What do the PISA 2022 results say about our students’ learning strategies, motivation and mindset?
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Associate Professor of Educational Sciences at University of Tartu
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Professor of Teacher Education at University of Tartu
Effective learning is driven by sound strategies, intrinsic motivation, and a growth mindset.
Drawing on PISA 2022 data, Saks and Leijen explore how Estonian students fare in these domains compared to their peers in Finland and Latvia. Findings reveal a concerning underuse of metacognitive strategies, particularly among students with lower academic performance. Girls and socioeconomically advantaged students more frequently employ critical thinking and error-checking strategies, while creative problem-solving is more evenly distributed. Although most Estonian students exhibit a general belief in their ability to grow intellectually, far fewer apply this mindset to mathematics. Alarmingly, intrinsic motivation is notably low—especially among weaker students—while external drivers dominate. The authors urge schools to cultivate safer learning environments, tailor support for struggling learners, and promote curiosity, perseverance, and reflective thinking as pillars of lifelong learning.