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

4. Performance in science

4.1 Scotland's performance in science

93. Scotland's mean score in science in 2022 (483) was similar to the OECD average (485). This was similar to 2018, but lower than all previous PISA cycles 2006-2015. See Chart 4.1.1 for more information.

94. Scotland's standard deviation in science in 2022 was 101 points. This was similar to 2018 (98 points) and 2006 (100 points) but higher than 2015 (95 points), 2012 (89 points) and 2009 (96 points). This means there was more variation between students' science performance in 2022 than 2009, 2012 and 2015.

95. In 2022 in Scotland, girls and boys had a similar performance in science (481 vs. 485). This was also the case in all previous years (Chart 4.1.2 and Chart 4.1.3).

96. 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, the performance of first generation immigrant students (484), second generation immigrant students (501) and non-immigrant students (486) in Scotland was similar in science.

97. PISA level 2 is considered by the OECD to be the baseline at which students begin to demonstrate the knowledge and skills to enable them to participate actively in life situations related to science. In 2022, 24.0 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 in science. This was similar to the OECD average (24.5 per cent). The proportion of students performing below PISA level 2 in Scotland in 2022 was similar to 2018 but higher than 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015.

98. PISA defines students attaining above Level 5 as top performers. In 2022, 6.8 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in science. This was similar to the OECD average (7.5 per cent). The proportion of students performing at PISA Level 5 or better in Scotland in 2022 was similar to 2018, 2015 and 2012 but lower than 2009 and 2006 (Chart 4.1.4).

99. In 2022 the proportion of girls and boys performing below PISA Level 2 in science was similar (23.9 per cent of girls and 24.1 per cent of boys). The proportion performing at PISA Level 5 or better was also similar (6.2 per cent of girls and 7.4 per cent of boys).

100. The strength of the relationship between students' background and science test scores (share of variation) in 2022 was 12.2 per cent. This was similar to 2018, 2015, 2012, 2009 and 2006.

101. The ESCS gradient shows how much score varies on average with each step (one point) in social background. The ESCS gradient was 39 points in the science assessment for Scotland. This was similar to 2012 (36 points), 2015 (37 points) and 2018 (36 points), but lower than in 2006 (50 points) and 2009 (47 points).

102. In 2022 in Scotland, the average scores in science 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) are apart by 111 points, which implies a difference of just over three-and-a-half years' schooling.

103. 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 science. In 2022, 24.0 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 in science. This was similar to 2018, but higher than 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015.

104. In 2022, 6.8 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in science. This was similar to 2012, 2015 and 2018 but lower than 2006 and 2009.

4.2 Scotland's performance in science relative to countries in the OECD and UK administrations

105. Scotland's mean score in science in 2022 (483) was similar to the OECD average (485). It was higher than 10 countries, including Wales (473), similar to 12 countries, including Northern Ireland (488), and was lower than 17 countries, including England (503). See Chart 4.2.1 for more information.

106. Scotland's mean score in science among girls in 2022 (481) was similar to the OECD average (485). It was higher than nine countries, similar to 11 countries and lower than 19 countries (and the UK as a whole) (Chart 4.2.2).

107. Scotland's mean score in science among boys in 2022 (485) was similar to the OECD average (485). It was higher than 10 countries, similar to 14 countries and lower than 15 countries (and the UK as a whole) (Chart 4.2.3).

108. In 2022 in science, second generation immigrant students in Scotland (501) performed higher than the OECD average (466). They performed higher than 20 countries, similar to 12 countries and the UK as a whole, and lower than two countries. Performance among first generation immigrant students in Scotland (484) was higher than the OECD average (438) and 24 countries, similar to 10 countries and the UK as a whole, and lower than three countries. This means that both first and second generation immigrant students in Scotland performed as well as – or better than – in most other OECD countries.

109. In 2022, 24.0 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 (which is considered by the OECD to be the baseline of proficiency) in science. This proportion was similar to the OECD average (24.5 per cent) and 22 other countries, higher than nine countries, and lower than eight countries (Chart 4.2.4). 6.8 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better (defined by the OECD as top performers) in science. This proportion was similar to the OECD average (7.5 per cent) and 13 other countries, higher than 12 countries, and lower than 14 countries (Chart 4.2.5).

110. The share of variation in science test scores that was explained by students' background was 12.2 per cent (Chart 4.2.6). This was similar to the OECD average (14.2 per cent) and 28 other countries, lower than nine countries, and higher than one country (Canada).

111. The ESCS gradient shows how much score varies on average with each step (one point) in social background. The ESCS gradient was 39 points in the science assessment for Scotland (Chart 4.2.7), which was similar to the OECD average (41 points). This was lower than 11 countries, similar to 22 countries and higher than five countries.

112. In 2022, 24.0 per cent of students in Scotland performed below PISA Level 2 in science. This was higher (^) than nine countries, similar to 22 countries, the United Kingdom as a whole and the OECD average, and lower (*) than eight countries.

113. In 2022, 6.8 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA Level 5 or better in science. This was higher (*) than 12 countries, similar to 13 countries and the OECD average and lower (^) than 14 countries and the UK as a whole.