A new report by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) identifies how students achieved in core areas of mathematics viewed globally as key in preparing them for adult life.
The report looks at the maths performance of more than 13,430 Australian 15-year-olds who took part in the latest OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
ACER’s analysis provides detail on how students applied their knowledge of mathematical concepts, and the thinking processes they used when solving mathematical problems that arise in everyday life.
Australia performed above the OECD average in all content areas, showing the greatest strength in ‘uncertainty and data’ which measured the ability of students to understand and interpret statistical information and probability. In this area, Australia performed below only nine countries – Singapore, Macao (China), Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Korea, Estonia, Switzerland and Canada – and at the same level as six countries, including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
“PISA looks at the core areas of maths that are fundamental to solving the mathematical challenges students are likely to face in their adult and professional lives,” report co-author Ms Lisa De Bortoli says.
“This deep analysis gives us timely insight into what Australian teenagers who are close to taking that next step into further education or work can do in maths, and the specific areas where they excel or are likely to need more help.”
The report includes findings for states and territories, gender and other demographic groups. Teacher and student attitudes toward maths, based on PISA questionnaires, are also reported.
Results include:
- Australian students were stronger in working with mathematical data – interpreting, applying and evaluating it – than they were in formulating and expressing situations mathematically
- Boys outperformed girls in formulating, reasoning and employing, with girls showing strengths in interpreting
- Students experiencing the greatest maths anxiety performed almost four years behind those experiencing the least maths anxiety
- Australian teachers generally reported higher goals and views about teaching mathematics than the OECD average.
PISA has measured 15-year-old students’ knowledge and skills in maths, science and reading since 2000. ACER conducted PISA 2022 in Australia on behalf of and with funding from the Australian and state and territory governments. The OECD has appointed ACER to lead the development and implementation of the next PISA study, in 2025.
For more information, visit https://www.acer.org/au/pisa.
