The cognitive foundations of STEM achievement: a cross-national multilevel and SEM investigation

Objective: Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is vital for national competitiveness and sustainable development. Yet, the cognitive foundations of STEM achievement remain insufficiently understood across diverse educational systems. Methods: Drawing on data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2022), this study applies a cross-national, multilevel, and structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Integrated student, school, and cognitive assessment datasets encompassing over 600,000 students from more than 80 countries were analyzed. Results: = 476.6, SD = 93.1). General academic proficiency (math, reading, and science literacy) exhibited the strongest predictive power, accounting for more than 40% of the variance in STEM performance. SEM revealed that self-efficacy, metacognitive strategies, and socio-economic resources indirectly shaped STEM achievement through cognitive competencies. At the school level, teacher support, disciplinary climate, and resource availability moderated individual outcomes, with cross-level interactions explaining an additional 12-15% of the variance. Conclusion: General academic proficiency across PISA domains were strongly associated with STEM outcomes and formed statistical indirect pathways linking school climate, teacher-student interactions, and socio-demographic inequalities to achievement. Fostering cognitive and non-cognitive skills may help address educational inequities, although causal mechanisms cannot be inferred from cross-sectional data. By integrating multilevel analysis with SEM, this study delivers robust, policy-relevant insights for advancing equitable and effective STEM education globally.