Dec 08, 2016 09:52 AM EST By Jane Reed, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Programme for International Student Assessment (or Pisa) is an entity that provides education rankings based on tests that are taken by 15 year old students through the subjects of science, reading and math.

The tests are organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development group (OECD). The OECD and Pisa conduct this program every three years and it has proven to be quite influential in the global school rankings. According to BBC, even politicians see this as an influential factor especially for those who see their policies and countries being measured against other global schools.

Singapore is rated as the best, according to Pisa. It has replaced Shanghai (which is a combined entry for China). This means that Singapore takes the number one spot ahead of other countries in Asia, Europe, Australasia, North America and South America.

According to reports, Singapore has the highest achieving students. Their 15 year old students are showing great competency in math, science and reading. They have garnered the top scores. Non-Asian countries like the United Kingdom earned the middle-ranks and lags behind countries such as Estonia, Finland, Japan and Vietnam. Vietnam's performance indicates a strong jump which gained entry ahead of Germany and Switzerland when it comes to science. It even ranked higher than the United States when it comes to science and mathematics.

Andreas Schleicher, the OECD education director, expressed her sentiments regarding Singapore. She explained that the country is not only doing well in the Pisa but is also surpassing. Aside from Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao also scores as one of the high-achieving schools.

Unfortunately, the reports indicate the United States of America did not earn a high rank. The US did not progress further in this year's results. According to US Education Secretary John King, the country is losing ground. With Donald Trump taking his seat at the Oval Office looming closer, it is not yet clear if his changes in the education system will improve the Pisa scores.

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