• Primary Education • International Comparisons
How do primary pupils in England compare with children in other countries? Two major international studies, PIRLS for reading and TIMSS for maths and science, test Year 5 pupils around the world. This guide explains what the latest results show for England.
On this page
The Quick Answer
- In PIRLS 2021, England’s Year 5 pupils scored 558 in reading, well above the international median of 520.
- England scored higher than 39 of the 42 other education systems that tested pupils at the same stage.
- In TIMSS 2023, England’s Year 5 pupils scored 552 in maths and 556 in science, significantly above the TIMSS centrepoint of 500.
- England performs strongly but below the top East Asian systems such as Singapore and Chinese Taipei.
What Is PIRLS?
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) compares the reading of pupils in their fourth year of formal schooling, which is Year 5 in England. It is run by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement and England has taken part since 2001. 57 education systems took part in PIRLS 2021.
England’s PIRLS 2021 Results
England’s average score was 558, compared with an international median of 520. Because of the pandemic, 14 systems delayed testing and assessed older pupils. England’s score was higher than 39 of the 42 other systems that tested at the same point.
| Benchmark | England | International median |
|---|---|---|
| Low benchmark or above | 97% | 94% |
| Intermediate benchmark or above | 86% | 75% |
| High benchmark or above | 57% | 36% |
| Advanced benchmark | 18% | 7% |
England’s score was not significantly different from 2016, while most other systems saw drops in performance. The gap between girls and boys has also narrowed. Girls outscored boys by 10 points in 2021, compared with 15 points in 2016 and 23 points in 2011.
What Is TIMSS?
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) tests pupils in Year 5 and Year 9 every four years. It is also run by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. The most recent results are from TIMSS 2023.
England’s TIMSS 2023 Results
| Year | Year 5 maths | Year 5 science |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 531 | 540 |
| 2007 | 541 | 542 |
| 2011 | 542 | 529 |
| 2015 | 546 | 536 |
| 2019 | 556 | 537 |
| 2023 | 552 | 556 |
Year 5 maths has improved significantly over 20 years. The small fall between 2019 and 2023 was not statistically significant. Year 5 science rose significantly in 2023 to its highest score.
England’s pupils performed significantly above the international average in both subjects, in a group below the highest performers. Pupils in Singapore, Chinese Taipei and the Republic of Korea outperformed England in both subjects, while Year 5 pupils in Japan performed at a similar level.
What It Means for Schools
International studies look at national averages, not individual schools. They show that reading, maths and science standards in English primary schools compare well with most other countries, with the strongest East Asian systems still ahead in maths. Fluent recall of number facts, such as times tables, remains one of the foundations of maths at primary school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does England rank in PIRLS?
In PIRLS 2021, England’s score was higher than 39 of the 42 other education systems that tested pupils at the same stage.
What age are pupils in PIRLS and TIMSS?
Both test pupils in Year 5 in England, usually aged 9 or 10. TIMSS also tests Year 9.
How often is TIMSS held?
Every four years. The latest results are from 2023.
Did England’s maths results fall in TIMSS 2023?
Year 5 maths fell slightly from 556 to 552, but the change was not statistically significant.
Related Guides
Build confident mathematicians and readers in Years 5 and 6
Monster Learning gives schools curriculum-aligned maths and English practice, onscreen assessments and SATs-style papers, with instant feedback for pupils, no marking for teachers and live results for leaders.
Start a free school trial School subscriptions
Parent? See our home subscriptions.
Sources: Department for Education, PIRLS 2021: reading literacy performance in England and TIMSS 2023: England.
