China’s kids rank near the top in global school tests
Many parents have heard of PISA, the Programme for International Student Assessment, which tests 15-year-olds worldwide on maths, reading and science. The 2025 results, released this month, were a disappointment for many countries. But the 12,385 mainland Chinese who sat the tests made their parents proud. They scored better than any other contingent in maths and science and came second only to Singaporeans in reading.
Real devotees of the programme have also become familiar with another four-letter abbreviation: BSJZ. These unpronounceable initials stand for Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the only parts of the mainland that took part. The four locations (two mega-cities and two eastern provinces) have a combined population of almost 200m. But they are sadly not representative of China as a whole. Enrolment in academic high schools and universities exceeds national rates. And disposable income per person averages almost 70,000 yuan a year ($9,700), about 60% higher than the mainland average.
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The State of Reading
PISA 2025 Results (Volume I) “Future-Ready Students”
