Türkiye has made remarkable strides in education, particularly in the latest results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025. The country’s students have shown significant improvement in science, reading, and mathematics, setting a positive trajectory that stands out among OECD nations, where overall performance has declined.
PISA 2025 Overview
The PISA test, administered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), evaluates the academic performance of 15-year-old students globally in a three-year cycle. The latest assessment in 2025 involved 91 countries and economies, with Türkiye participating since its inception in 2003. This year, a total of 7,702 Turkish students from 203 schools across 56 provinces took part in a digital assessment conducted between April 14 and May 16. While many countries faced a downturn in academic performance, Türkiye’s scores rose markedly.
Impressive Science Performance
In the 2025 PISA results, Türkiye excelled especially in science, where it achieved a score of 494—a jump of 18 points from 2022 and 26 points from 2018. This gain not only surpassed the OECD average of 482 points but also reversed the previously existing gap, putting Türkiye 12 points ahead of the OECD benchmark. The focus on science as the main subject for this assessment proved beneficial, positioning Türkiye as a strong contender among its peers globally.
Reading and Mathematics Gains
When it comes to reading, Türkiye’s average score increased by 16 points, reaching 472, while the OECD average fell to 461. This puts Turkish students above both the OECD standard and the average score of participating countries, which was 420. Moreover, Türkiye’s reading scores have improved considerably over the years, decreasing the gap with the OECD average from 21 points below in 2018 to 11 points above in 2025. In mathematics, although Türkiye increased its score by 9 points to reach 462, the overall OECD average stood at 463. This indicates that Türkiye continues to perform on par with OECD standards.
Rising Proportions of High-Performing Students
Significant strides were also noted in the proportion of Turkish students achieving high performance. The percentage of students excelling in science rose from 4% in 2022 to 7.4% in 2025, surpassing the OECD average of 7.2%. In reading, the share jumped from 1.9% to 4.2%, while in mathematics, it increased from 5.4% to 7.9%. Furthermore, Türkiye has also seen an increase in students meeting the minimum performance levels across all subjects, the highest in PISA’s history.
Long-Term Improvements and Investments
Evaluating improvements over the long term, Türkiye has elevated its relative standing significantly since 2003. The country has seen a 64% increase in its science ranking, a 60% increase in reading, and a 52% increase in mathematics. Education Minister Yusuf Tekin attributed these gains to substantial investments and policy changes, highlighting that since 2002, education has received the largest share of Türkiye’s national budget. Innovative initiatives, such as enhanced access to learning facilities and a comprehensive education portal with vast resources, have also played a critical role in transforming the educational landscape.
In summary, Türkiye’s PISA 2025 results reflect robust growth and improvement in student performance across essential subjects. These results not only demonstrate Türkiye’s commitment to education but also highlight the country as a noteworthy leader in academic achievement among OECD nations. As Türkiye continues to focus on enhancing educational quality, the future looks promising for its students.