Vietnam’s education system recorded scores between 457 and 392 across core subjects in the 2025 Program for International Student Assessment, according to data released by the OECD. More than 7,350 secondary students from 194 schools participated in the latest triennial study, which tracked roughly 765,000 students across 91 countries and economies worldwide.
Global PISA 2025 Results and Vietnam’s Subject Scores
The assessment results show Vietnamese students scored an average of 457 points in science, 443 in mathematics, 392 in reading, and 461 in computational problem-solving. These figures represent a drop of 15 to 70 points compared to the previous assessment cycle in 2022. The OECD calculates these metrics to fit a standard distribution rather than applying fixed minimum or maximum grade boundaries.
Internationally, students in China placed as the top performers globally in both mathematics and science. Meanwhile, Singapore secured the second position in those two subjects while leading the world in reading proficiency.
Proficiency Levels and Reading Baseline Challenges
PISA measures core subjects across six proficiency tiers, where Level 2 serves as the baseline minimum threshold. According to the PISA findings, Level 2 indicates that students can identify main ideas in moderately long texts, locate explicit criteria, and reflect on text purpose when directed. Only 41% of Vietnamese students achieved Level 2 or higher in reading, sitting nearly 30 percentage points below the OECD average.
Performance was stronger in other domains. The proportion of students reaching Level 2 or above reached 71% in science and 58% in mathematics. These figures compare against OECD averages of 74% for science and 65% for mathematics.
Transition to Computer-Based Testing Impacts
The Ministry of Education and Training stated that the 2025 cycle marked the first time Vietnamese students transitioned from paper-based testing to computer-based formats. Because the two testing formats differ significantly, the ministry noted that the score gap is insufficient to conclude that overall education quality has improved or declined.
Ministry officials emphasized that students must enhance their reading comprehension skills across every academic subject. This requirement extends beyond literature classes, as students rely on reading, information selection, comparison, and conclusion-drawing to solve mathematical word problems, interpret scientific phenomena, read maps and charts, and follow internet instructions.
Recommended Pedagogical Strategies and System Strengths
To address skill gaps, teachers can expose students to diverse information types, including written texts, tables, images, and data, while conducting regular formative assessments. The ministry advised educators to apply the PISA approach by prompting students to explain, reason, process information, solve problems, and think critically, while avoiding turning PISA into a standard exam or running test-prep courses.
Despite score shifts, the 2025 PISA results highlighted robust foundational resources within Vietnam’s education framework. According to the ministry, students demonstrate strong value for learning, high persistence, active support-seeking, and diligence. Furthermore, teachers closely monitor student progress, and students show a strong ability to adapt quickly to new technologies.
Did You Know?
Vietnam first participated in the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment in 2012. The assessment runs every three years, involving hundreds of thousands of secondary students globally to evaluate real-world problem-solving skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PISA baseline minimum proficiency level?
Level 2 is considered the baseline minimum proficiency. At this threshold, students can identify main ideas in moderately long texts, locate specific information based on explicit criteria, and reflect on text purposes.
Why did Vietnamese student scores change in the 2025 assessment?
Scores dropped by 15 to 70 points compared to 2022. The Ministry of Education and Training attributed part of this shift to the transition from paper-based to computer-based testing for the first time, noting that format differences prevent direct comparisons of education quality.
How many students participated in PISA 2025?
More than 7,350 Vietnamese students from 194 secondary schools participated, alongside approximately 765,000 students from 91 countries and economies worldwide.
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