For the first time ever, Japanese 15-year-olds topped the list in reading and science performance in an international academic survey last year covering 34 developed countries, according to data released Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Japanese students also performed second-best in math in the triennial study, the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, among the 34 OECD member nations.
The scores in every category were all-time highs, indicating scholastic performance is improving, education ministry officials said. In 2009, Japanese students were second in science, fourth in math and fifth in reading.