PISA's findings about learning and teaching at QMC
Take a deeper dive into the PISA Study 2025 findings.
Academic excellence
In testing, QMC students significantly outperformed both the New Zealand average and comparable independent schools in Mathematics, Science and English.
These results demonstrate strong academic achievement alongside the ability to apply learning in real-world contexts, a key focus of the PISA assessment.
Our Strategic Plan's futuristic intelligence guides our approach to how we cultivate entrepreneurial, critical and analytical thinkers who look beyond the immediate, are courageous and solve real-world problems to shape the future. The Pisa Study's findings provide independent validation of the College's commitment to academic excellence.
Curious and motivated learners
The study found high levels of curiosity and engagement among QMC students, with students reporting strong interest in learning new things, exploring ideas and understanding how the world works.
- 80% enjoying learning new things
- 80% are curious about many different things
- 73% enjoy finding out how things work
Fostering curiosity, one of the strongest predictors of lifelong learning, is a key component of the IB philosophy and is embedded throughout the educational journey at QMC from Year 1-13.
PISA’s findings show QMC students are not only achieving academically but suggest they are genuinely engaged in learning and exploring the world around them. Alongside our exceptional academic results in the study, these findings provide independent validation of the College's commitment to developing inquisitive, motivated and future-focused learners.
Science learning and teaching is a strength
Science was a major focus of the 2025 PISA Study. Students were asked a wide range of questions about their interest and engagement with science, their experiences in science classrooms and their awareness of environmental issues. The results provide a particularly valuable insight into students' experiences of science education at QMC.
QMC students reported high levels of interest and enjoyment in science, highly positive experiences of science learning, and strong confidence in the support and learning opportunities provided by their teachers.
Across many measures, QMC students reported stronger results than students at comparable independent schools. The findings point to strengths in both student engagement with science and the quality of science teaching and learning at QMC.
Science learning
QMC students told researchers:
87%
enjoy acquiring new knowledge in science
87%
are happy working on science topics
80%
are interested in science
73%
generally have fun learning science topics
Science teaching
QMC students told researchers the following about their teachers and their experience of being taught at QMC:
93%
said the teacher gives extra help when students need it
93%
said the teacher helps students with their learning
87%
said the teacher shows an interest in every student’s learning
80%
said the teacher gives students an opportunity to express opinions
80%
said the teacher continues teaching until the students understand
Understanding of global challenges
Students demonstrated strong awareness of climate change, water shortages, biodiversity loss and environmental sustainability. These findings suggest QMC students are developing not only scientific knowledge, but also an understanding of the complex global challenges facing their generation.
These findings align strongly with the aims of QMC's IB programmes, which encourage students to engage thoughtfully with issues of local and global significance. This focus is embedded throughout the education journey at QMC from Year 1-13 and helps develop learners who can engage critically with the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly complex world.
Overall, the results demonstrate QMC's commitment to STEM education and the development of scientifically capable, future-focused learners.