What is the PISA survey and how does it work?

PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is an international OECD survey conducted every three years that measures the skills of girls and boys around the age of 15 in mathematics, reading and science. In 2025, it involved 91 countries, including Switzerland and Ticino. The survey is carried out by the SUPSI CIRSE on behalf of the Ticino DECs and provides international benchmarks to assess the quality of educational systems.

Why has Ticino been declining since 2022?

Between 2022 and 2025, Ticino lost 22.9 points in mathematics, 24.1 in reading and 16.5 in science. One of the causes could lie in the composition of the sample: in 2025, the share of fifteen-year-olds still in middle school increased from 18.6% to 23.1%, while that in secondary II fell from 81.4% to 76.9%. The DECs considers it necessary to investigate whether the decline is due to these demographic changes or to actual pedagogical factors.

What is the most worrying fact about reading?

The most critical data is that 27.2% of fifteen-year-olds in Ticino do not reach OECD level 2 (minimum threshold for reading skills). In 2015 this percentage was 16.4%: in ten years it has risen by almost 11 percentage points. Reading is a fundamental transversal competence also to deal with mathematics and science, therefore this deficit compromises overall learning.

Are there positive aspects in the PISA 2025 results in Ticino?

Yes, different. Ticino remains in the top ten in mathematics (492 points vs 463 OECD) and in the top twenty in science and reading out of 91 countries. In addition, the Ticino school system shows greater equity than the Swiss average: the distance between good students and students in difficulty is smaller. In science, Ticino students excel in the evaluation of scientific projects and environmental skills.

What actions will DECs take to address the decline?

DECs stated the need to investigate the causes before adopting targeted interventions. Possible areas of intervention: strengthening of text comprehension, teacher training, innovative use of digital tools (topic already introduced in module 2025). The next PISA survey (2028) will say whether the interventions have borne fruit in the recovery of skills, in particular in reading.

Ticino School: PISA 2025 results down (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 8 September 2026

Ticino students in a modern classroom with math textbooks and digital learning devices during class

In 2025 Ticino remained in the top 10 OECD in mathematics but lost points. 27.2% of fifteen-year-olds do not reach the minimum reading level.

Context

In brief

PISA 2025: Ticino among the top 10 OECD countries in mathematics (492 points vs 463)
All disciplines declining since 2022: reading -24.1 points
27.2% of fifteen-year-olds below the minimum level in reading
Sample composition changed: +4.5% students still in lower secondary

Key facts

What: PISA 2025 survey on mathematics, reading and science competences
When: 2025 (comparison with 2022 and historical data since 2015)
Where: Ticino, on a sample of 91 participating countries
Who: CIRSE of SUPSI on behalf of DECS
Scores: Mathematics 492 (OECD 463), reading 470 (OECD 461), science 492 (OECD 482)

Ticino maintains top positions in the PISA 2025 international ranking, placing itself among the top ten in mathematics and among the top twenty in science and reading. However, the results show a clear decline compared to 2022: mathematics loses 22.9 points, reading 24.1 and science 16.5. The survey, conducted every three years on girls and boys around 15 years old, was carried out by the Centre for Competence, Innovation and Research on Educational Systems (CIRSE) of SUPSI on behalf of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport (DECS). In 2025, a module dedicated to learning in the digital world was added.

In absolute terms, Ticino records 492 points in mathematics against 463 of the OECD average—a statistically significant difference. In reading, the Ticino result is 470 points, in line with the OECD average of 461 and with the Swiss one, also at 470. In science, the main focus of the 2025 edition, the Ticino score is 492 points, higher than 482 of the OECD average. Compared to Switzerland (501 points), Ticino falls by nine points, but the difference is not statistically significant.

…

Operational details

Sample composition: a decisive factor

Before interpreting the decline as a simple erosion of skills, one crucial element must be considered: the composition of the sample changed significantly between the two surveys. Between 2022 and 2025, the share of fifteen-year-olds attending secondary II fell from 81.4% to 76.9%. At the same time, the proportion of pupils still in secondary school increased from 18.6% to 23.1%. This means that, in 2025, a greater portion of fifteen-year-olds from Ticino took the test while still in secondary I, with an overall shorter school course than their peers already in secondary II.

The DECs considers it necessary to deepen this element, as it could have had a significant impact on the overall scores. A student who is still in middle school will presumably have accumulated fewer teaching hours in disciplines such as math and science than one already in high school II. This variable may explain some, if not all, of the observed contraction.

The downward trend is not exclusive to Ticino. The same contraction is observed at the Swiss level and in the OECD average, suggesting a broader structural phenomenon. However, for Ticino, it remains a priority to understand whether the decline is due to demographic changes in the sample or to a real decrease in pedagogical skills.

Positives: Equity and Excellence

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

Perspectives and Implications for the Education System

PISA 2025 results raise relevant questions for educational policies at the cantonal level. The contraction of scores, particularly in reading, suggests the need for targeted interventions in text comprehension. This is not just an isolated school problem. Reading is a key competency also in the Swiss labor market, where professions increasingly require the ability to process complex information, technical documentation, and written communication.

The DECS will need to assess whether the causes lie in demographic changes in the sample (larger share of lower secondary students) or in actual pedagogical factors. Once these aspects are clarified, specific interventions can be designed: strengthening reading instruction in middle schools, curriculum review, teacher training, or innovative use of digital tools. The module added in 2025 dedicated to learning in the digital world already represents a step in this direction.

The generalized decline—also at Swiss and OECD level—suggests that Ticino is not isolated in this challenge. It is possible that global factors (residual effects of the pandemic, changes in learning environments, more intensive use of devices) have played a role. The internal DECS task force will therefore need to analyze both national and international data as well as data specific to Ticino to design a balanced strategy.

…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PISA survey and how does it work?: PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is an international OECD survey conducted every three years that measures the skills of girls and boys around the age of 15 in mathematics, reading and science. In 2025, it involved 91 countries, including Switzerland and Ticino. The survey is carried out by the SUPSI CIRSE on behalf of the Ticino DECs and provides international benchmarks to assess the quality of educational systems.
Why has Ticino been declining since 2022?: Between 2022 and 2025, Ticino lost 22.9 points in mathematics, 24.1 in reading and 16.5 in science. One of the causes could lie in the composition of the sample: in 2025, the share of fifteen-year-olds still in middle school increased from 18.6% to 23.1%, while that in secondary II fell from 81.4% to 76.9%. The DECs considers it necessary to investigate whether the decline is due to these demographic changes or to actual pedagogical factors.
What is the most worrying fact about reading?: The most critical data is that 27.2% of fifteen-year-olds in Ticino do not reach OECD level 2 (minimum threshold for reading skills). In 2015 this percentage was 16.4%: in ten years it has risen by almost 11 percentage points. Reading is a fundamental transversal competence also to deal with mathematics and science, therefore this deficit compromises overall learning.
Are there positive aspects in the PISA 2025 results in Ticino?: Yes, different. Ticino remains in the top ten in mathematics (492 points vs 463 OECD) and in the top twenty in science and reading out of 91 countries. In addition, the Ticino school system shows greater equity than the Swiss average: the distance between good students and students in difficulty is smaller. In science, Ticino students excel in the evaluation of scientific projects and environmental skills.
What actions will DECs take to address the decline?: DECs stated the need to investigate the causes before adopting targeted interventions. Possible areas of intervention: strengthening of text comprehension, teacher training, innovative use of digital tools (topic already introduced in module 2025). The next PISA survey (2028) will say whether the interventions have borne fruit in the recovery of skills, in particular in reading.