British students worst scores in developed world

[LiquidHYDROGEN]

PISA Results Show UK Students Lagging Behind Rest Of The World

These tests just prove who's the best at rote memorisation. I take creativity and analytical thinking over high test scores any day.

[Marques]

The UK was in 26th place for maths, 23rd for reading and 21st for science, it found.

More than half a million 15-year-olds from 65 countries took part in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) study last year, which assesses how students could use their knowledge and skills in real life, rather than just repeating facts and figures.

[LiquidHYDROGEN]

There are 34 countries in the OECD, hence "in developed world".

[InaSamaale]

We're facing the same issues here. There was an independent report into our education system early last year and it found that on average Australian school-aged children are lagging behind in mathematics three years than their Chinese counterparts. You can't throw money into education and expect it to somehow yeild overachieving students rather a holistic approach is needed.

[SultanOrder]

PISA Results Show UK Students Lagging Behind Rest Of The World

These tests just prove who's the best at rote memorisation. I take creativity and analytical thinking over high test scores any day.

Dude analytical and creative thinking that leads to innovation and development in the economy is limited to a few. The ones with bad scores aren't very good in those creative skills either.

Here in America the schools that lead to creative people are limited to a few, those are the top schools. So if it takes rote memorization for the majority of the population to be good in math and science why not?

[NewHargeisaGirl]

^ weren't you the one who was cheating a test not that long ago, and then bragging up about it? boon foqol boon lmaooo

[SultanOrder]

Cheating isa valuable skill

[Adali]

Who needs a perfect academic system with perfect up-to-date textbook, lectures and flawless 100% accurate testing for exams ?

Smart students don't rely on it, they know how to beat exams, they look for knowledge everywhere and don't just expect teachers to do their work for them, infact they push teachers to their limit either frustrating them or inspiring them.

UK students are lazy, they run to the pub and get drunk.

[LiquidHYDROGEN]

PISA Results Show UK Students Lagging Behind Rest Of The World

These tests just prove who's the best at rote memorisation. I take creativity and analytical thinking over high test scores any day.

Dude analytical and creative thinking that leads to innovation and development in the economy is limited to a few. The ones with bad scores aren't very good in those creative skills either.

Here in America the schools that lead to creative people are limited to a few, those are the top schools. So if it takes rote memorization for the majority of the population to be good in math and science why not?

Creativity isn't limited to few bro, that's nonsense. Also if high test-scores are the main basis for evaluating intelligence, then humanity hasn't come very far. There are many people who have dyslexia, autism, performance anxiety, adhd etc. that are unable to get good grades, for one reason or another, and are neglected. Doing complicated calculations in your head very quickly aren't a sign of intelligence, it just means you're good at following a system. But the one who comes up with the system...

[SultanOrder]

Sxb, I'm not critiquing intelligence, but your assumption that the creativity and analytical thinking trumps math/science skills. We all know that the majority of society are not "creative" and "analytical" thinkers. The majority of our society are low skilled/low waged workers. The only way to move up these people from low wage/low skilled jobs is to improve their math and science skills so that it opens the way to more technical jobs that pay well. Those countries that focus on "rote memorization" to develop technical skilled workers know that they can sacrifice "creativity" and "innovation" for the time being. Primarily because the west has already "innovated" and "created" what they need as of now, and that they are far ahead.

My second point is that the west's institutions are better in developing more creative and innovative students is limited to the top schools. So truth be told, the ones that were good at math and science were able to go to the schools that would cultivate those skills you admire so much. But the vast majority of schools in the west don't do such a good job. Lastly, the ones that innovate and create are a very small portion of the workers.

My conclusion, the west needs to do whatever it can to get back in the game of science and math, even if rote memorization is the means.