International Baccalaureate
PYP and MYP students outperform peers on global benchmarks
(This article was published by the International Baccalaureate Organisation 19 February 2026. Whilst the research refers to International Schools, as an accredited PYP school, these results are also relevant for Saltwater. A link to the article is below.)
A new study by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) examined how students in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) performed on the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA) compared with non-IB students from similar schools.
The ISA assesses students in international schools from grades 3 to 10 across five domains: Mathematical literacy, Reading, Scientific literacy, Narrative writing and Expository writing. The analysis draws on data from more than 71,000 students in 254 internationally accredited schools that participated in the 2023–2024 ISA assessments. The sample includes 123 IB World Schools offering the PYP or MYP and a comparison group of 131 non-IB schools.
Consistent with earlier research, PYP and MYP students globally scored significantly higher than students from non-IB schools across multiple subjects and grade levels. In no grade or subject did non-IB students significantly outperform IB students. IB students performed particularly well in reading, surpassing non-IB students across almost all grades.
Additionally, because ISA scales for mathematical literacy, reading, and scientific literacy are aligned with those used in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the results can also be compared to global PISA benchmarks. The study found that MYP students scored significantly higher than PISA benchmarks in all three subject areas (see figure).
These findings provide strong evidence that PYP and MYP students in international schools show high levels of academic achievement, even when compared with a similarly high-performing peer group.
Today, students in 3,600 schools worldwide benefit from the PYP and MYP programmes. The IB remains committed to providing high‑quality education that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and global-mindedness. By expanding access to an IB education and supporting schools and educators, the IB aims to create even more opportunities for students to thrive academically and personally.
To read the original article and access the full study, please click the link below.