The PISA 2025 results, released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on September 8, 2026, reveal a decline in the performance of Portuguese students in Mathematics and Reading. Science results remained relatively stable compared to 2022. The study assesses the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds and tracks the evolution of educational systems internationally.
The 2025 edition involved over 760,000 students from 91 countries and economies, with a primary focus on Science, but also including Mathematics, Reading, and computational problem-solving. Skills and attitudes related to learning and the use of digital technologies were also analyzed.
In Portugal, the average score in Science was 482 points, matching the OECD average. In Mathematics, the average was 460 points (compared to the OECD's 463), and in Reading, 462 points (slightly above the OECD's 461). Despite the proximity to international averages, Portuguese performance decreased by 12 points in Mathematics and 15 points in Reading between 2022 and 2025. In Science, the variation was minus 3 points, with no statistical significance.
Comparison with previous years shows a trend of performance loss, with the most recent results approaching the levels observed in 2006. The proportion of students below the minimum proficiency level increased by 11 percentage points in Mathematics and Reading, and seven percentage points in Science, compared to 2015.
A novelty in PISA 2025 was the assessment of computational problem-solving, where Portugal achieved an average of 501 points, close to the OECD average of 500. Approximately 56% of Portuguese students showed performance in computational problem-solving higher than expected based on their Science scores. The use of artificial intelligence in schools was also examined, with 48% of students reporting using AI chatbots weekly to aid their learning.
The report also highlights student attitudes towards learning: 77% of Portuguese students reported being curious about many things (above the OECD average of 73%), and 69% stated they apply extra effort when work becomes difficult (compared to 60% in the OECD average). However, 44% of students attended schools where principals indicated that a shortage of teachers hindered teaching to some extent.
The PISA 2025 results underscore the growing importance of digital skills, critical thinking, and lifelong learning, which are crucial for academic and professional paths in an era of rapid technological advancement and evolving work methods.
