The PISA test

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a tri-annual worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance on mathematics, reading, and science. 

Closing the gap

The average score of Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have been coming closer with each successive PISA study.

Germany's score has been steadily dropping, while Seden and the UK have been improving. In 2018 Germany was overtaken by the other two for the first time.

Source: OECD PISA Data 2012-2018 [1-3]

COVID school closures

Due to the COVID pandemic, the PISA test 2021 was postponed to 2022.

Meanwhile, these three countries followed very different policies as regards school closures for this age group (lower secondary education). Between 1st January 2020 and 20th May 2021, schools were fully closed for 85 days in Germany and for 88 days in the United Kingdom. Sweden never closed (0 days). 

This policy differenece may have an effect (or not) on the outcome of the 2022 PISA study.

Source: The State of Global Education, OECD

Sources

1. OECD 2013, "PISA 2012 Results in Focus"
2. OECD 2016, "PISA 2015 Results in Focus"
3. OECD 2019, "PISA 2018 Insights and Interpretations"
4. OECD, "The State of Global Education, 18 months into the pandemic"