Latvian 9th-graders average just 44.8% in science test, struggle most with analytical reasoning

According to data compiled by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), 9th-grade students who sat last year's science diagnostic test achieved an average score of 44.8%. This is the lowest average among major assessments taken by ninth-graders — the Latvian language exam averaged 56.2%, mathematics 54.8%, and the English language monitoring test 70%.

Knowledge stronger than skills

The results show students perform considerably better on tasks testing knowledge and understanding, where the average score was 56.8%, compared to just 35.7% in the skills section. An even sharper gap appears when results are broken down by literacy dimension: students scored 54.7% in the "knows and applies" category, but only 29.2% in "analytical reasoning" — pointing to significant difficulty with more complex thinking and drawing conclusions.

Differences among the three science subjects were relatively small: biology averaged 49.5%, physics 43.6%, and chemistry 42.3%. Data comparing results between general schools and state gymnasiums are not yet available, VIAA notes.

This year: a centralized exam

This academic year, ninth-graders will for the first time sit a centralized science exam rather than a diagnostic test. Unlike previous monitoring exercises, external observers will be present, and schools will be able to use the results as one of the criteria for admitting students to 10th grade. Students who pass will receive a certificate, though this year there will still be no mandatory minimum score required for the exam to count as passed — unlike the mathematics and Latvian language exams, which retain that requirement.

VIAA says the content and structure of the new exam will resemble last year's diagnostic test, with biology, physics and chemistry tasks each making up roughly 35% of the content. The exam will test students' ability to explain natural phenomena, conduct research, analyze data, and draw reasoned conclusions. VIAA plans to publish the detailed exam programme by November 1, while a seminar for school leaders on state assessments is scheduled for September 22.