Skip to Content
Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Chess instruction

Overview

  • Influence: Chess instruction
  • Domain: Curricula
  • Sub-Domain: Other curricula programs
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Programs that use chess as a tool to enhance students' cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 1
  • Number of studies: 24
  • Number of students: 5,221
  • Number of effects: 40
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.34
  • Robustness index: 1

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Educational Research Review Sala & Gobet Do the benefits of chess instruction transfer to academic and cognitive skills? A meta-analysis 2016 Chess in schools 24 5,221 40 0.34
TOTAL/AVERAGE 24 5,221 40 0.34
Back to top