The level of mathematics in 6th grade is the lowest in the history of basic skills.

BarcelonaThe Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, had already warned that the results of this year's basic skills tests—now called end-of-year assessments—would not be "what we would like," and that's exactly what they were: the math level of 6th grade students is the lowest in the history of basic skills, which began to be held in 2018.

Although this year the average math grade of 6th grade students was a mere pass (70.4 points, considering that to achieve proficiency, a minimum score of 70 is required), the drop of almost four points compared to last year's results has caused students' math level to plummet. Similarly, the level of science, technology, and engineering in 6th grade is also very worrying, the only skill where the average failed, having dropped from 74.3 points last year to 66.3 this year.

The (relative) good news regarding the academic level of students between 12 and 13 years old is found in languages, but not in Catalan: there has been an improvement in English, from 73.2 points last year to 75.7 this year, and also in Spanish (from an average of 73.9 points to 76.5). This year, the score in Catalan has dropped almost one point compared to last year and stands at 73.5 points. However, this year the score in Catalan is slightly higher than in 2022 and 2023.

The results of the 4th year ESO exams are not encouraging either: in three of the five skills assessed, the average grade is a fail, that is, below 70 points. The minimum level is not reached, considering that basic skills have been achieved in English, mathematics, and science, technology, and engineering.

Focusing on mathematics, although there has been a significant rise of five points compared to last year, this year's average of 69.8 points means that, for the fifth consecutive year, 4th year ESO students are failing in this subject. The drop of almost five points (67.9) in science, technology, and engineering also means that the average for this skill is once again failing, a situation that has been repeating itself since 2017, but which was reversed last year, reaching 72.5 points.

Students completing compulsory secondary education this academic year (2024-2025) also fail to reach the minimum recommended level in English (69.1), which has dropped four points compared to last year. However, they do pass Spanish, although the score dropped 1.7 points since last year to an average of 74.2.

Hope in the results of the basic skills tests lies in the improvement in the Catalan language level in the 4th year of compulsory secondary education. In just one year, the average pass rate of Catalan has gone from a mere 70.7 to a five-point jump to 75.1. In fact, the Catalan level of these students is the highest in the last four years.

A new state test will assess the level of Catalan students next academic year.

Next year, the Catalan education system will administer new assessment tests to students. As verified by the ARA (Argentine National Association of Educational Researchers) and confirmed by the Department of Education, the Agency for the Evaluation and Prospective of Education—the body responsible for organizing, among other things, the basic skills tests—plans to implement "the General Assessment of the Sixth-Year Primary Education System" within its organization for the next academic year.

The test will be sample-based, meaning it will only be administered by some Catalan educational centers, although Educació has not yet specified how many schools and, therefore, how many students will take these exams. Nor has it yet specified the structure and content of the tests, which will be administered for the first time in the 2025-2026 academic year to comply with Article 143 of the Lomloe (Spanish Education Law). The article in question states that "this evaluation will be informative, formative, and guiding for schools and informative for families and the entire educational community," but it does not specify whether the results will be taken into account in the student's academic record.

Oral tests are being brought forward.

Beyond this new test, the full assessment schedule for Catalan students next year has also been made public. For students in 4th grade of primary school and 2nd year of compulsory secondary education, who are also taking the Lomloe exam, the schedule indicates they will be held from April 13 to 17 of next year. Because many centers were not clear that they had to do them, will be held in early 2026. Specifically, they are expected to be held from January 19 to February 20, earlier than in recent years, which will also prevent them from overlapping or being too close to other tests taken during the course or coinciding with the end of the term.

Finally, next year Catalan students will also take the PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) tests, the international reading exams organized every five years by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). The last time Catalonia took these tests was in 2021 and was One of the first warnings was that the educational level of Catalan students had suffered a significant decline..