PISA 2025 Turkey Results: The Numbers Look Better Than They Are
On 8 September 2026, the OECD published PISA 2025 results. Turkey is one of the few countries to have improved in all three subjects — mathematics, reading and science — compared to 2022. That is a genuine achievement worth acknowledging.
But as an educator and school counsellor, I look at the numbers carefully. And what I see both reassures and worries me.
How Much Did Turkey Improve in PISA 2025?
Let's be honest first. PISA 2025 contains genuinely positive signals for Turkey:
- Science: 81% of students reached baseline proficiency Level 2 (OECD average: 74%)
- Reading: 76% at Level 2 or above (OECD average: 69%)
- Mathematics: 64% at Level 2 or above (OECD average: 65%) — near the average
- Since 2015: low-performing students fell by 16 percentage points in maths, 25 points in science
This picture shows that some education policy steps are bearing fruit. The headlines are understandable.
Why PISA 2025 Turkey Results Are Not Enough
1. Top Performers: Turkey Is Far Behind the Global Leaders
Passing the OECD average is one thing. Producing globally competitive students is another.
| Country | Top-performing students in maths (Level 5–6) |
|---|---|
| China (B-S-J-Z) | 54% |
| Singapore | 37% |
| Chinese Taipei | 32% |
| Japan | 22% |
| Korea | 23% |
| OECD average | 8% |
| Turkey | 8% |
Turkey is at the OECD average — but in global competition, the OECD average is not the benchmark that matters. Only 8% of Turkish students reach Level 5–6 in mathematics, 7% in science, 4% in reading. The universities and workplaces these children will enter will be filled with graduates from Singapore, China and Japan. The gap is enormous.
2. Computational Problem Solving: The Most Critical Skill for the AI Age — Below OECD Average
In an AI-driven world, this is the skill that will command the highest premium. While maths and science averages improved, Turkey is falling behind in exactly the skill the future demands most.
3. Socio-Economic Inequality Is Widening
PISA 2025 data show that 32% of Turkish students — nearly one in three — are in the bottom international quartile of socio-economic status. This is not a comparison within Turkey; this is the bottom quarter of 91 countries worldwide.
More alarming: between 2015 and 2025, the performance gap between the most advantaged and most disadvantaged students in Turkey widened — while the OECD average gap narrowed. Growth in scores benefited advantaged students more than disadvantaged ones.
4. Truancy: Half of Students Skipped School Before the Test
| Turkey | OECD Average | |
|---|---|---|
| Skipped at least 1 school day | 53% | 22% |
| Skipped at least 1 class | 41% | 24% |
| Arrived late for school | 49% | 50% |
More than half of Turkish students skipped at least one school day in the two weeks before the PISA test — more than double the OECD rate. This isn't just a system problem; it points to family and community factors as well.
5. Parental Involvement Is Declining
Between 2022 and 2025, the share of parents who discussed school with their children at least weekly fell from 66% to 63%; those who discussed problems their children were having at school fell from 53% to 43%. A global trend — but a worrying rate for Turkey.
The question I get asked most: "My child is the best in their class — is that enough?" The honest answer, most of the time, is no. Turkey's averages are improving, but the gap between "doing well in Turkey" and "globally competitive" is not closing. The only way for families to see this gap clearly is to measure their child against an international benchmark — not to wait for a system report.
Where Do Turkish Students Stand in PISA 2025 Globally?
PISA is a system measurement. It takes samples of 15-year-olds and produces country averages. These numbers matter for the Ministry of Education — but they do not tell you where your specific child stands.
Many families experience this: their child is doing well in a good Turkish school, grades are strong. Then they apply to an international school abroad or an overseas university — and the assessment reveals they are far behind expectations.
The reason is that success metrics in Turkey do not always align with international standards. And the earlier you see that gap, the more time you have to close it.
EduEntry is an international academic assessment platform that gives you a clear picture of where your child stands on a global scale. PISA measures a country — EduEntry measures your child.
PISA 2025 Turkey: What Should Families Do?
1. The average is better — but top performance is still rare
2. Computational skills are the most critical gap
3. "Top of my class" is not informative enough
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Turkey rank in PISA 2025?
Turkey scored above the OECD average in science and reading, and close to the average in mathematics. However, the full ranking across 91 countries shows Turkey's top-performer rates remain far behind global leaders such as Singapore, China and Japan.
What is Turkey's weakest area in PISA 2025?
Computational problem solving is the area where Turkey falls most clearly below the OECD average. Top-performance rates (Level 5–6) in mathematics (8%), science (7%) and especially reading (4%) are also well behind global leaders.
How can I measure my child's international academic level?
PISA does not assess individual children — it measures country-level averages. To understand where your child specifically stands on an international scale, look at individual assessment tools like EduEntry's international academic evaluation programme.
Did Turkey improve in PISA compared to 2022?
Yes. Turkey is one of the few countries to have improved in all three subjects between 2022 and 2025. This is genuine progress — but the picture on top performance, computational skills and widening socio-economic inequality remains concerning.
Why is school truancy so high in Turkey?
According to PISA 2025, 53% of Turkish students reported skipping at least one school day in the two weeks before the test — more than double the OECD average of 22%. This is a significant warning sign for school engagement and motivation.
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Where does your child stand in the world?
If you're planning international school or overseas education, knowing your child's current international academic position is the starting point for everything. Book a free session with Özlem Çimen to work through this together.
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