2022 Research Cycle: Latvian Students’ Mathematics and Natural Science Competence

The main focus of the 2022 research cycle was focused on mathematics – the research assessed students’ mathematical competence, or the ability to think mathematically and to formulate, use and interpret mathematical problems in various life situations.

The results of the study show that the mathematics competence of Latvian students in the 2022 study decreased by 13 points compared to the result of 2018 – this year, the average performance of students was assessed with 483 points. The achievement of Latvian students is “statistically significantly higher” than the average level of OECD countries – 472 points, and at the same time they are “not significantly different” from the average achievements of students in Great Britain, Poland, Austria, Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand.

The highest average student achievement in mathematics is for students in Singapore – 575 points. The performance of students in Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Estonia and Switzerland was also evaluated above 500 points.

The average achievement of Latvian students in natural sciences is estimated at 494 points, which is higher than the average level of OECD countries – 485 points.

The researchers note that the natural science competence of Latvian students in the last three cycles of the research program corresponded to the group of countries whose achievements did not differ significantly from the average level of OECD countries. Meanwhile, in 2022, with the average achievements increasing by seven points, they “confirm in the long term a good and stable level of the quality of natural science knowledge” at the final stage of basic education. 16.5% of Latvian students showed low performance in natural sciences, which is less than the OECD average – 24%.

2023-12-05 11:10:00
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