Teen reading performance declines to the lowest levels recorded since data collection began in 2000, according to an OECD global student assessment. The OECD’s 2025 test across 91 countries finds reading scores are at their weakest point over the period covered.
The assessment also reports broader weaknesses beyond reading. While both outlets describe the results as part of a wider downturn, Cyprus Mail links the decline to increased screen time and argues that many teenagers spend more time on smartphones than on reading longer texts. In contrast, the Japan Times focuses on the headline finding that reading scores fall to the worst levels in the century-scale dataset.
Overall, the outlets agree the OECD test involves large-scale testing of 15-year-olds in 91 countries and that reading is performing at a historic low, while they differ in emphasis—one stressing the statistical low point, the other adding context about technology use as a potential driver.
