Your future employees score well on international tests

Canadian students rank second in developed world in reading

The talent pool from which you'll be drawing employees in just a few years stacks up very well against that of other developed countries.

In an international study conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canadian high-school students rank did very well compared with other developed nations.

Students in 32 industrial countries were tested on reading comprehension, science and math. Canada ranked second in reading and fifth in sciences and mathematics. The test put 265,000 15-year-old students through a seven-hour exam using “real-life” questions.

Finland’s students were first in reading (546 points). Canada was second (534 points), followed by New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Japanese students were first in math, with a score of 557; South Koreans were first in science, with a score of 552. Canada, the U.K., Finland, New Zealand and Australian followed, all within 10 points of each other.

In terms of Canada’s provincial scores, students in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec lead. Scores for students in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were below average. However, those students still outperformed those from many other countries.

Reading scores

1. Finland
2. Canada
3. New Zealand
4. Australia
5. South Korea
6. United Kingdom
15. United States

To read the full story, login below.

Not a subscriber?

Start your subscription today!