If you have a teenager in high school, you know the struggle of balancing screen time with study time. A new global survey shows this challenge is impacting student performance worldwide, and Canada is no exception.

Canadian students are scoring lower in science, reading and math than they did a decade ago. Despite this downward trend, Canadian teens still perform well above the global average. They rank ninth in science, eleventh in math and twelfth in reading.

The Global Ranking Breakdown

The data comes from the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment. This survey evaluates 15 year old students worldwide every three years. It measures knowledge, skills and attitudes toward learning. More than 760,000 students from 91 countries participated in the latest assessment. This includes roughly 24,600 Canadian teens from 897 schools.

Students from parts of China, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan took the top spots across all three subjects. Other high ranking countries include South Korea, Estonia and the United Kingdom. However, even these top performers experienced declines in academic scores.

The report states that learning outcomes have largely stagnated or continued to decline in many countries following an unprecedented drop in 2022. The report notes that in all three subjects, the 2025 results are the lowest ever observed in Canada and sit significantly below results from 2015.

Why Scores Are Dropping

Academic performance dropped the most in reading and math globally. Science scores saw a more modest decline. The report points directly to technology and changing habits as primary causes.

The report explains that increased digitalization, longer screen time and falling rates of reading for enjoyment coincide with weaker literacy outcomes. Countries with the largest declines in reading also record the largest drops in mathematics and science.

The pandemic contributed to the global decline in educational performance. However, the downward trend started in many countries long before the pandemic began. The report suggests deeper structural issues exist within education systems. These challenges include changing attitudes toward reading, digital distractions and rising absenteeism.

The Silver Lining for Canadian Students

Canada still ranks well above the average for the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development. This group includes 38 of the most advanced democracies in the world. Canadian students also perform well in student engagement and computational problem solving.

The data shows weaknesses in how education systems adapt to social and technological changes. As schools in Saint John and across the country navigate these challenges, the focus remains on keeping students engaged in a digital world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Canadian students rank globally in 2025?

Canadian teens ranked ninth in science, eleventh in math and twelfth in reading in the 2025 global assessment.

Why are student test scores declining?

The decline is linked to increased screen time, digital distractions, falling rates of reading for enjoyment and rising absenteeism. The pandemic also played a role in disrupting education.

Are Canadian students falling behind the rest of the world?

No. While scores are dropping, Canadian students still perform well above the global average and remain close to the top academic performers worldwide.