The second release of international data showing Australian students slipping behind in maths, science and reading will form a key part of discussions between state and federal education ministers next week.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham acknowledges Australia's performance in the three-yearly Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), released on Tuesday night, was slipping.
It comes on the back of last week's Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) showing Australian students still middle of the pack after 20 years of testing.
"Given the wealth of our nation and scale of our investment, we should expect to be a clear education leader, not risk becoming a laggard," Senator Birmingham said.
"We must leave the politicking at the door and have a genuine conversation that is based on evidence about what we do from here."
Australia is above the OECD average, but sits equal 10th in science, equal 12th in reading and equal 20th in maths, according to analysis by the Australian Council for Educational Research, which reports on the study.
"The PISA results are showing that we are getting worse at preparing our students for the everyday challenges of adult life in the 21st century," the council's Sue Thomson told AAP.
Dr Thomson says there is an issue with the teaching of maths and science in Australia.
"TIMSS has shown that and now PISA has shown it again," she said.
"Other countries are getting better than we are and we're not even just standing still in this one, we're falling behind as well."
