Worsening Literacy and Numeracy Skills in 4th Graders... Expanding Testing to 120,000 Students

Average Literacy and Numeracy Scores Drop for 4th Graders
Middle School 2nd Year and High School 1st Year See Score Increases Compared to Previous Year
Survey Target to Expand from 90,000 to 120,000 Students This Year

Last year, the average literacy and numeracy scores of 4th-grade elementary students in Seoul significantly declined compared to the previous year. For 6th-grade elementary students, literacy scores increased, but numeracy scores decreased.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the results of the "2024 Seoul Student Literacy and Numeracy Diagnostic Test" on the 14th, which included these findings.

The diagnostic test is a tool used to assess students' literacy and numeracy skills and was conducted from November 4 to 7 last year, targeting approximately 94,000 students from 524 elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul. According to last year's survey, the average literacy score of 4th-grade elementary students decreased by 12.75% compared to the previous year. Numeracy also dropped by 34.26%. For 6th-grade elementary students, literacy increased by 9.91%, but numeracy fell by 16.08% compared to the previous year.

However, the average literacy and numeracy scores tended to increase as the grade level rose. Both 2nd-year middle school and 1st-year high school students showed improvements in average scores for literacy and numeracy compared to the previous year.

The proportion of students at the 'Level 1' category, indicating below basic literacy, was 3.42% for 4th grade, 4.26% for 6th grade, 5.92% for 2nd-year middle school, and 7.02% for 1st-year high school. The proportion of students at the 'Level 4' category, indicating excellent literacy, was 30.16% for 4th grade, 43.84% for 6th grade, 47.10% for 2nd-year middle school, and 52.13% for 1st-year high school.

Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

The proportion of students at 'Level 1' in numeracy was 4.12% for 4th grade, 5.59% for 6th grade, 12.42% for 2nd-year middle school, and 13.68% for 1st-year high school. The 'Level 4' proportion was 43.80% for 4th grade, 45.92% for 6th grade, 43.30% for 2nd-year middle school, and 34.19% for 1st-year high school.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to establish a strategy and form a consultative body to enhance the literacy and numeracy skills of Seoul students.