Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2022): Scotland's results - highlights

2. Performance in mathematics

2.1 Scotland's performance in mathematics

51. Scotland's mean score in mathematics in 2022 (471) was similar to the OECD average (472). This was lower than all previous PISA cycles (2003-2018). See Chart 2.1.1 for more information.

52. Scotland's standard deviation in mathematics in 2022 was 94 points. This was similar to 2018 (95 points) and 2009 (93 points) but higher than in 2015 (84 points), 2012 (86 points) and 2006 (85 points). This means there was more variation between students' maths performance in 2022 than in 2015, 2012 and 2006.

53. In 2022 in Scotland, performance among boys was higher than among girls in mathematics (478 vs. 463). This was also the case in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2018 but not in 2015 where their performance was similar (Chart 2.1.2 and Chart 2.1.3).

54. The OECD define second generation immigrants as students where one or both parents were born in another country (i.e. not in the UK). First generation immigrants are where the student was born in another country (i.e. not in the UK). Non-immigrants are where the student and both parents were born in the UK. In 2022 in Scotland, the performance of second generation immigrant students (492) was higher than non-immigrant students (472) in mathematics. The performance of first generation immigrant students (473) was similar to that of non-immigrant students and second generation immigrant students.

55. OECD categorise student performance into levels. Achievement of Level 2 is considered by the OECD to be the baseline at which students begin to demonstrate the knowledge and skill to enable them to participate actively in life situations related to maths. In 2022, 30.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 in mathematics. This was similar to the OECD average (31.1 per cent). The proportion of students performing below PISA Level 2 in mathematics in Scotland was higher in 2022 than it was in 2018, 2015, 2012, 2009 and 2006.

56. PISA defines students attaining above Level 5 as top performers. In 2022, 7.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in mathematics. This was similar to the OECD average (8.7 per cent). The proportion of students performing at PISA Level 5 or better in mathematics in Scotland was lower in 2022 than in 2018, 2012, 2009 and 2006 but similar to 2015 (Chart 2.1.4).

57. In 2022 a greater proportion of girls (33.3 per cent) than boys (28.3 per cent) performed below Level 2 in mathematics. A greater proportion of boys (9.4 per cent) than girls (6.1 per cent) performed at PISA Level 5 or better in mathematics.

58. The strength of the relationship between students' background and mathematics test scores (share of variation) in 2022 was almost double what it was in 2018 (15.9 per cent compared to 7.9 per cent). It was also higher than in 2015 (11.1 per cent) but similar to 2006, 2009 and 2012.

59. The ESCS gradient shows how much maths scores varies on average with each step (one point) in social background scale. The ESCS gradient was 41 points in the mathematics assessment for Scotland. This was similar to 2006 (41 points), 2009 (45 points) and 2012 (37 points), and higher than 2015 (33 points) and 2018 (31 points).

60. In 2022 the average scores in mathematics in Scotland of students from less affluent backgrounds (i.e. those at the 5^th percentile by ESCS) and those from more affluent backgrounds (i.e. those at the 95^th percentile by ESCS) are apart by 118 points, which implies a difference of just under four years' schooling.

61. As set out in Annex 2, the OECD categorise students into levels according to their ability to undertake certain tasks. However the group below Level 2 merits particular attention, as the OECD consider that Level 2 is the baseline of proficiency in mathematics.

62. In 2022, 30.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 in mathematics. This was higher than in 2018, 2015, 2012, 2009 and 2006. In 2022, 7.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in mathematics. This was lower than 2018, 2012, 2009 and 2006 and similar to 2015.

2.2 Scotland's performance in mathematics relative to countries in the OECD and UK administrations

63. Scotland's mean score in mathematics in 2022 (471) was similar to the OECD average (472). It was higher than eight countries, similar to 12 countries, including Northern Ireland (475) and Wales (466), and lower than 19 countries, including England (492). See Chart 2.2.1 for more information.

64. Scotland's mean score in mathematics among girls in 2022 (463) was similar to the OECD average (468). It was higher than seven countries, similar to 12 countries and lower than 20 countries and the UK as a whole (482) (Chart 2.2.2).

65. Scotland's mean score in mathematics among boys in 2022 (478) was similar to the OECD average (477). It was higher than 10 countries, similar to 14 countries and lower than 15 countries and the UK as a whole (496) (Chart 2.2.3).

66. In 2022 in mathematics, second generation immigrant students in Scotland performed higher (492) than the OECD average (459). Their performance was higher than 21 countries (459), similar to 12 countries and the UK as a whole (507), and lower than one country (Canada). Performance among first generation immigrant students in Scotland (473) was higher than the OECD average (435) and 24 countries, similar to 11 countries and the UK as a whole (483), and lower than two countries (Australia and Canada). This means that both first and second generation immigrant students in Scotland performed as well as – or better than – in most other OECD countries.

67. In 2022, 30.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 (which is considered by the OECD to be the baseline of proficiency) in mathematics. This proportion was similar to the OECD average (31.1 per cent) and 16 other countries, higher than 16 countries, and lower than seven countries (Chart 2.2.4). 7.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in mathematics (defined by the OECD as top performers). This proportion was similar to the OECD average (8.7 per cent) and 17 other countries, lower than 14 countries and the UK as a whole (11.3 per cent), and higher than eight countries (Chart 2.2.5).

68. The share of variation in mathematics test scores that was explained by students' background was 15.9 per cent (Chart 2.2.6). This was similar to the OECD average (15.5 per cent) and 24 countries, lower than six countries and higher than eight countries.

69. The ESCS gradient shows how much score varies on average with each step (one point) in social background (Chart 2.2.7). The ESCS gradient was 41 points in the mathematics assessment for Scotland, which was similar to the OECD average (39 points). This was lower than six countries, similar to 20 countries and the UK as a whole (36 points), and higher than 12 countries. This means that the effect of social background on score in Scotland is as great as – or greater than – the majority of other OECD countries.

70. In 2022, 30.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 in mathematics. This was similar to the OECD average and 16 countries, higher (^) than 16 countries and the UK as a whole and lower (*) than seven countries.

71. In 2022, 7.7 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in mathematics. This was similar to the OECD average and 17 countries, higher (*) than eight countries and lower (^) than 14 countries and the UK as a whole.