The “significant correlation” between reading ability and GCSE success is just as strong with maths and science as it is in the arts and literacy-rich subjects, like English and history.
A study involving 370,000 secondary school students has warned, however, that 25 per cent of 15-year-olds have a reading age of 12 and under, while 20 per cent have a reading age of below 11, and 10 per cent of below nine.
The reading ability gap between boys and girls also widens significantly after primary school.
The research, conducted by GL Assessment, analysed the reading abilities of students during the 2018/19 academic year. The findings emphasise just how important reading ability – both general and subject literacy – is to GCSE success, including in subjects like PE and creative disciplines like arts and music.
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