UK ranks top 10 in global PISA tests

Teenagers in the United Kingdom have achieved strong results in the latest international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, ranking in the top 10 globally for mathematics, reading, and science. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released the findings on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, based on tests administered in 2025 to 760,000 15-year-olds across 91 countries and economies. The UK secured eighth place in science, tenth in mathematics, and tenth in reading. These rankings represent an improvement from previous cycles, with the UK climbing seven places in science, four in mathematics, and three in reading. The overall international trend showed stagnating or declining learning outcomes in many countries, with a notable global decrease in reading skills. Performance varied across the four UK nations, with England consistently scoring higher than Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in all subjects. England's results showed improvement in science and reading, while mathematics remained steady.