The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement conducts the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) to assess the mother tongue reading literacy of students aged 9 to 10 in the fourth grade (primary four in Hong Kong) from participating countries or regions.

Students from Hong Kong achieved an average test score of 573 in PIRLS 2021, which is much higher than the average international test score of 500.

Among the local P4 students, 92 percent were at or above the Intermediate International Benchmark, higher than the international average of 75 percent.

With a three percent increase from 2016, 21 percent of the students were at or above the highest benchmark; for instance, the high achievers in reading literacy at the Advanced International Benchmark was attained by only 7 percent of students globally.

PIRLS 2021 shows that Hong Kong P4 students did better in informational reading than in literary reading, and their performance in both types of reading purposes improved compared to 2016.

Among the participating countries, Singapore students ranked the 1st and Russia ranked the 3rd.

The Education Bureau (EDB) on Wednesday said it was pleased to learn the local students performed remarkably well in the Study.

"As compared with other countries or regions, family socio-economic status does not have significant influence on the reading attainment of Hong Kong P4 students," an EDB spokesperson said, "which speaks for the equal access to quality education being offered by Hong Kong's primary education system."

The EDB also thank schools, teachers, and various parties for their efforts and contributions in providing quality education over the years.