of natural science literacy of PISA participants worldwide remained at the 2018 level, but some countries have seen a significant drop in the average score, exceeding 20 points. These countries include Albania, Iceland, Malaysia, and North Macedonia. This demonstrates the need to improve education systems and enhance the quality of teaching in the natural sciences.

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According to PISA data, 20 points represent the amount of knowledge and skills that students are purchased in one academic year. This means that in some countries, participants have essentially lost a year or more of their education. The second part of the OECD report examines the likely causes of the decline in PISA scores. This analysis highlights the importance of understanding the factors influencing students' educational attainment and skills, as well as the need to improve educational strategies to enhance learning.

Reason 1: Lack of product information. Users often hesitate to make purchasing decisions due to a lack of information about a product. This can be due to insufficiently detailed descriptions, a lack of images or videos, or a lack of reviews from other buyers. To increase conversion, it is important to provide a complete and informative presentation of the product, including its features, benefits, and how to use it. Detailed descriptions and high-quality images will help users make informed choices and increase trust in your brand.

The "Shock Effect" of the Pandemic

PISA 2022, according to the OECD, is the first large-scale international educational study that provides an opportunity to compare data on the educational achievements of schoolchildren both before and after the pandemic. School closures during this period, according to experts, are one of the reasons for the decline in PISA results. The study emphasizes the importance of analyzing the impact of global crises on education systems and their ability to adapt to new conditions.

The five countries with the highest scores in all three types of literacy include Japan and Taiwan, where schools were closed for less than two months, according to PISA data. At the same time, in the United States, there is a decrease in the average score for mathematical literacy by 13 points, which is associated with the prolonged closure of educational institutions. In response to this problem, government initiatives aimed at improving student achievement are being developed.

According to strong PISA results, the availability of teacher support during school closures is directly related to the effectiveness of remote learning. Countries where students were able to access teacher support during remote learning demonstrate higher mathematics scores. This underscores the importance of providing high-quality educational support in a remote learning environment.

Analysis of PISA data revealed that deterioration in results is observed in various countries, both in those where remote learning lasted for more than three months (for example, Brazil, Ireland, and Jamaica) and in those where schools were closed for short periods (as in Iceland and Sweden). This suggests that the duration of school closures during the pandemic is not the only factor determining the success or failure of education systems. The diversity of results highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to analyzing the pandemic's impact on education, taking into account multiple factors, including the quality of the educational process, teacher training, and access to resources.

Experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conclude that the decline in results cannot be entirely explained by the impact of the coronavirus alone. The pandemic has had a significant impact, but this impact is combined with deeper, longer-term factors that also contributed to the deterioration.

Analysis of PISA results shows how average student scores have changed across countries over previous PISA cycles. For example, in mathematics, negative trends were recorded even before 2018 in countries such as Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Slovakia. These data highlight the need for an in-depth analysis of education systems and the need to find effective solutions to improve student outcomes.

Reason 2: The Importance of Choosing the Right Approach

Choosing an approach to solving a problem plays a key role in a successful outcome. The wrong method can lead to inefficiency and a waste of time. It is important to consider the specifics of a specific situation and adapt the strategy to achieve the maximum result. Using proven methods and techniques can significantly increase the likelihood of success. This is especially true in a competitive market, where every detail can be crucial.

When choosing an approach, you should also take into account the opinions of experts and analyze existing experience. This will help avoid common mistakes and optimize the process. A high-quality approach to solving problems not only improves results but also contributes to the development of the skills and knowledge necessary for further growth.

Educational Inequality

The PISA 2022 study, as in previous cycles, revealed differences in the educational achievements of students due to the socioeconomic status of their families. These findings highlight the importance of social context in shaping academic achievement, requiring attention from educational institutions and policymakers to develop effective strategies to support students from less advantaged backgrounds.

Study participants from more affluent families in OECD countries scored 93 points higher on average in mathematics than their peers from poorer families. Across 22 countries, this gap in performance is even more pronounced. This demonstrates the significant impact of socioeconomic status on educational achievement, highlighting the need to develop strategies to reduce this inequality.

Children from low socioeconomic status families in OECD countries face a significantly increased risk of literacy failure. Experts have found that such children are seven times more likely to fail a basic level of numeracy than their peers from more affluent families. This risk is also high for reading literacy, with children five times more likely to score poorly than children from higher socioeconomic status. This highlights the need to develop effective educational programs and supports for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure they have equal opportunities for successful learning and development.

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In most OECD countries, the situation remained unchanged from 2018, but in twelve countries, the gap in achievement between children from different economic groups has widened. This underscores the importance of carefully analyzing the socioeconomic factors that influence educational achievement. Increasing inequality in education can have long-term consequences for the future of these children and society as a whole.

There is significant inequality in education between countries. In some countries, students from disadvantaged backgrounds perform better than their peers from advantaged backgrounds in other countries. For example, the results of the top 20% of participants in the international PISA study from Uzbekistan, Jordan, and the Dominican Republic were lower than the results of students from low socioeconomic status families in Singapore, Japan, and Estonia. This highlights the importance of social factors and their impact on educational achievement, which requires attention and solutions at the level of policies and educational programs.

The differences in educational outcomes among students across countries are likely due to different levels of per-pupil funding in education systems. OECD research has shown that this factor explains 51% of the variation in average student scores. However, after a certain threshold is reached, when per-pupil spending exceeds $75,000 over the entire school year, the relationship between funding and educational outcomes ceases to be significant. This suggests that education quality depends not only on financial investments but also on other factors, such as teaching methods, teacher training, and the educational environment.

In the PISA subject rankings, countries with varying levels of education spending occupy the highest positions. For example, Ireland, which ranks among the top in reading literacy, spends approximately $94,000 on educating one child. Singapore, which leads in three areas of the ranking, spends $166,000 on education, while Macau (China) invests $195,000 in school education. These data highlight that education spending can vary significantly, but is essential for achieving high results in international assessments.

Reason three.

Problems with safety and discipline in schools

OECD analysts have identified a link between the level of bullying in schools and student achievement. In countries where students reported fewer instances of bullying in the 2022 survey compared to 2018, an increase in PISA results in numeracy is observed. This indicates that a safe school environment has a positive impact on academic achievement. Creating a safe and secure learning environment plays a key role in improving student achievement.

Brunei, the Dominican Republic, and Saudi Arabia have seen a 5-12% decrease in the proportion of students reporting bullying at school. At the same time, average math scores in these countries increased by 12-16 points, with students from disadvantaged backgrounds seeing an increase of 13-27 points. This demonstrates positive changes in the educational environment, where a reduction in bullying is directly linked to improved academic performance.

Previously, unsafe school environments limited the potential of students across various countries. As the educational environment improves, academic performance has improved. Countries where less than 5% of PISA 2022 participants reported unsafe schools have identified more leaders in the study. Examples of such countries include Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland, South Korea, as well as Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, and Switzerland. Improving learning conditions is directly linked to increased student achievement and success, highlighting the importance of a safe educational environment for high achievement.

Bullying and other problems at school are often the reason students stop attending classes. OECD research shows that students who experience bullying score, on average, 27 points lower in mathematics than those who regularly attend classes. This underscores the importance of creating a safe and supportive learning environment to improve student achievement and engagement.

Reason 4 is that many people do not realize the importance of quality content for successful online promotion. Quality content not only attracts user attention but also helps improve a website's ranking in search engines. This is because search algorithms favor websites that offer relevant and useful information. Furthermore, high-quality content increases the time users spend on a website, which also positively impacts its ranking. Creating unique and informative content should be a priority for anyone striving for successful online promotion.

Smartphones and Other Gadgets

According to PISA 2022, 30% of participants in OECD countries reported being distracted by gadgets in most mathematics lessons. A quarter of respondents noted that other students' device use also becomes a problem for them. Even if the student isn't distracted, the teacher's attention is diverted to trying to bring the class back to the learning process, which negatively impacts the effectiveness of lessons. This highlights the importance of developing strategies to minimize the impact of technology in the educational environment.

According to data from OECD countries, students who are regularly distracted by electronic devices scored an average of 15 points lower on numeracy tests. This highlights the negative impact of technology on academic achievement. Research shows that excessive use of technology can distract attention and reduce concentration, which in turn affects academic performance. The learning process requires concentration, and it is important to consider how the use of modern technology can impact learning and the development of mathematical skills.

According to OECD reports, educational institutions and systems that have clear rules for the use of electronic devices in the classroom are less likely to experience problems with inattention among students. Clear rules help create a favorable learning environment and promote concentration. This highlights the importance of implementing effective strategies for managing the use of technology in the learning process to improve educational outcomes.

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Students are often distracted during lessons when they need to keep digital devices on their desks for note-taking or research. Access to devices creates the temptation to be distracted by messages or games, which disrupts their focus on learning. In situations where the use of devices is not required or completely prohibited, students have fewer opportunities for distraction, which promotes more effective learning. Limiting access to digital devices can significantly improve student concentration and productivity in the educational process.

In 2023, UNESCO also supported the practice of banning smartphones in schools. However, the authors of the PISA results report caution that while this approach seems logical, there is a lack of evidence on its effectiveness. For example, 30% of students from schools where smartphones are banned reported to the OECD that they continue to use devices several times a day. This indicates that a simple ban does not guarantee compliance.

Math Anxiety

PISA 2022 paid special attention to mathematics, and therefore the survey assessed the participants' mathematics anxiety. They were asked questions about their level of agreement with statements such as, "I feel helpless when solving math problems" and "I worry about getting bad grades in math."

Research shows that responses to six questions create a math anxiety index. This index is then compared with participants' performance on math tests. Results showed that high levels of math anxiety are directly associated with decreased math performance. This underscores the importance of addressing anxiety to improve the effectiveness of math instruction.

As the math anxiety index increases, math literacy performance declines by 18 points for each additional point. In a study of 17 countries with high levels of math anxiety, 13 countries had an average math literacy score below 400. This highlights the importance of reducing anxiety to improve mathematical thinking skills and overall literacy in this area. The relationship between math anxiety and academic achievement is not universal. Participants from Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, and Taiwan demonstrated high levels of math anxiety, despite these countries occupying leading positions in the PISA rankings for math literacy. Thus, high math anxiety among students from these regions does not pose a barrier to achieving high academic results. This highlights the complexity of the relationship between anxiety and math performance and suggests the need for further research in this area.

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The reasons for this situation are not yet fully understood. However, previous research suggests that in Asian countries, high math anxiety is more strongly associated with poor math achievement than in European countries. This underscores the importance of further analysis of the factors influencing math performance in different cultural contexts.

Reason number six is that many people underestimate the importance of making good choices. Whether it's purchasing goods, choosing services, or making life decisions, a conscious approach to choice can significantly impact the outcome. People often act impulsively, which can lead to disappointment and a loss of resources. To avoid this, it's important to conduct research, analyze available options, and make decisions based on facts and personal needs. This approach will not only improve the quality of choice but also save time and money in the long run.

Lack of social and family support for learning

The PISA 2022 results were influenced by students' opportunities to discuss and collaborate on homework assignments. Collaborative work on assignments promotes deeper understanding of the material and the development of critical thinking. This underscores the importance of interaction between students in the educational process, which can positively impact their academic performance and overall results in international assessments.

Research shows that in schools where students have the opportunity to complete homework in specialized rooms, results in mathematical literacy are significantly higher. In such institutions, students score 13 points higher than in those without similar support. This demonstrates the importance of creating opportunities for additional tutoring and homework, which contributes to improved educational outcomes.

The authors of the OECD report argue that opportunities for peer support among students, as well as periodic requests for support from teachers, contribute to a deeper understanding of academic tasks. This, in turn, leads to improved academic performance and better learning outcomes.

Student achievement in mathematics often correlates with the extent to which the family is actively interested in their academic success. Positive responses to questions about parental involvement in the educational process and time spent together contribute to better academic achievement. It is important for parents to show interest in their children's academic achievement, which can significantly increase their motivation and self-confidence.

Students with high achievement in mathematics are more likely to report regular family dinners and family discussions that occur at least once a week. According to OECD data, participants without such family practices perform 16 to 28 points lower on numeracy tests. This underscores the importance of family interaction for successful learning and skill development. Regular family activities not only strengthen family ties but also improve children's academic performance.

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