Canberra students have topped the nation in a suite of science and maths tests, but one set of results shows the ACT lags behind top performers including Singapore, Kazakhstan and Canada.
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The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, a test held among year 4 and 8 students, showed Canberra students performed well above the Australian average.
The ACT recorded similar scores to countries that achieved significantly better than Australia, including being:
- On par with Kazakhstan for year 4 maths;
- On par with Slovenia for year 8 maths;
- One point below Kazakhstan for year 4 science, and;
- One point above Hungary for year 8 science.
Also released on Wednesday was the OECD's Program for International Student Assessment. The ACT again topped the list nationally in reading, mathematics and science literacy, and in each subject was well above the OECD average.
Canberra 15-year-olds were about on par with those in Canada and Vietnam in science testing. In reading, the ACT ranked alongside Japan and Korea.
Ireland, Poland and Germany received similar scores as Canberra students in mathematical literacy.
Although the highest performing nationally, the ACT also recorded the most significant decline in reading literacy, dropping 37 points between 2000 and 2015.
In mathematical literacy, the capital's score dipped 42 points.
Locally, The National Assessment Program - Science Literacy, a triennial test of year 6 children, showed 60.5 per cent of ACT students were at or above the proficient standard. The national average was 55.1 per cent.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority chief executive Robert Randall said: "The results from this assessment, along with those from PISA and TIMSS (for which comprehensive reports were released today, following the high-level results late last year) highlight the need for improvements in primary school science teaching."
Each of the tests was conducted in 2015.
