Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

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TIMSS 8th grade average Mathematics scores (2019) TIMSS 8th grade average Mathematics scores 2019.png
TIMSS 8th grade average Mathematics scores (2019)
TIMSS 8th grade average Science scores (2019) TIMSS 8th grade average Science scores 2019.png
TIMSS 8th grade average Science scores (2019)
TIMSS 4th grade average Mathematics scores (2019) TIMSS 4th grade average Mathematics scores 2019.png
TIMSS 4th grade average Mathematics scores (2019)
TIMSS 4th grade average Science scores (2019) TIMSS 4th grade average Science scores 2019.png
TIMSS 4th grade average Science scores (2019)

The IEA's Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) [1] is a series of international assessments of the mathematics and science knowledge of students around the world. The participating students come from a diverse set of educational systems (countries or regional jurisdictions of countries) in terms of economic development, geographical location, and population size. In each of the participating educational systems, a minimum of 4,000 to 5,000 students is evaluated. Contextual data about the conditions in which participating students learn mathematics and science are collected from the students and their teachers, their principals, and their parents via questionnaires. [2]

Contents

TIMSS is one of the studies established by IEA aimed at allowing educational systems worldwide to compare students' educational achievement and learn from the experiences of others in designing effective education policy. This assessment was first conducted in 1995, and has been administered every four years thereafter. Therefore, some of the participating educational systems have trend data across assessments from 1995 to 2019. [3] TIMSS assesses 4th and 8th grade students, while TIMSS Advanced assesses students in the final year of secondary school in advanced mathematics and physics.

Definition of Terms

"Eighth grade" in the United States is approximately 13–14 years of age and equivalent to:

"Fourth grade" in the United States is approximately equivalent to 9–10 years of age and equivalent to:

History

A precursor to TIMSS was the First International Mathematics Study (FIMS) performed in 1964 in 11 countries for students aged 13 and in the final year of secondary education (FS) under the auspices of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). This was followed in 1970-71 by the First International Science Study (FISS) for students aged 10, 14, and FS. Fourteen countries tested 10-year-olds; 16 countries tested the older two groups. These were replicated between 1980 and 1984. [4]

These early studies were revised and combined by the IEA to create TIMSS, which was first administered in 1995. It was the largest international student assessment study of its time and evaluated students in five grades. In the second cycle (1999) only eighth-grade students were tested. In the next cycles (2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015) both 4th and 8th grade students were assessed. The 2011 cycle was performed in the same year as the IEA's Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), offering a comprehensive assessment of mathematics, science and reading for the countries participating in both studies. The sixth cycle was conducted in 2015, and the results were released in 2016; [5] the data set was published in February 2017. TIMSS 2015 included data collected from parents for the first time. [6] TIMSS Advanced, previously conducted in 1995 and 2008, was also conducted in 2015, and assessed final-year secondary students' achievement in advanced mathematics and physics. Policy-relevant data about curriculum emphasis, technology use, and teacher preparation and training accompanies the TIMSS Advanced results.

The seventh cycle of TIMSS was conducted in 2019 and marked the beginning of the transition to a digital assessment format, with the digital assessment administered to half of participating countries, and the paper assessment administered to the remaining half. 64 countries and 8 benchmarking systems participating in TIMSS 2019. Results were released in December 2020. [7]

Preparations are underway for TIMSS 2023.

Method, data and documentation

Along with the overall students’ achievement data, TIMSS comprehensive assessments include data on student performance in various mathematics and science domains (algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry, etc.) and on performance in the problem solving challenges in each of these contexts. In addition, TIMSS provides contextual data on crucial curricular, instructional, and resource-related factors that can impact the teaching and learning process. These data are gathered using student, teacher, school, and curriculum (national) questionnaires filled out by students, teachers, school principals and National Research Coordinators, respectively.

According to the TIMSS 2019 Assessment Frameworks, “The TIMSS mathematics and science achievement scales were created with the first TIMSS assessment in 1995, separately for each subject and each grade. The scale units were established so that 100 points on the scale was equivalent to one standard deviation of the distribution of achievement across all of the countries that participated in TIMSS 1995, and the scale midpoint of 500 was located at the mean of this international achievement distribution. The TIMSS achievement scales were first used for reporting TIMSS results with TIMSS 1995, and all results from subsequent TIMSS assessments have been reported on the same scale metrics, making it possible to measure growth or decline in countries’ achievement distributions from assessment to assessment.” [8]

Because TIMSS is administered in four-year cycles, it enables participating counties to use the results between the fourth and eighth grades to track the changes in achievement and certain background factors from an earlier study. For example, results of the fourth grade in TIMSS 1995 can be compared with the results of the eighth grade in TIMSS 1999, as fourth graders had become eighth graders in the next cycle of study. [9]

The collected information is presented in different formats. For example, for TIMSS 2019 the results are presented as TIMSS 2019 International Results in Mathematics and Science TIMSS 2019 International Results in Mathematics and Science. The TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia provides an overview of how mathematics and science are taught in each participating country. Methods and Procedures: TIMSS 2019 Technical Report documents the development of the TIMSS assessments and questionnaires, and describes the methods used. The TIMSS 2019 User Guide for the International Database describes the content and format of the data in the TIMSS 2019 International Database.

The IEA has developed an application for working with data from TIMSS and other IEA large-scale assessments called the "IEA International Database (IDB) Analyzer".. This application allows researchers to combine data files and facilitates some types of statistical analysis (such as computing means, percentages, percentiles, correlations, and estimating single level multiple linear regression). The application takes into account the complex sample structure of the databases when calculating the statistics and their standard errors. It also allows researchers to estimate achievement scores and their standard errors.

For an overview of the IEA study results and interpretation of information, the IEA's "Data Visualizer". can come in handy.

Cycles

TIMSS 2019

TIMSS 2019 was the seventh cycle of TIMSS and reported overall achievement as well as results according to international benchmarks, by major content domains (number, algebra, and geometry in mathematics, and earth science, biology, and chemistry in science) and by cognitive domains (knowing, applying, reasoning). [10] TIMSS 2019 collected detailed information about curriculum and curriculum implementation of participating countries and published this information the TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science. [11]

TIMSS 2019 marked the transition to a digital assessment format, allowing for new and innovative item types. In the digital assessment, students solved problems by interacting with shapes and patterns, arranging items on the screen, dragging and dropping items, and drawing. The digital version of TIMSS 2019 also introduced Problem Solving and Inquiry tasks that simulated real-world and laboratory situations and called for students to integrate and apply process skills and content knowledge. Half of the participating countries took the paper version of TIMSS and half of the participating countries took the digital version of TIMSS.

TIMSS 2019 results are summarized in TIMSS 2019 International Results in Mathematics and Science. [7] This detailed report presents achievement and contextual data from participating countries and benchmarking entities. The TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science describes various features of the education systems in each participating country, including the mathematics and science curriculum, professional development requirements for teachers, and methods of monitoring student progress in mathematics and science. Each country's "chapter" in the encyclopedia was authored by that country's TIMSS representative. [12]

Eighth grade

Mathematics [13]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 616Decrease2.svg 5 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 612Increase2.svg 13 points
3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 607Increase2.svg 1 point
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 594Increase2.svg 8 points
5Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 578Decrease2.svg 16 points
6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 543Increase2.svg 5 points
7Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 524Increase2.svg 1 point
8Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 520Increase2.svg 9 points
9Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 519Increase2.svg 8 points
10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 517Increase2.svg 12 points
10Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 517Increase2.svg 3 points
12Flag of the United States.svg  United States 515Decrease2.svg 3 points
12Flag of England.svg  England 515Decrease2.svg 3 points
14Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 509N/A
15Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 503Decrease2.svg 9 points
15Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 503Increase2.svg 2 points
17Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 501N/A
18Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 500N/A
International average500Steady2.svg
19Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 497Increase2.svg 3 points
20Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 496Increase2.svg 38 points
21Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 488Decrease2.svg 40 points
22Flag of France.svg  France 483N/A
23Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 482Decrease2.svg 11 points
24Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 481Increase2.svg 27 points
25Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 479N/A
26Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 473Increase2.svg 8 points
27Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 461Increase2.svg 8 points
27Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 461Decrease2.svg 4 points
29Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 446Increase2.svg 8 points
30Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 443Increase2.svg 6 points
31Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 441Increase2.svg 14 points
32Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 429Decrease2.svg 13 points
33Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 420Increase2.svg 34 points
34Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 413Increase2.svg 21 points
35Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 411Increase2.svg 8 points
36Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 403Increase2.svg 11 points
37Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 394Increase2.svg 26 points
38Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 389Increase2.svg 17 points
39Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 388Increase2.svg 4 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Moscow, Russia.svg Moscow (Russia)575N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)543Steady2.svg
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)537Increase2.svg 25 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)530Decrease2.svg 8 points
Flag of the Western Cape Province.png Western Cape (South Africa) [lower-alpha 1] 441N/A
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)436Decrease2.svg 6 points
Flag of the Gauteng Province.png Gauteng (South Africa) [lower-alpha 1] 421N/A
Science [14]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 608Increase2.svg 11 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 574Increase2.svg 5 points
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 570Decrease2.svg 1 point
4Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 561Increase2.svg 5 points
5Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 543Decrease2.svg 1 point
5Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 543N/A
7Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 534Increase2.svg 15 points
8Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 530Increase2.svg 3 points
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 528Increase2.svg 16 points
10Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 523Decrease2.svg 7 points
11Flag of the United States.svg  United States 522Increase2.svg 8 points
12Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 521Decrease2.svg 1 point
13Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 519N/A
14Flag of England.svg  England 517Decrease2.svg 20 points
15Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 515Increase2.svg 22 points
16Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 513Increase2.svg 6 points
17Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 504Decrease2.svg 42 points
18Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 500Increase2.svg 1 point
International average500Steady2.svg
19Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 499Decrease2.svg 14 points
20Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 495Decrease2.svg 14 points
21Flag of France.svg  France 489N/A
22Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 486Increase2.svg 20 points
23Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 484N/A
24Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 478Decrease2.svg 55 points
25Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 475Increase2.svg 18 points
26Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 473Decrease2.svg 4 points
27Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 470N/A
28Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 462Increase2.svg 8 points
29Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 460Decrease2.svg 11 points
30Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 457Increase2.svg 2 points
31Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 452Increase2.svg 26 points
32Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 449Decrease2.svg 7 points
33Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 447Increase2.svg 4 points
34Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 444Increase2.svg 33 points
35Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 431Increase2.svg 35 points
36Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 394Increase2.svg 1 point
37Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 389Increase2.svg 18 points
38Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 377Decrease2.svg 21 points
39Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 370Increase2.svg 12 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Moscow, Russia.svg Moscow (Russia)567N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)548Increase2.svg 18 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)537Increase2.svg 12 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)522Decrease2.svg 2 points
Flag of the Western Cape Province.png Western Cape (South Africa) [lower-alpha 1] 439N/A
Flag of the Gauteng Province.png Gauteng (South Africa) [lower-alpha 1] 422N/A
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)420Decrease2.svg 34 points
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ninth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics [15]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 625Increase2.svg 7 points
2Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 602Decrease2.svg 13 points
3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 600Decrease2.svg 8 points
4Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 599Increase2.svg 2 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 593Steady2.svg
6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 567Increase2.svg 3 points
7 Northern Ireland 566Decrease2.svg 4 points
8Flag of England.svg  England 556Increase2.svg 10 points
9Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 548Increase2.svg 1 point
10Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 546N/A
11Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 543Decrease2.svg 6 points
12Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 542Increase2.svg 7 points
13Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 539N/A
14Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 538Increase2.svg 8 points
15Flag of the United States.svg  United States 535Decrease2.svg 4 points
16Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 533Increase2.svg 5 points
17Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)532Decrease2.svg 14 points
17Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 532Increase2.svg 9 points
17Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 532Decrease2.svg 3 points
20Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 525Decrease2.svg 16 points
20Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 525Decrease2.svg 14 points
22Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 523Decrease2.svg 6 points
22Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey [lower-alpha 1] 523N/A
24Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 521Increase2.svg 2 points
24Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 521Decrease2.svg 1 point
26Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 520Decrease2.svg 15 points
27Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 516Decrease2.svg 1 point
28Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 515N/A
28Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 515Decrease2.svg 9 points
28Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 515Increase2.svg 8 points
31Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 512Decrease2.svg 32 points
31Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 512Increase2.svg 1 point
33Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 510Increase2.svg 12 points
34Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 509Increase2.svg 7 points
34Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 509N/A
36Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 508Decrease2.svg 10 points
37Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 502Decrease2.svg 3 points
International average500Steady2.svg
38Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 498N/A
39Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 494N/A
40Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 487Decrease2.svg 4 points
41Flag of France.svg  France 485Decrease2.svg 3 points
42Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 482Increase2.svg 19 points
43Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 481Increase2.svg 29 points
44Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 480Increase2.svg 29 points
45Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 472N/A
46Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 453N/A
47Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 452N/A
48Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 449Increase2.svg 10 points
49Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 444N/A
50Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 443Increase2.svg 12 points
51Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 441Decrease2.svg 18 points
52Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 431Increase2.svg 6 points
53Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 398Increase2.svg 15 points
54Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 383Increase2.svg 6 points
54Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 383Increase2.svg 30 points
56Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 374Decrease2.svg 2 points
57Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 328N/A
58Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 297N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Moscow, Russia.svg Moscow (Russia)593N/A
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)544Increase2.svg 33 points
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)532Decrease2.svg 4 points
Flag of the Community of Madrid.svg Madrid (Spain)518N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)512Steady2.svg
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)441Increase2.svg 22 points
Science [16]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 595Increase2.svg 5 points
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 588Decrease2.svg 1 point
3Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 567Steady2.svg
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 562Decrease2.svg 7 points
5Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 558Increase2.svg 3 points
6Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 555Increase2.svg 1 point
7Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 542N/A
8Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 539Increase2.svg 1 point
8Flag of the United States.svg  United States 539Decrease2.svg 7 points
10Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 538Increase2.svg 10 points
11Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 537Decrease2.svg 3 points
11Flag of England.svg  England 537Increase2.svg 1 point
13Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 534Steady2.svg
14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 533Increase2.svg 9 points
15Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 531Decrease2.svg 26 points
15Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 531Decrease2.svg 16 points
17Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 529Decrease2.svg 13 points
18Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 528Decrease2.svg 1 point
19Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey [lower-alpha 1] 526N/A
20Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 524Decrease2.svg 9 points
21Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 523Decrease2.svg 2 points
22Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 522Decrease2.svg 5 points
22Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 522N/A
24Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 521Decrease2.svg 15 points
24Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 521Increase2.svg 1 point
26 Northern Ireland 518Decrease2.svg 2 points
26Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 518Increase2.svg 1 point
26Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 518Decrease2.svg 10 points
29Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 517Decrease2.svg 8 points
30Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 511Increase2.svg 30 points
30Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 511Decrease2.svg 7 points
32Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 510Decrease2.svg 6 points
33Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 504Decrease2.svg 4 points
34Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 503Decrease2.svg 3 points
35Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)501Decrease2.svg 11 points
International average500Steady2.svg
36Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 496N/A
37Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 494Decrease2.svg 56 points
38Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 493Increase2.svg 34 points
39Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 489N/A
40Flag of France.svg  France 488Increase2.svg 1 point
41Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 473Increase2.svg 22 points
42Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 469Decrease2.svg 9 points
43Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 466N/A
44Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 459N/A
45Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 454Increase2.svg 3 points
46Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 453N/A
47Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 449Increase2.svg 13 points
48Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 441Increase2.svg 20 points
49Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 435Increase2.svg 4 points
50Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 427N/A
51Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 426N/A
52Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 413N/A
53Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 402Increase2.svg 12 points
54Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 392Increase2.svg 55 points
54Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 374Increase2.svg 17 points
56Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 324N/A
57Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 290N/A
58Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 249N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Moscow, Russia.svg Moscow (Russia)595N/A
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)545Increase2.svg 27 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)524Decrease2.svg 6 points
Flag of the Community of Madrid.svg Madrid (Spain)523N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)522Decrease2.svg 3 points
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)418Increase2.svg 3 points
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fifth grade students

TIMSS 2015

In TIMSS 2015, [17] nationally representative samples of students in 57 countries and 7 benchmarking entities participated in the fourth grade assessment, the eighth grade assessment, or both. [18]

Eighth grade

Mathematics [19]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 621Increase2.svg 10 points
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 606Decrease2.svg 7 points
3Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 599Decrease2.svg 10 points
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 594Increase2.svg 8 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 586Increase2.svg 16 points
6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 538Decrease2.svg 1 point
7Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 528Increase2.svg 41 points
8Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 527N/A
9Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 523N/A
10Flag of the United States.svg  United States 518Increase2.svg 9 points
10Flag of England.svg  England 518Increase2.svg 11 points
12Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 516Increase2.svg 11 points
13Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 514Increase2.svg 9 points
14Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 512N/A
15Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 511Increase2.svg 9 points
15Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 511Decrease2.svg 5 points
17Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 505Steady2.svg
18Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 501Increase2.svg 17 points
International average500Steady2.svg
19Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 494Decrease2.svg 4 points
19Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 494N/A
21Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 493Increase2.svg 5 points
22Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 465Increase2.svg 25 points
23Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 465Increase2.svg 9 points
24Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 458Increase2.svg 6 points
25Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 454Increase2.svg 45 points
26Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 453Increase2.svg 22 points
27Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 442Decrease2.svg 7 points
28Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 437Increase2.svg 27 points
29Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 436Increase2.svg 21 points
30Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 431Increase2.svg 4 points
31Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 427Increase2.svg 11 points
32Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 403Increase2.svg 37 points
33Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 392N/A
33Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 392N/A
35Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana [lower-alpha 1] 391Decrease2.svg 6 points
36Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 386Decrease2.svg 20 points
37Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 384Increase2.svg 13 points
38Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 372Increase2.svg 20 points
39Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 368Decrease2.svg 26 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)543Increase2.svg 11 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)522Increase2.svg 10 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)512Increase2.svg 34 points
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)493Decrease2.svg 20 points
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 2] 487Increase2.svg 12 points
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)442Decrease2.svg 7 points
Bandera de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.svg Buenos Aires (Argentina)396N/A
Science [20]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 597Increase2.svg 7 points
2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 571Increase2.svg 13 points
3Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 569Increase2.svg 5 points
4Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 556Decrease2.svg 4 points
5Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 551Increase2.svg 8 points
6Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 546Increase2.svg 11 points
7Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 544Increase2.svg 2 points
8Flag of England.svg  England 537Increase2.svg 4 points
9Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 533Increase2.svg 43 points
10Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 530N/A
10Flag of the United States.svg  United States 530Increase2.svg 5 points
12Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 527Increase2.svg 5 points
13Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 526N/A
14Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 522Increase2.svg 13 points
15Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 519Increase2.svg 5 points
16Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 513Increase2.svg 1 point
17Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 512Decrease2.svg 7 points
18Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 509N/A
19Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 507Decrease2.svg 9 points
International average500Steady2.svg
20Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 499Decrease2.svg 2 points
21Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 493Increase2.svg 10 points
22Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 481N/A
23Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 477Increase2.svg 12 points
24Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 471Increase2.svg 45 points
25Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 466Increase2.svg 14 points
26Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 457Increase2.svg 38 points
27Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 456Decrease2.svg 18 points
27Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 456Increase2.svg 5 points
29Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 455Increase2.svg 35 points
30Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 454Decrease2.svg 7 points
31Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 443Increase2.svg 23 points
32Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 426Decrease2.svg 23 points
33Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 411N/A
34Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 398Decrease2.svg 8 points
35Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 396Decrease2.svg 40 points
36Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 393Increase2.svg 17 points
37Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana [lower-alpha 1] 392Decrease2.svg 12 points
38Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 371N/A
39Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 358Increase2.svg 26 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)530Increase2.svg 10 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)525Increase2.svg 40 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)524Increase2.svg 3 points
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)508Decrease2.svg 22 points
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 2] 489Decrease2.svg 5 points
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)454Decrease2.svg 7 points
Bandera de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.svg Buenos Aires (Argentina)386N/A
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ninth grade students
  2. 1 2 Eighth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics [19]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 618Increase2.svg 12 points
2Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 615Increase2.svg 13 points
3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 608Increase2.svg 3 points
4Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 597Increase2.svg 6 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 593Increase2.svg 8 points
6 Northern Ireland 570Increase2.svg 8 points
7Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 564Increase2.svg 22 points
8Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 549N/A
9Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 547Increase2.svg 20 points
10Flag of England.svg  England 546Increase2.svg 4 points
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)546Decrease2.svg 3 points
12Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 544Increase2.svg 43 points
13Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 541Increase2.svg 9 points
14Flag of the United States.svg  United States 539Decrease2.svg 2 points
14Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 539Increase2.svg 2 points
16Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 535Increase2.svg 1 point
16Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 535Decrease2.svg 10 points
16Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 535Increase2.svg 54 points
19Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 530Decrease2.svg 10 points
20Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 529Increase2.svg 14 points
21Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 528Increase2.svg 17 points
22Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 524N/A
23Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 523N/A
24Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 522Decrease2.svg 6 points
25Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 520Increase2.svg 7 points
26Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 519Increase2.svg 15 points
27Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 518Increase2.svg 2 points
28Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 517Increase2.svg 1 point
29Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 511N/A
30Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 507Decrease2.svg 1 point
31Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 505Increase2.svg 23 points
32Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 502Increase2.svg 12 points
International average500Steady2.svg
33Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 498Decrease2.svg 9 points
34Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 491Increase2.svg 5 points
35Flag of France.svg  France 488N/A
36Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 483Increase2.svg 14 points
37Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 463Increase2.svg 13 points
38Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 459Decrease2.svg 3 points
39Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 452Increase2.svg 18 points
40Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 451Increase2.svg 15 points
41Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 439Increase2.svg 26 points
42Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 431Steady2.svg
43Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 425Increase2.svg 40 points
44Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 397N/A
45Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 388N/A
46Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 383Decrease2.svg 27 points
47Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 377Increase2.svg 42 points
48Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 376N/A
49Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 353Increase2.svg 11 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)546Increase2.svg 1 point
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)536Increase2.svg 3 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)512Decrease2.svg 6 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)511Increase2.svg 43 points
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 2] 493Decrease2.svg 2 points
Bandera de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.svg Buenos Aires (Argentina)432N/A
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)419Increase2.svg 2 points
Science [20]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 590Increase2.svg 7 points
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 589Increase2.svg 2 points
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 569Increase2.svg 10 points
4Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 567Increase2.svg 15 points
5Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 557Increase2.svg 22 points
6Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 555Increase2.svg 3 points
7Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 554Decrease2.svg 16 points
8Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 550Increase2.svg 55 points
9Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 547Increase2.svg 42 points
10Flag of the United States.svg  United States 546Increase2.svg 2 points
11Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 543Increase2.svg 23 points
12Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 542Increase2.svg 8 points
13Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 540Increase2.svg 7 points
14Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 1] 538N/A
15Flag of England.svg  England 536Increase2.svg 7 points
15Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 536N/A
17Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 534Decrease2.svg 2 points
18Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 533Increase2.svg 17 points
19Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 529Increase2.svg 13 points
20Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 528Steady2.svg
20Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 528Increase2.svg 13 points
22Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 527Decrease2.svg 1 point
23Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 525N/A
23Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 525Increase2.svg 9 points
25Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 524Increase2.svg 8 points
26Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 520Decrease2.svg 12 points
26 Northern Ireland 520Increase2.svg 3 points
28Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 518Increase2.svg 13 points
29Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 517Decrease2.svg 14 points
30Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 516Decrease2.svg 8 points
31Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)512Increase2.svg 3 points
32Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 508Decrease2.svg 14 points
33Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 506Increase2.svg 9 points
International average500Steady2.svg
34Flag of France.svg  France 487N/A
35Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 483Increase2.svg 20 points
36Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 481N/A
37Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 478Decrease2.svg 2 points
38Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 459Increase2.svg 10 points
39Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 451Decrease2.svg 4 points
39Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 451Increase2.svg 23 points
41Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 436Increase2.svg 42 points
42Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 431Increase2.svg 54 points
43Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 421Decrease2.svg 32 points
44Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 397N/A
45Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 390Decrease2.svg 39 points
46Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 357Increase2.svg 93 points
47Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 337Decrease2.svg 10 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)549Increase2.svg 4 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)530Increase2.svg 2 points
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)525Increase2.svg 9 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)518Increase2.svg 57 points
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [lower-alpha 2] 493Decrease2.svg 1 point
Bandera de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.svg Buenos Aires (Argentina)418N/A
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)415Increase2.svg 4 points
  1. 1 2 3 Fifth grade students
  2. 1 2 Fourth grade students

TIMSS 2011

TIMSS 2011 [21] had 52 participating educational systems for the fourth grade and 45 for the eighth grade. [6]

Eighth grade

Mathematics [22]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 613Increase2.svg 16 points
2Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 611Increase2.svg 18 points
3Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 609Increase2.svg 11 points
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 586Increase2.svg 14 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 570Steady2.svg
6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 539Increase2.svg 27 points
7Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 516Increase2.svg 53 points
8Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 514N/A
9Flag of the United States.svg  United States 509Increase2.svg 1 point
10Flag of England.svg  England 507Decrease2.svg 6 points
11Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 505Decrease2.svg 12 points
11Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 505Increase2.svg 9 points
11Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 505Increase2.svg 4 points
14Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 502Decrease2.svg 4 points
International average500Steady2.svg
15Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 498Increase2.svg 18 points
16Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 488N/A
17Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 487N/A
18Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 484Decrease2.svg 7 points
19Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 479Increase2.svg 17 points
20Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 475Increase2.svg 6 points
21Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 467Decrease2.svg 32 points
22Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 458Decrease2.svg 3 points
23Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 456N/A
24Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 452Increase2.svg 20 points
25Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 449Steady2.svg
26Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 440Decrease2.svg 34 points
27Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 431Increase2.svg 21 points
28Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 427Decrease2.svg 14 points
29Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 426N/A
30Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 425Increase2.svg 5 points
31Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 416N/A
32Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 415Increase2.svg 12 points
33Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 410Increase2.svg 103 points
34Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 409N/A
35Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 406Decrease2.svg 21 points
36Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 404Increase2.svg 37 points
37Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 394Increase2.svg 65 points
38Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 386Decrease2.svg 11 points
39Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 380Decrease2.svg 15 points
40Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 371Decrease2.svg 10 points
41Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 366Decrease2.svg 6 points
42Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 331Increase2.svg 22 points
Ninth grade participants
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana [lower-alpha 1] 397N/A
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 352N/A
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras [lower-alpha 1] 338N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts (United States)561Increase2.svg 14 points
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota (United States)545Increase2.svg 13 points
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina (United States)537N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)532Increase2.svg 4 points
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana (United States)522N/A
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado (United States)518N/A
Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut (United States)518N/A
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)513N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)512Decrease2.svg 5 points
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta (Canada)505N/A
Flag of California.svg California (United States)493N/A
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)478Increase2.svg 17 points
Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama (United States)466N/A
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)449N/A
Science [23]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 590Increase2.svg 23 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 564Increase2.svg 3 points
3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 560Increase2.svg 7 points
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 558Increase2.svg 4 points
5Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 552N/A
6Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 543Increase2.svg 5 points
7Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 542Increase2.svg 12 points
8Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 535Increase2.svg 5 points
9Flag of England.svg  England 533Decrease2.svg 9 points
10Flag of the United States.svg  United States 525Increase2.svg 5 points
11Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 522Decrease2.svg 17 points
12Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 519Increase2.svg 4 points
13Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 516Increase2.svg 48 points
14Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 514Decrease2.svg 5 points
15Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 512N/A
16Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 509Decrease2.svg 2 points
17Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 501Increase2.svg 6 points
17Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 501Increase2.svg 16 points
International average500Steady2.svg
19Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 494Increase2.svg 7 points
20Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 490N/A
21Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 483Increase2.svg 29 points
22Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 474Increase2.svg 15 points
23Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 465Increase2.svg 3 points
23Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 465N/A
25Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 461N/A
26Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 452N/A
27Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 451Decrease2.svg 20 points
28Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 449Decrease2.svg 33 points
29Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 439Decrease2.svg 6 points
30Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 437Decrease2.svg 51 points
31Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 436Increase2.svg 33 points
32Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 426Decrease2.svg 45 points
32Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 426Decrease2.svg 26 points
34Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 420Increase2.svg 16 points
34Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 420Decrease2.svg 1 point
34Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 420Decrease2.svg 3 points
37Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 419Increase2.svg 100 points
38Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 407N/A
39Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 406Decrease2.svg 8 points
39Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 406Decrease2.svg 21 points
41Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 376Decrease2.svg 26 points
42Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 306Increase2.svg 3 points
Ninth grade participants
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana [lower-alpha 1] 404N/A
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras [lower-alpha 1] 369N/A
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa [lower-alpha 1] 332N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts (United States)567Increase2.svg 11 points
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota (United States)553Increase2.svg 14 points
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta (Canada)546N/A
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado (United States)542N/A
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana (United States)533N/A
Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut (United States)532N/A
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina (United States)532N/A
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)530N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)521Decrease2.svg 5 points
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)520Decrease2.svg 6 points
Flag of California.svg California (United States)499N/A
Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama (United States)485N/A
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)485Decrease2.svg 4 points
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)461N/A
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ninth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics [22]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 606Increase2.svg 7 points
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 605N/A
3Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 602Decrease2.svg 5 points
4Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 591Increase2.svg 15 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 585Increase2.svg 17 points
6 Northern Ireland 562N/A
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)549N/A
8Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 545N/A
9Flag of England.svg  England 542Increase2.svg 1 point
9Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 542Decrease2.svg 2 points
11Flag of the United States.svg  United States 541Increase2.svg 12 points
12Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 540Increase2.svg 5 points
13Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 537Increase2.svg 14 points
14Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 534Increase2.svg 4 points
15Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 532N/A
16Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 528Increase2.svg 3 points
17Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 527N/A
18Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 516N/A
18Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 516Steady2.svg
20Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 515Increase2.svg 5 points
21Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 513Increase2.svg 11 points
22Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 511Increase2.svg 25 points
23Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 508Increase2.svg 3 points
23Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 508Increase2.svg 1 point
25Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 507Increase2.svg 11 points
26Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 504Increase2.svg 1 point
27Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 501Decrease2.svg 48 points
International average500Steady2.svg
28Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 496N/A
29Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 495Increase2.svg 22 points
30Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 490N/A
31Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 486Decrease2.svg 6 points
32Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 482N/A
32Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 482N/A
34Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 481N/A
35Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 469N/A
36Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 463N/A
37Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 462N/A
38Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 458N/A
39Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 452Decrease2.svg 48 points
40Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 450Increase2.svg 12 points
41Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 436N/A
42Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 434N/A
43Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 431Increase2.svg 29 points
44Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 413Increase2.svg 117 points
45Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 410N/A
46Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 385N/A
47Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 359Increase2.svg 32 points
48Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 342Increase2.svg 26 points
49Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 335Decrease2.svg 6 points
50Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 248Increase2.svg 24 points
Sixth grade participants
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana [lower-alpha 1] 419N/A
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras [lower-alpha 1] 396N/A
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen [lower-alpha 1] 348N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina (United States)554N/A
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)545N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)533Increase2.svg 14 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)518Increase2.svg 6 points
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta (Canada)507Increase2.svg 2 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)468Increase2.svg 24 points
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)417N/A
Science [23]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 587N/A
2Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 583Decrease2.svg 4 points
3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 570N/A
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 559Increase2.svg 11 points
5Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 552Increase2.svg 6 points
5Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 552Decrease2.svg 5 points
7Flag of the United States.svg  United States 544Increase2.svg 5 points
8Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 536Increase2.svg 21 points
9Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 535Decrease2.svg 19 points
10Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 534Decrease2.svg 2 points
11Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 533Increase2.svg 8 points
12Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 532Increase2.svg 6 points
12Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 532Increase2.svg 6 points
14Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 531Increase2.svg 8 points
15Flag of England.svg  England 529Decrease2.svg 13 points
16Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 528Increase2.svg 11 points
16Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 528Steady2.svg
18Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 524Decrease2.svg 11 points
19Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 522N/A
20Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 520Increase2.svg 2 points
21 Northern Ireland 517N/A
22Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 516N/A
22Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 516N/A
22Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 516Decrease2.svg 11 points
22Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 516N/A
26Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 515Increase2.svg 1 point
27Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)509N/A
28Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 505N/A
28Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 505N/A
28Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 505N/A
International average500Steady2.svg
31Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 497Decrease2.svg 7 points
32Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 495Decrease2.svg 38 points
33Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 494Increase2.svg 17 points
34Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 480N/A
35Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 472N/A
36Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 463N/A
37Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 455Increase2.svg 37 points
38Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 453Increase2.svg 17 points
39Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 449N/A
40Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 446N/A
41Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 438N/A
42Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 429N/A
43Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 428N/A
44Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 416Decrease2.svg 68 points
45Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 394Increase2.svg 100 points
46Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 377N/A
47Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 347Decrease2.svg 1 point
48Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 346Increase2.svg 28 points
49Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 264Decrease2.svg 33 points
50Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 209Increase2.svg 12 points
Sixth grade participants
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras [lower-alpha 1] 432N/A
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana [lower-alpha 1] 367N/A
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen [lower-alpha 1] 345N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Florida.svg Florida (United States)545N/A
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta (Canada)541Decrease2.svg 2 points
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina (United States)538N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)528Decrease2.svg 8 points
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)516Decrease2.svg 1 point
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)461Increase2.svg 1 point
Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)411N/A
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sixth grade students

TIMSS 2007

In TIMSS 2007, [24] 43 educational systems participated in the fourth grade and 56 educational systems in the eighth grade.

Eighth grade

Mathematics [25]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 598Increase2.svg 13 points
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 597Increase2.svg 8 points
3Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 593Increase2.svg 12 points
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 572Decrease2.svg 14 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 570Steady2.svg
6Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 517Decrease2.svg 12 points
7Flag of England.svg  England 513N/A
8Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 512Increase2.svg 4 points
9Flag of the United States.svg  United States 508Increase2.svg 4 points
10Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 506Increase2.svg 4 points
11Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 504N/A
12Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 501Increase2.svg 8 points
International average500Increase2.svg 33 points
13Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 499Increase2.svg 21 points
14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 496Decrease2.svg 9 points
15Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 491Decrease2.svg 8 points
16Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 488N/A
17Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 487Decrease2.svg 11 points
18Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 486Increase2.svg 9 points
19Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 480Decrease2.svg 4 points
20Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 474Decrease2.svg 34 points
21Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 469Increase2.svg 8 points
22Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 465Increase2.svg 6 points
23Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 464Decrease2.svg 12 points
24Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 463Decrease2.svg 33 points
25Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 462N/A
26Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 461Decrease2.svg 14 points
27Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 456N/A
28Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 449Increase2.svg 16 points
29Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 441N/A
30Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 432N/A
31Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 427Increase2.svg 3 points
32Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 420Increase2.svg 10 points
33Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 410N/A
34Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 403Decrease2.svg 8 points
35Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 398Decrease2.svg 3 points
36Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 397Decrease2.svg 14 points
37Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 395N/A
38Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 391N/A
39Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 387N/A
40Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 381Decrease2.svg 6 points
41Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 380N/A
42Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 372N/A
43Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 367Decrease2.svg 23 points
44Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 364Decrease2.svg 2 points
45Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 354N/A
46Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 340N/A
47Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 329Decrease2.svg 3 points
48Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 309Increase2.svg 33 points
49Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 307N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts (United States)547N/A
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota (United States)532N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)528Decrease2.svg 15 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)517Decrease2.svg 4 points
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia (Canada)509N/A
Flag of the Basque Country.svg Basque Country (Spain)499Increase2.svg 12 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)461N/A
Science [26]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 567Decrease2.svg 11 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 561Decrease2.svg 10 points
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 554Increase2.svg 2 points
4Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 553Decrease2.svg 5 points
5Flag of England.svg  England 542N/A
6Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 539Decrease2.svg 4 points
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 539N/A
8Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 538Increase2.svg 18 points
9Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 530Decrease2.svg 26 points
9Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 530Increase2.svg 16 points
11Flag of the United States.svg  United States 520Decrease2.svg 7 points
12Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 519Steady2.svg
13Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 515Decrease2.svg 12 points
14Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 511Decrease2.svg 13 points
International average500Increase2.svg 26 points
15Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 496Decrease2.svg 16 points
16Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 495Increase2.svg 4 points
17Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 488Increase2.svg 27 points
18Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 487Decrease2.svg 7 points
19Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 485N/A
20Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 482Increase2.svg 7 points
21Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 471Decrease2.svg 39 points
21Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 471N/A
23Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 470Increase2.svg 2 points
23Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 470Decrease2.svg 9 points
25Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 468Decrease2.svg 20 points
26Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 467Increase2.svg 29 points
27Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 466N/A
28Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 462Decrease2.svg 8 points
29Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 459Increase2.svg 6 points
30Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 457N/A
31Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 454N/A
32Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 452N/A
32Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 452Increase2.svg 11 points
34Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 445Increase2.svg 41 points
35Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 427Increase2.svg 7 points
36Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 423N/A
37Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 421N/A
38Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 418N/A
39Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 417N/A
40Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 414Increase2.svg 21 points
41Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 408N/A
41Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 408N/A
43Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 404Decrease2.svg 31 points
44Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 403Increase2.svg 5 points
45Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 402Increase2.svg 6 points
46Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 387N/A
47Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 355Decrease2.svg 10 points
48Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 319N/A
49Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 303Increase2.svg 48 points
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts (United States)556N/A
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota (United States)539N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)526Decrease2.svg 5 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)526Decrease2.svg 7 points
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia (Canada)507N/A
Flag of the Basque Country.svg Basque Country (Spain)498Increase2.svg 9 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)489N/A

Fourth grade

Mathematics [25]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 607Increase2.svg 32 points
2Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 599Increase2.svg 5 points
3Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 576Increase2.svg 12 points
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 568Increase2.svg 3 points
5Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 549N/A
6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 544Increase2.svg 12 points
7Flag of England.svg  England 541Increase2.svg 10 points
8Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 537Increase2.svg 1 point
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 535Decrease2.svg 5 points
10Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 530Decrease2.svg 4 points
11Flag of the United States.svg  United States 529Increase2.svg 11 points
12Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 525N/A
13Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 523N/A
14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 516Increase2.svg 17 points
15Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 510Decrease2.svg 19 points
16Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 507Increase2.svg 4 points
17Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 505N/A
18Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 503N/A
19Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 502Increase2.svg 23 points
International average500Increase2.svg 5 points
20Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 500Decrease2.svg 44 points
21Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 496N/A
22Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 494Increase2.svg 4 points
23Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 492Decrease2.svg 1 point
24Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 486N/A
25Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 473Increase2.svg 22 points
26Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 469N/A
27Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 438N/A
28Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 402Increase2.svg 13 points
29Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 378N/A
30Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 355N/A
31Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 341Decrease2.svg 6 points
32Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 330N/A
33Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 327Decrease2.svg 12 points
34Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 316N/A
35Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 296N/A
36Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 224N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts (United States)572N/A
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota (United States)554N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)519Increase2.svg 13 points
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)512Increase2.svg 1 point
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta (Canada)505N/A
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia (Canada)505N/A
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)444N/A
Science [26]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 587Increase2.svg 22 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 557Increase2.svg 6 points
3Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 554Increase2.svg 12 points
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 548Increase2.svg 5 points
5Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 546Increase2.svg 20 points
6Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 542Increase2.svg 10 points
6Flag of England.svg  England 542Increase2.svg 2 points
8Flag of the United States.svg  United States 539Increase2.svg 3 points
9Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 536Increase2.svg 6 points
10Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 535Increase2.svg 19 points
11Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 533N/A
12Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 528N/A
13Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 527Increase2.svg 6 points
14Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 526N/A
14Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 526N/A
16Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 525N/A
17Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 523Decrease2.svg 2 points
18Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 518Increase2.svg 28 points
19Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 517N/A
20Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 515N/A
21Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 514Increase2.svg 2 points
22Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 504Decrease2.svg 16 points
23Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 500Decrease2.svg 2 points
International average500Increase2.svg 11 points
24Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 484Increase2.svg 47 points
25Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 477Increase2.svg 11 points
26Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 474N/A
27Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 436Increase2.svg 22 points
28Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 418N/A
29Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 400N/A
30Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 390N/A
31Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 354N/A
32Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 348N/A
33Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 318Increase2.svg 4 points
34Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 297Increase2.svg 7 points
35Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 294N/A
36Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 197N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts (United States)571N/A
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota (United States)551N/A
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta (Canada)543N/A
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia (Canada)537N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)536Decrease2.svg 4 points
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)517Increase2.svg 17 points
Flag of Dubai.svg Dubai (United Arab Emirates)460N/A

TIMSS 2003

In TIMSS 2003, [27] there were 26 educational systems for the fourth grade and 48 for the eighth grade. [28]

Eighth grade

Mathematics [29]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 605Increase2.svg 1 point
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 589Increase2.svg 2 points
3Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 586Increase2.svg 4 points
4Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 585Steady2.svg
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 570Decrease2.svg 9 points
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)537Decrease2.svg 21 points
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 536Decrease2.svg 4 points
8Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 531N/A
9Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 529Decrease2.svg 3 points
10Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 508Decrease2.svg 11 points
10Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 508N/A
10Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 508Decrease2.svg 18 points
10Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 508Decrease2.svg 26 points
14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 505Decrease2.svg 20 points
15Flag of the United States.svg  United States 504Increase2.svg 2 points
16Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 502Increase2.svg 20 points
17Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 499N/A
18Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 498N/A
19Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 496Increase2.svg 30 points
20Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 494Increase2.svg 3 points
21Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 493Decrease2.svg 37 points
22Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 484Increase2.svg 5 points
23Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 478N/A
24Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 477N/A
25Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 476Decrease2.svg 35 points
26Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 475Increase2.svg 3 points
International average467Decrease2.svg 20 points
27Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 461N/A
28Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 460Increase2.svg 9 points
29Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 459Decrease2.svg 17 points
30Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 435Decrease2.svg 12 points
31Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 433N/A
32Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 424Decrease2.svg 4 points
33Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 411Decrease2.svg 11 points
33Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 411Increase2.svg 8 points
35Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 410Decrease2.svg 38 points
36Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 406N/A
37Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 401N/A
38Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 390N/A
39Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 387Decrease2.svg 5 points
39Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 387Increase2.svg 50 points
41Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 376Increase2.svg 31 points
42Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 366N/A
43Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 332N/A
44Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 276N/A
45Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 264Decrease2.svg 11 points
Ninth grade participants
Flag of England.svg  England [lower-alpha 1] 498N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)543N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)521N/A
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana (United States)508N/A
Flag of the Basque Country.svg Basque Country (Spain)487N/A
Science [30]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 578Increase2.svg 10 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 571Increase2.svg 2 points
3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 558Increase2.svg 9 points
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 556Increase2.svg 26 points
5Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 552N/A
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 552Increase2.svg 2 points
7Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 543Decrease2.svg 9 points
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 536Decrease2.svg 9 points
9Flag of the United States.svg  United States 527Increase2.svg 12 points
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 527Decrease2.svg 13 points
11Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 524N/A
12Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 520Decrease2.svg 13 points
12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 520Increase2.svg 10 points
14Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 519Increase2.svg 31 points
15Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 517Decrease2.svg 18 points
16Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)516Decrease2.svg 19 points
17Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 514Decrease2.svg 15 points
18Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 512N/A
18Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 512N/A
20Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 510Increase2.svg 18 points
21Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 494N/A
22Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 491Decrease2.svg 2 points
23Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 488Increase2.svg 20 points
24Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 479Decrease2.svg 39 points
25Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 475Increase2.svg 25 points
International average474Decrease2.svg 14 points
26Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 472Increase2.svg 13 points
27Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 470Decrease2.svg 2 points
28Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 468N/A
29Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 461N/A
30Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 453Increase2.svg 5 points
31Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 449Decrease2.svg 9 points
32Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 441Decrease2.svg 19 points
33Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 438N/A
34Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 435N/A
35Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 421N/A
36Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 420Decrease2.svg 15 points
37Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 413Decrease2.svg 7 points
38Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 404Decrease2.svg 26 points
39Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 398N/A
40Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 396Increase2.svg 73 points
41Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 393N/A
42Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 377Increase2.svg 32 points
43Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 365N/A
44Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 255N/A
45Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 244Increase2.svg 1 point
Ninth grade participants
Flag of England.svg  England [lower-alpha 1] 544N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)533N/A
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana (United States)531N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)531N/A
Flag of the Basque Country.svg Basque Country (Spain)489N/A
  1. 1 2 Ninth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics [29]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 8 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 594Decrease2.svg 31 points
2Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 575Decrease2.svg 12 points
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 565Decrease2.svg 32 points
4Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 564N/A
5Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)551N/A
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 540Decrease2.svg 37 points
7Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 536N/A
8Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 534N/A
9Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 532N/A
10Flag of England.svg  England 531Increase2.svg 18 points
11Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 529Decrease2.svg 19 points
12Flag of the United States.svg  United States 518Decrease2.svg 27 points
13Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 510Increase2.svg 8 points
14Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 504N/A
15Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 503N/A
16Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 499Decrease2.svg 47 points
International average495Decrease2.svg 34 points
17Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 493Decrease2.svg 6 points
18Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 490Decrease2.svg 30 points
19Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 479Decrease2.svg 73 points
20Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 456N/A
21Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 451Decrease2.svg 51 points
22Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 389Decrease2.svg 40 points
23Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 358N/A
24Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 347N/A
25Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 339N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana (United States)533N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)511N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)506N/A
Science [30]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 8 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 565Increase2.svg 18 points
2Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 551N/A
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 543Decrease2.svg 31 points
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 542Increase2.svg 9 points
5Flag of England.svg  England 540Decrease2.svg 11 points
6Flag of the United States.svg  United States 536Decrease2.svg 29 points
7Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 532N/A
8Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 530Decrease2.svg 2 points
9Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 526N/A
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 525Decrease2.svg 28 points
11Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 521Decrease2.svg 41 points
12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 520Decrease2.svg 11 points
13Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)518N/A
14Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 516N/A
15Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 512N/A
16Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 502Decrease2.svg 34 points
17Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 496N/A
18Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 490Decrease2.svg 56 points
International average489Decrease2.svg 35 points
19Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 480Increase2.svg 5 points
20Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 466Decrease2.svg 64 points
21Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 437N/A
22Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 414Decrease2.svg 2 points
23Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 332N/A
24Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 314N/A
25Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 304N/A
Benchmarking participants
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana (United States)553N/A
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario (Canada)540N/A
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec (Canada)500N/A

TIMSS 1999

In 1999, [31] TIMSS only focused on the eighth grade in 38 educational systems; there was no study done for the fourth grade in that year. [32]

Eighth grade

Mathematics [33]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 604Decrease2.svg 39 points
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 587Decrease2.svg 20 points
3Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 585N/A
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 582Decrease2.svg 6 points
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 579Decrease2.svg 26 points
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)558Decrease2.svg 7 points
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 540Decrease2.svg 1 point
8Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 534Decrease2.svg 13 points
9Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 532Decrease2.svg 5 points
10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 531Increase2.svg 4 points
11Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 530Decrease2.svg 11 points
12Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 526Decrease2.svg 9 points
13Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 525Decrease2.svg 5 points
14Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 520N/A
14Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 520Decrease2.svg 44 points
16Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 519N/A
17Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 511Decrease2.svg 29 points
18Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (Latvian)505Increase2.svg 12 points
19Flag of the United States.svg  United States 502Increase2.svg 2 points
20Flag of England.svg  England 496Decrease2.svg 10 points
21Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 491Decrease2.svg 17 points
International average487Decrease2.svg 26 points
22Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 482Increase2.svg 5 points
23Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 479N/A
24Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 476Increase2.svg 2 points
25Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 472Decrease2.svg 10 points
26Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 469N/A
27Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 467Decrease2.svg 55 points
28Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 466Decrease2.svg 56 points
29Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 448N/A
30Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 447N/A
31Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 429N/A
32Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 428N/A
33Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 422Decrease2.svg 6 points
34Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 403N/A
35Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 392N/A
36Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 345N/A
37Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 337N/A
38Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 275Decrease2.svg 79 points
Science [34]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
Change
over 4 years
1Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 569N/A
2Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 568Decrease2.svg 39 points
3Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 552Decrease2.svg 2 points
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 550Decrease2.svg 21 points
5Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 549Decrease2.svg 16 points
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 545Decrease2.svg 15 points
7Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 540Decrease2.svg 5 points
8Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 539Decrease2.svg 35 points
9Flag of England.svg  England 538Decrease2.svg 14 points
10Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 535N/A
10Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 535Decrease2.svg 9 points
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)535Decrease2.svg 15 points
13Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 533Decrease2.svg 27 points
13Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 533Increase2.svg 2 points
15Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 530Increase2.svg 8 points
16Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 529Decrease2.svg 9 points
17Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 518Decrease2.svg 47 points
18Flag of the United States.svg  United States 515Decrease2.svg 19 points
19Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 510Decrease2.svg 15 points
20Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (Latvian)503Increase2.svg 18 points
21Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 493N/A
22Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 492N/A
23Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 488Increase2.svg 12 points
International average488Decrease2.svg 28 points
24Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 482Decrease2.svg 43 points
25Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 472Decrease2.svg 14 points
26Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 468Decrease2.svg 56 points
27Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 460Decrease2.svg 3 points
28Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 459N/A
29Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 458N/A
30Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 450N/A
31Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 448Decrease2.svg 22 points
32Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 435N/A
33Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 433N/A
34Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 430N/A
35Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 420N/A
36Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 345N/A
37Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 323N/A
38Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 243Decrease2.svg 83 points

TIMSS 1995

In TIMSS 1995, [35] there were 41 educational systems in five grades (third, fourth, seventh, eighth, and the final year of secondary school). [6]

Eighth grade

Mathematics [36]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 643
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 607
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 605
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 588
5Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)565
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 564
7Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 547
8Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 545
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 541
9Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 541
11Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 540
12Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 539
13Flag of France.svg  France 538
14Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 537
15Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 535
16Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 530
17Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 527
17Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 527
19Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (French)526
20Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 522
20Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 522
22Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 519
International average513
23Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 509
24Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 508
25Flag of England.svg  England 506
26Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 503
27Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 502
28Flag of the United States.svg  United States 500
29Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 498
30Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (Latvian)493
31Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 487
31Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 487
33Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 484
34Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 482
35Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 477
36Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 474
37Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 454
38Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 428
39Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 392
40Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 385
41Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 354
Science [37]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 607
2Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 574
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 571
4Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 565
4Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 565
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 560
6Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 560
8Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 558
9Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 554
10Flag of England.svg  England 552
11Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Flemish)550
12Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 545
13Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 544
14Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 538
14Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 538
16Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 535
17Flag of the United States.svg  United States 534
18Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 531
18Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 531
20Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 527
21Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 525
21Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 525
23Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 524
24Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 522
24Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 522
26Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 517
26Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 517
International average516
28Flag of France.svg  France 498
29Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 497
30Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 494
31Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 486
32Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (Latvian)485
33Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 480
34Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 478
35Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 476
36Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (French)471
37Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 470
38Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 463
39Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 430
40Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 411
41Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 326

Fourth grade

Mathematics [38]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 625
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 611
3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 597
4Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 587
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 577
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 567
7Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 559
8Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 552
9Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 550
10Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 548
11Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 546
12Flag of the United States.svg  United States 545
13Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 532
14Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 531
International average529
15Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (Latvian)525
16Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 520
17Flag of England.svg  England 513
18Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 502
18Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 502
20Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 499
21Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 492
22Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 490
23Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 475
24Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 474
25Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 429
26Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 400
Science [39]
RankCountryAverage
scale score
1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 597
2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 574
3Flag of the United States.svg  United States 565
3Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 565
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 562
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 557
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 557
8Flag of England.svg  England 551
9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 549
10Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 547
11Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 546
12Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 539
13Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 536
14Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 533
15Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 532
16Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 531
International average524
17Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 530
18Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (Latvian)512
19Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 505
19Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 505
21Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 497
22Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 480
23Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 475
24Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 473
25Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 416
26Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 401

Additional initiatives

The TIMSS 1999 Video Study [40] was a study of eighth-grade mathematics and science teaching in seven countries. The study involved videotaping and analyzing teaching practices in more than one thousand classrooms. In conjunction with the IEA, the study was conducted by the US National Center for Education Statistics, and the US Department of Education under a contract with LessonLab, Inc. of Los Angeles, California.

Cooperative partners

TIMSS depends on the collaboration of a large number of individuals and organizations around the world including the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College, IEA's offices in Amsterdam and Hamburg, Statistics Canada, and Educational Testing Service (ETS). In the United States, TIMSS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education. Data for US students is further tracked for ethnic and racial groups. TIMSS is mainly funded by the participating countries. Also, the US National Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education and the World Bank provide major support funding for the assessments. [6]

United States results by race and ethnicity

Eighth grade

Mathematics
Race2019 [41] 2015 [42] 2011 [43] 2007 [44] 2003 [45] 1999 [45] 1995 [45]
ScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreScore
Asian591585568549
White548541530533525525516
Multiracial540521513506
US Average515518509508504502500
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander495
Hispanic486492485475465457443
American Indian/Alaska Native483477
Black445462465457448444419
Science
Race2019 [41] 2015 [46] 2011 [43] 2007 [44] 2003 [45] 1999 [45] 1995 [45]
ScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreScore
Asian577573556543
White559557553551552547544
Multiracial547536534522
US Average522530525520527515534
Hispanic493502493480482462446
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander498
American Indian/Alaska Native481497
Black445469470455463438422

Fourth grade

Mathematics
Race2019 [41] 2015 [47] 2011 [43] 2007 [44] 2003 [45] 1995 [45]
ScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreScore
Asian586605583582
White559559559550542541
Multiracial554565554534
US Average535539541529518545
American Indian/Alaska Native515527
Hispanic508515520504492493
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander500502
Black494495489482472457
Science
Race2019 [41] 2015 [48] 2011 [43] 2007 [44] 2003 [45] 1995 [45]
ScoreScoreScoreScoreScoreScore
Asian581598570573
White565570568567565572
Multiracial561571559550
US Average539546544539536565
American Indian/Alaska Native519530
Hispanic508518517502498503
Black497501490488487462
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander495503

All average country scores

TIMSS and other international math and science studies

Hanushek and Woessmann [49] developed a methodology to rescale 14 different international comparisons of math and/or science achievement to make them comparable. This includes the FIMS, FISS, and PISA, mentioned above, with TIMSS.

This methodology is disputed amongst experts. Quantitative methods used in educational and psychological measurement disagree with the approach as it is basically only a linear scale transformation that cannot ensure or examine whether PISA and TIMSS scores are based on the same or at least comparable measurement constructs: The numerical values used to measure shoe size and intelligence can be transformed so that both have the same arithmetic mean and standard deviation, but they still represent two very different characteristics. The equivalency of what is being measured needs to be established in linking studies that utilize well-designed joint data collections such as the TIMSS NAEP link, [50] or IEA's Rosetta Stone. [51]

Wu (2003, 2010) [52] has shown that TIMSS and PISA do not produce exchangeable scores. One reason may be reading load even for mathematics and science items. TIMSS questions focus on the mathematics curricula taught around the world as seen in TIMSS example items, [53] while PISA attempts to assess mathematics embedded in descriptions of situations encountered outside of the classroom, see PISA examples. [54]

See also

Notes

  1. "TIMSS and PIRLS Home". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Archived from the original on Feb 6, 2024.
  2. "About TIMSS 2019". TIMSS International Study Center. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  3. "TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center" . Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. Hanushek and Woessmann (2015, Table 2.1, p. 18).
  5. "TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". TIMSS International Study Center. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "TIMSS 2011 Participating Countries" . Retrieved 21 Nov 2016.
  7. 1 2 "TIMSS 2019 International Results in Mathematics and Science" . Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. "TIMSS 2019 Assessment Frameworks". TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  9. "Pursuing Excellence: Comparisons of International Eighth-Grade Mathematics and Science Achievement from a U.S. Perspective, 1995 and 1999" (PDF). U.S. Department of Education. December 2000. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  10. "TIMSS 2019 Assessment Frameworks". www.timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  11. "TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science". www.timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  12. "TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science". www.timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  13. "TIMSS 2019 Mathematics Grade 8". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  14. "TIMSS 2019 Science Grade 8". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  15. "TIMSS 2019 Mathematics Grade 4". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  16. "TIMSS 2019 Science Grade 4". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  17. "TIMSS 2015 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  18. "About TIMSS 2015 – TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  19. 1 2 "Distribution of Mathematics Achievement – TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  20. 1 2 "Distribution of Science Achievement – TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  21. "TIMSS 2011 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  22. 1 2 "TIMSS 2011 Mathematics" (PDF).
  23. 1 2 "TIMSS 2011 Science" (PDF).
  24. "TIMSS 2007 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  25. 1 2 "TIMSS 2007 Mathematics" (PDF).
  26. 1 2 "TIMSS 2007 Science" (PDF).
  27. "TIMSS 2003 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  28. center, international study. "TIMSS 2003 Countries Participating". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  29. 1 2 "TIMSS 2003 Mathematics" (PDF).
  30. 1 2 "TIMSS 2003 Science" (PDF).
  31. "TIMSS 1999 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  32. "TIMSS 1999 Participants". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  33. "TIMSS 1999 Mathematics" (PDF).
  34. "TIMSS 1999 Science" (PDF).
  35. "TIMSS 1995 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  36. "TIMSS 1995 Mathematics (8th grade)" (PDF).
  37. "TIMSS 1995 Science (8th grade)" (PDF).
  38. "TIMSS 1995 Mathematics (4th grade)" (PDF).
  39. "TIMSS 1995 Science (4th grade)" (PDF).
  40. "TIMSSVIDEO".
  41. 1 2 3 4 "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  42. "TIMSS - Mathematics for Grades 4 and 8: Student Race/Ethnicity and School Poverty". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  43. 1 2 3 4 "Highlights From TIMSS 2011: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context" (PDF).
  44. 1 2 3 4 "Highlights From TIMSS 2007: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context" (PDF).
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Highlights From the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study: TIMSS 2003" (PDF).
  46. "TIMSS - Science for Grades 4 and 8: Student Race/Ethnicity and School Poverty". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  47. "TIMSS - Mathematics for Grades 4 and 8: Student Race/Ethnicity and School Poverty". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  48. "TIMSS - Science for Grades 4 and 8: Student Race/Ethnicity and School Poverty". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  49. Hanushek and Woessman (2015, esp. Table 2.1 and Appendix 2A, pp. 18, 29-37)
  50. "Methodology Studies - Linking NAEP and TIMSS Study | NAEP".
  51. "IEA Rosetta Stone project moves ahead | IEA.nl".
  52. Wu, M. (2010), "Comparing the Similarities and Differences of PISA 2003 and TIMSS", OECD Education Working Papers, No. 32, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/5km4psnm13nx-en.
  53. https://nces.ed.gov/timss/pdf/TIMSS2011_G8_Math.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  54. https://www.oecd.org/pisa/38709418.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]

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References