To find out just that, 5,000 randomly chosen 15-year-old students here will take a test next year to find out how well they apply what they have learnt to solve real-life problems.

How well this batch does will decide Singapore's maiden ranking in a global education league of sorts called Pisa, short for Programme for International Student Assessment.

Tests are conducted at three-year intervals. The last one in 2006 drew students from about 60 countries, mainly developed nations.

Fifteen-year-olds, chosen because they are nearing the end of 10 years of general education, are tested on reading, maths and science.

But unlike two other global studies that test these three areas - in which Singapore already takes part - Pisa aims to go beyond testing students' mastery of the curriculum, to assessing their problem-solving skills.

For example, in a test of their decision-making ability, students are given data about four types of painkillers and asked to assess which is most suitable for different patients.

They are also tested on how well they can sort information and troubleshoot.

In the 2006 Pisa test, Finland, Hong Kong and Canada took the top three spots.

NUS High School of Mathematics and Science principal Hang Kim Hoo said that, with Singapore having made great progress in education, participation in Pisa was 'a natural progression to check how we are doing'.

Replying to queries, a Ministry of Education spokesman said Pisa measured the capacity of students to analyse, reason and communicate effectively as they pose, solve and interpret problems in a variety of situations.

She described the assessment as 'forward-looking, focusing on young people's ability to use their knowledge and skills in real-life settings'.

These skills are exactly what the school curriculum here has been developing in recent years through subjects such as Project Work, she added.

Singapore is taking part in Pisa, run by the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, to benchmark itself against education league leaders like Finland, said the spokesman.

Singapore has regularly been ranked first in maths and science in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, which tests students' knowledge in these areas.

hoaili@sph.com.sg