15 Smartest Countries in Reading Comprehension

The United States, while still the most powerful country in the world, surprisingly does not feature in the list of 15 smartest countries in reading comprehension. The PISA exams make for stark reading, especially for the US, which prides itself on being the center of excellence in all criteria.

The PISA test is a test administered by the OECD, which is comprised mainly of developed countries. However, the tests aren’t exclusive to the countries who belong to the organization; over 150 countries take part, sending their students, around the age of 15, to take the test. The test consists of three skills: reading, science, and maths. Unfortunately, US students did not perform well in either of the three. Does this indicate the downfall of the only superpower in the world? Is the number one economy about to crumble? In a word, no.

The US has actually never really done well in the tests, which have been administered since 2000. However, that has not affected its reputation, has it? In fact, it is in that time period that a guy started a little-known company known as Facebook, which would change the social media landscape forever. So how does the US still have brilliant minds who can’t get a good score to save their lives? Well, America is home to well over 300 million people, and even if 10 percent of the population is extremely bright, that still amounts to 30 million people! The PISA test might provide an indicator, but it does not show the complete picture, mainly because what it actually proves is that the average student in the US is not as smart as the average student in these 15 smartest countries in reading comprehension. The brilliant students may also be in the US along with the average ones, and they are the ones on whom the country relies. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the US’s position in the world is not under any threat whatsoever. And a major reason for this is the emphasis on research and development in the country, which ranks sixth in a comparison of countries by percentage of economic output dedicated solely to research and development.

This does not mean that the US should completely disregard the test results, as they do give a pretty good idea about the average standard of education in the country as opposed to other countries. After all, the US lagged considerably behind its own neighbor, Canada, and if you want to learn more about the reasons for this disadvantage, you should head on over to PISA Exam Proves Canadian Kids are Smarter Than American Kids in Math, Reading and Science.

Our list of smartest countries in reading comprehension is based on the reading scores provided in the PISA test, and is dominated by Europe, which is probably the most advanced continent in the world.

15. The Netherlands

Average reading score: 503

The reason behind the Netherland’s success in education is the individualized approach adopted by the teachers, who focus on the specific needs and requirements of each child, rather than teaching to an overall class, where a child’s needs can slip through.

14. Slovenia

Average reading score: 505

The government of Slovenia has understood the importance of education and has taken it upon itself to deliver top quality education to its citizens in order to ensure that they have the best possible opportunities in life. There is a separate National Institute of Education responsible for the overseeing of all levels of pre-university education, encompassing not just primary and secondary schools but musical schools as well. Now, let’s see which country comes next on our list of smartest countries in reading comprehension.

13. Poland

Average reading score: 506

There is a reason thousands of Ukrainians move to Poland every year, with a large number of facilities available to cater to the needs of students. Education is compulsory in the country, whose dedication to education can be seen by the fact that it established the first Ministry of education in the world. The system is designed in to allow around 22 years of schooling, an option taken up by many of the students in the country.

10. Macao

Average reading score: 509

At number 10 on our list of smartest countries in reading comprehension we have Macao that does not really have many government schools. The onus of education rests on the private and partially subsidized schools. However, the country has a system; those schools which meet its requirements are given funding from the government, which in turn allows the student to obtain 15 years of compulsory and completely free education. It is no wonder that the literacy rate is 94.5 percent. Cantonese and English are the languages the students are generally taught.

10. Germany

Average reading score: 509

In Germany, it is the states who are responsible for education with minimal interference. While each state decides its own policies which can result in different systems in different states, the overall quality of education has not diminished. Most of the institutions in Germany, including its universities, do not charge a fee for education, or at most charge a token fee. The student has to prove he is qualified enough to be admitted, but I believe that the free education initiative is brilliant and should be administered more often in countries, especially the developed ones.

10. New Zealand

Average reading score: 509

Not only does New Zealand have a compulsory education from the ages of 6-16, parents also have an additional option of sending their children to early childhood education, which is an option for kids who are not yet 6 years old. Children between the age of 3-5 can actually go to such educational services completely free of cost. Furthermore, one of the primary reasons New Zealand is one of the 15 smartest countries in reading comprehension is due to the fact that if you are a permanent resident of the country or a citizen, and you go to a state school between the ages of 5-19. You actually do not have to pay for your education.

9. Norway

Average reading score: 513

There is a reason Norway’s education surpasses the average European standard, which is already pretty high, and that is because education is both free and compulsory from the ages of 6-16. The federal government isn’t really much involved in the education system, with the municipalities governing and implementing their own system.

8. Japan

Average reading score: 516

Japan has made education compulsory for the first 9 years of schooling, but due to the country’s emphasis on education and its culture, around 98 percent of the students go on to high school as well. Extracurricular activities are also available easily for students, in order to create a more well-rounded personality.

7. Korea

Average reading score: 517

South Korea, home to tech giant Samsung, has consistently produced excellent scores on the PISA test. It is considered to possess one of the best education systems on the planet, though it has also attracted controversy for the pressure student face. In order to enable them to get into a good university, students often take after school tutoring which can make their working day up to 10 hours.

6. Estonia

Average reading score: 519

The scores achieved by the students of Estonia emphasize the quality of education it imparts, with one of the best systems in the world. Even the foreign students are completely satisfied with the education here with 9 out of 10 international students on average claiming to be happy with the quality of education.

5. Ireland

Average reading score: 521

England may have to work hard to catch up to its neighbors, who have outranked them in every skill administered in the PISA test, apart from science. Having made education compulsory for children of ages 6-16, Ireland is yet to venture in the free education policy as adopted by other countries in the list. However, it has used the tuition fees well, with a quality education system.

4. Finland

Average reading score: 526

I have always been a fan of the way Finland imparts education to its students. The focus has been on each student in order to improve them and groom their personality. There are no standardized tests in the country, which I have always thought of as one of the worst ways to judge a student, and the students are not ranked at all, which means no valedictorian. Hence, there is no competition. Since the students don’t need to worry about ways to improve their GPA and get the most credits possible, they can actually focus on the learning aspect of education.

2. Canada

Average reading score: 527

The second place on our list of smartest countries in reading comprehension goes to Canada that has also laid great emphasis on quality education, in order to produce people who can further improve the country. There are various reasons why Canada has an excellent education system, which was covered in detail in the article linked earlier.

2. Hong Kong

Average reading score: 527

While it may rank high, Hong Kong has attracted severe criticism for the way it pressures its students to value education over everything else and the tension that invites.

1. Singapore

Average reading score: 535

Singapore is not only one the smartest countries in reading comprehension, it ranked top in every skill in the PISA test. However, it is important to note that the teaching schedule in Singapore is very stringent with an emphasis on exams, leaving very little room for creativity, which is an absolute necessity in children.