Students attend class at the Jing'an Education College Affiliated School in Shanghai. The Chinese city of 23 million people topped PISA's 2012 study, performing at a level at least one year more advanced than the average 15-year-old in math, science and reading.
1: Shanghai —
Students attend class at the Jing'an Education College Affiliated School in Shanghai. The Chinese city of 23 million people topped PISA's 2012 study, performing at a level at least one year more advanced than the average 15-year-old in math, science and reading.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Singapore ranked second in math, and third in reading and science. The test measured students' knowledge in all three subjects and their ability to apply what they've learned to new situations.
2: Singapore —
Singapore ranked second in math, and third in reading and science. The test measured students' knowledge in all three subjects and their ability to apply what they've learned to new situations.
ROSLAN RAHMAN//AFP/Getty Images
The financial hub of Hong Kong came third in math, and second in reading and science in the OEDC's latest education assessment.
3: Hong Kong —
The financial hub of Hong Kong came third in math, and second in reading and science in the OEDC's latest education assessment.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
High school students study at a cram school in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. The island ranked third in math, and equal 7th in reading, and 13th in science.
4: Taiwan —
High school students study at a cram school in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. The island ranked third in math, and equal 7th in reading, and 13th in science.
Mandy Cheng/AFP/GettyImages
South Korean young people came 5th in math. Like other top performing East Asian economies, a relatively small proportion of students said they arrived late for class or skipped lessons.
5: South Korea —
South Korean young people came 5th in math. Like other top performing East Asian economies, a relatively small proportion of students said they arrived late for class or skipped lessons.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Finland had the highest science score for a country outside Asia.
12: Finland —
Finland had the highest science score for a country outside Asia.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
The United Kingdom equaled the average score for OECD countries in math and reading, and above average in science.
26: United Kingdom —
The United Kingdom equaled the average score for OECD countries in math and reading, and above average in science.
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In math, the United States ranked 36th out of 65 countries included in the 2012 study.
36: United States —
In math, the United States ranked 36th out of 65 countries included in the 2012 study.
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Jordan's Queen Rania Al Abdullah visits an all-girls secondary school. The PISA test is sat by students aged 15 and 16 who are near the end of the compulsory education.
61: Jordan —
Jordan's Queen Rania Al Abdullah visits an all-girls secondary school. The PISA test is sat by students aged 15 and 16 who are near the end of the compulsory education.
Jordan Royal Household/Getty Images
Children attend an English lesson at a public school in Manizales, Colombia. In math, around one in four Colombian students met a level of proficiency considered necessary to participate fully in modern society, according to the OECD.
62: Colombia —
Children attend an English lesson at a public school in Manizales, Colombia. In math, around one in four Colombian students met a level of proficiency considered necessary to participate fully in modern society, according to the OECD.
GUILLERMO LEGARIA/AFP/Getty Images
Qatar ranked near the bottom of the OECD study, but it was one of the few countries where girls outperformed boys in mathematics.
63: Qatar —
Qatar ranked near the bottom of the OECD study, but it was one of the few countries where girls outperformed boys in mathematics.
Chris Jackson - Pool /Getty Images
Children play football at their school in Kuta Rakyat village in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Fewer than 1% of Indonesian students performed in the top performance bands for mathematics.
64: Indonesia —
Children play football at their school in Kuta Rakyat village in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Fewer than 1% of Indonesian students performed in the top performance bands for mathematics.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Schoolchildren take part in a protest march in Peru's capital, Lima, in 2007, demanding better quality and greater investment in education. Peru's math score in the PISA study was the equivalent of about six years schooling behind the top performer, Shanghai.
65: Peru —
Schoolchildren take part in a protest march in Peru's capital, Lima, in 2007, demanding better quality and greater investment in education. Peru's math score in the PISA study was the equivalent of about six years schooling behind the top performer, Shanghai.
EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images