An international survey shows Japanese students are maintaining high overall levels of academic ability in mathematics and science.

The survey called "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study," or TIMSS, is conducted every four years by an organization based in the Netherlands.

Elementary and junior high school students from 64 countries and territories took part in the 2023 survey.

About 7,800 fourth and eighth graders in Japan participated in the survey online.

The average math score of the Japanese elementary school students was 591, placing them in fifth place, the same as in the previous survey. Their average science score stood at 555, down two notches at sixth.

The junior high school students finished fourth in math, the same as in the previous survey, with 595. In science, they were again ranked third with 557.

Singapore topped the list with the best scores in both mathematics and science, similar to 2015 and 2019. Students from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong also performed generally well.

Officials from Japan's education ministry say the science test for elementary school students had questions about tropical and desert ecosystems and environmental conservation, topics that are less familiar to Japanese people. They say the result should not be taken as a sign of a decline in scholastic ability.

The officials say Japan's education system attaches importance to students' daily lives and their relations with society while maintaining high academic standards.