Finns are world's best science students, study says

PARIS - Finnish students came out on top of a worldwide education study on science performance by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development published Tuesday.

After Finnish students, teenagers from Hong Kong and Canada came in at second and third place in proficiency at science, the focus of this year's study.

Taiwan, Estonia, Japan, New Zealand and Australia were next.

The report surveyed more than 400,000 15-year-old students in 57 countries.

The examinations centred on a science test, but students were also tested on math and reading comprehension.

Britain finished in 14th place - France came in at 25th place and The United States followed about halfway down the list, at No. 29.

Thirty countries make up the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which runs the international tests carried out every three years. The test also was administered to students in 27 countries or jurisdictions that are not part of the industrialized group.

On the math test, students in Taiwan, Finland and Hong Kong topped the charts. In reading, South Korea came out on top, followed by Finland and Hong Kong.