Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

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

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (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]

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 2023.[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:

  • Year 9 (Y9) in England and Wales
  • 2nd Year (S2) in Scotland
  • 2nd Year in the Republic of Ireland
  • 1st Year in South Africa
  • Form 2 in Hong Kong
  • 4ème in France
  • Year 9 in New Zealand
  • Form 2 in Malaysia

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

  • Year 5 (Y5) in England and Wales
  • Primary 6 (P6) in Scotland
  • Group 6 in the Netherlands
  • CM1 in France
  • Fourth Class in the Republic of Ireland
  • Standard 3 or Year 5 in New Zealand

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 1970–1971 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]

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.[10] The TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia[11] provides an overview of how mathematics and science are taught in each participating country. Methods and Procedures: TIMSS 2019 Technical Report[12] 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[13]

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.[14] 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, see IEA's Data Visualizer.[15]

Cycles

TIMSS 2023

TIMSS 2023 was the eight 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).[16] TIMSS 2023 collected detailed information about curriculum and curriculum implementation of participating countries and published this information the TIMSS 2023 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science.[17]


TIMSS 2023 results are summarized in TIMSS 2023 International Results in Mathematics and Science.[18]".This detailed report presents achievement and contextual data from participating countries and benchmarking entities. The TIMSS 2023 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.[17]

Eighth grade

Mathematics[19]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Chinese Taipei 602 Decrease 10 points
2  South Korea 596 Decrease 11 point
3  Japan 595 Increase 1 points
4  Hong Kong 575 Decrease 3 points
5  England 525 Increase 10 points
6  Ireland 522 Decrease 2 point
7  Czech Republic 518 N/A
8  Sweden 517 Increase 14 points
9  Lithuania 514 Decrease 6 points
10  Austria 512 N/A
11  Australia 509 Decrease 8 points
12  Turkey 509 Increase 13 points
13  Hungary 506 Decrease 11 points
14  Finland 504 Decrease 5 points
15  Norway[a] 501 Decrease 2 points
16  Italy 501 Increase 4 points
International average 500 Steady
18  Malta 499 N/A
19  Romania 496 Increase17 points
20  Cyprus 494 Decrease7 points
21  United Arab Emirates 489 Increase 16 points
22  United States 488 Decrease27 points
23  New Zealand 485 Decrease14 points
24  Israel 487 Decrease 32 points
25 Azerbaijan 479 N/A
26  France 479 Decrease4 points
27  Portugal 475 Decrease 25 points
28  Georgia 467 Increase 6 points
29  Kazakhstan 454 Decrease 34 points
30  Qatar 451 Increase 8 points
31  Bahrain 426 Decrease 55 points
32  Iran 423 Decrease 20 points
33  Uzbekistan 421 NA
34  Chile 416 Decrease 25points
35  Oman 411 0
36  Malaysia 411 Decrease 50 points
37  Kuwait 399 Decrease 4 points
38  Saudi Arabia 397 Increase 3 points
39  South Africa[a] 397 Increase 8 points
40  Jordan 388 Decrease 32 points
41  Palestine 382 N/A
42  Brazil 378 N/A
43  Morocco 388 Decrease 10 points
44  Ivory Coast 263 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 546 Increase 9 points
– Emirate of Sharjah Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) 499 NA
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 454 Increase 18 points
Science[20]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 606 Decrease 2 points
2  Chinese Taipei 572 Decrease 2 points
3  Japan 557 Decrease 13 point
4  South Korea 545 Decrease 16 points
5  England 531 Increase 14 point
6  Finland 531 Decrease13 points
7  Turkey 530 Increase 15 points
8  Hong Kong 528 Increase 3 points
9  Czech Republic 527 NA
10  Ireland 525 Increase 2 points
11  Hungary 522 Decrease 8 points
12  Sweden 521 0 points
13  Australia 520 Decrease 8 points
14  Lithuania 519 Decrease 15 points
15  United States 513 Decrease 9 points
16  Austria 512 N/A
17  Portugal 506 Decrease 13 points
18  New Zealand 502 Increase 3 point
19  Malta 501 N/A
20  Italy 501 Increase 1 point
International average 500 Steady
21  Norway[a] 488 Decrease 7 points
22  United Arab Emirates 486 Increase 13 points
23  France 486 Decrease3 points
24  Qatar 481 Increase 5 points
25  Israel 481 Decrease32 points
26  Romania 466 Decrease 4 points
27  Cyprus 475 Decrease 20 points
28  Oman 456 Decrease 1 points
29  Chile 455 Decrease 7 points
30  Bahrain 452 Decrease 34 points
31  Georgia 448 Increase 1 points
32  Kazakhstan 443 Decrease 35 points
33  Malaysia 426 Decrease 34 points
34  Brazil 420 N/A
35  Kuwait 420 Decrease 324 points
36  Saudi Arabia 419 Decrease 12 points
37  Iran 419 Decrease 30 points
38  Jordan 413 Decrease 39 points
39 Azerbaijan 411 N/A
40  Uzbekistan 396 N/A
41  Palestine 393 N/A
42  South Africa[a] 362 Decrease 8 points
43  Morocco 327 Decrease 67 points
44 Ivory Coast 186 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 547 Increase 10 points
– Emirate of Sharjah Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) 499 Decrease 23 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 443 Increase 23 points
  1. ^ a b c d Ninth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics[21]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 615 Decrease 10 points
2  Chinese Taipei 607 Decrease 8 points
3  South Korea 594 N/A
4  Hong Kong 594 Decrease 8 points
5  Japan 591 Decrease2 points
6  Macau 582 N/A
7  Lithuania 561 Increase 19 points
8  Turkey[a] 553 Increase 30 points
9  England 552 Decrease 4 point
10  Poland 546 Increase26 points
11  Ireland 546 Decrease 2 points
12  Romania 542 N/A
13  Netherlands 537 Decrease 1 points
14  Latvia 534 Decrease 12 points
15  Norway[a] 531 Decrease 12 points
16  Czech Republic 530 Increase 3 points
17  Sweden 530 Decrease 9 points
18  Bulgaria 530 Increase 15 points
19  Finland 529 Decrease 3 points
20  Australia 525 Increase 9 points
21  Germany 524 Increase 3 points
22  Denmark 524 Decrease 1 points
23  Serbia 523 Increase15 points
24  Belgium(Flemish) 521 Decrease11 points
25  Hungary 520 Decrease 3 point
26  Portugal 517 Decrease 8 points
27  United States 517 Decrease 18 point
28  Cyprus 516 Decrease 16 points
29  Slovakia 515 Increase 5 points
30  Slovenia 514 N/A
31  Italy 513 Decrease 2 points
31  Armenia 513 Increase 15 point
33  Albania 512 Increase 18 points
34  Canada 504 Decrease 8 points
International average 500 Steady
34  Spain 498 Decrease 4 points
36  United Arab Emirates 498 Decrease 17 points
37  Georgia 498 Decrease 17 points
38  Azerbaijan 494 N/A
39 New Zealand 490 Increase 3 points
40  Belgium(French) 487 N/A
41  Kazakhstan 487 Decrease 25 points
42  France 484 Decrease 1 points
43  Montenegro 477 Increase 5 points
44  North Macedonia 474 Increase 2 points
45  Qatar 464 Increase 15 points
46  Bahrain 462 Decrease 18 points
47  Kosovo 451 Increase 2 points
48  Belize 447 Decrease 5 points
49  Chile 444 Increase 3 points
50  Uzbekistan 443 N/A
51  Jordan 427 N/A
52  Oman 421 Decrease 10 points
53  Iran 420 Decrease 23 points
54  Saudi Arabia 420 Increase 23 points
55  Brazil 400 N/A
56  Morocco 393 Increase 10 points
57  Kuwait 382 Decrease 1 points
58  South Africa[a] 362 Decrease 12 points
Benchmarking participants
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 557 Increase 13 points
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 515 Decrease 17 points
– Emirate of Sharjah Sharjah (UAE) 504 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 503 Decrease9 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 459 Increase 22 points
Science[22]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 607
2  South Korea 583
3  Chinese Taipei 573
4  Turkey[a] 570
5  England 556
6  Japan 555
7  Poland 550
8  Australia 550
9  Hong Kong 545
10  Finland[a] 542
11  Lithuania 537
12  Macau 536
13  Sweden 533
14  Ireland 532
15  United States 532
16  Norway[a] 530
17  Bulgaria 530
18  Romania 526
19  Czech Republic 526
20  Slovenia 526
21  Latvia 526
22  Hungary 524
22  Denmark 522
24  Canada 521
24  Slovakia 521
26 NZ 517
26  Netherlands 517
26  Germany 515
29  Portugal 511
30  Italy 511
30  Serbia 510
32  Spain 504
International average 500 Steady
33  United Arab Emirates 495
34  Albania 491
35  Belgium (Flemish) 599
36  France 488
37  Cyprus 487
38  Belgium(French) 481
39  Chile 479
40  Bahrain 475
41  Qatar 472
42  Kazakhstan 467
43  Georgia 465
44  Montenegro 461
45  Armenia 457
46  Belize 448
47  North Macedonia 439
48  Oman 433
49  Iran 432
50  Saudi Arabia 429
51  Brazil 425
52  Azerbaijan 422
53  Jordan 418
54  Uzbekistan 412
55  Kosovo 403
56  Morocco 390
57  Kuwait 373
58  South Africa[a] 308
Benchmarking participants
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 562
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 525
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 508
– Emirate of Sharjah Sharjah (UAE) 503
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 446
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Fifth grade students

TIMSS 2019

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.

Eighth grade

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

Fourth grade

Mathematics[21]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 615 Increase 7 points
2  Chinese Taipei 607 Decrease 13 points
3  South Korea 594 Decrease 8 points
4  Hong Kong 594 Increase 2 points
5  Japan 591 Steady
6  Macau 582 Increase 3 points
7  Lithuania 561 Decrease 4 points
8  Turkey[a] 553 Increase 10 points
9  England 552 Increase 1 point
10  Poland 546 N/A
11  Ireland[a] 546 Decrease 6 points
12  Romania 542 Increase 7 points
13  Netherlands 537 N/A
14  Latvia 534 Increase 8 points
15  Norway[a] 531 Decrease 4 points
16  Czech Republic 530 Increase 5 points
17  Sweden ' 532 Decrease 14 points
17  Bulgaria 530 Increase 9 points
17  Finland 529 Decrease 3 points
20  Australia 525 Decrease 16 points
20  Germany 524 Decrease 14 points
22  Denmark 524 Decrease 6 points
22  Serbia 523 N/A
24  Belgium"Flanders" 521 Increase 2 points
24  Germany 521 Decrease 1 point
26  Poland 520 Decrease 15 points
27  Australia 516 Decrease 1 point
28  Azerbaijan 515 N/A
28  Bulgaria 515 Decrease 9 points
28  Italy 515 Increase 8 points
31  Kazakhstan 512 Decrease 32 points
31  Canada 512 Increase 1 point
33  Slovakia 510 Increase 12 points
34  Croatia 509 Increase 7 points
34  Malta 509 N/A
36  Serbia 508 Decrease 10 points
37  Spain 502 Decrease 3 points
International average 500 Steady
38  Armenia 498 N/A
39  Albania 494 N/A
40  New Zealand 487 Decrease 4 points
41  France 485 Decrease 3 points
42  Georgia 482 Increase 19 points
43  United Arab Emirates 481 Increase 29 points
44  Bahrain 480 Increase 29 points
45  North Macedonia 472 N/A
46  Montenegro 453 N/A
47  Bosnia and Herzegovina 452 N/A
48  Qatar 449 Increase 10 points
49  Kosovo 444 N/A
50  Iran 443 Increase 12 points
51  Chile 441 Decrease 18 points
52  Oman 431 Increase 6 points
53  Saudi Arabia 398 Increase 15 points
54  Morocco 383 Increase 6 points
54  Kuwait 383 Increase 30 points
56  South Africa[a] 374 Decrease 2 points
57  Pakistan 328 N/A
58  Philippines 297 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Moscow Moscow (Russia) 593 N/A
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 544 Increase 33 points
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 532 Decrease 4 points
– Community of Madrid Madrid (Spain) 518 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 512 Steady
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 441 Increase 22 points
Science[22]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 595 Increase 5 points
2  South Korea 588 Decrease 1 point
3  Russia 567 Steady
4  Japan 562 Decrease 7 points
5  Chinese Taipei 558 Increase 3 points
6  Finland 555 Increase 1 point
7  Latvia 542 N/A
8  Norway[a] 539 Increase 1 point
8  United States 539 Decrease 7 points
10  Lithuania 538 Increase 10 points
11  Sweden 537 Decrease 3 points
11  England 537 Increase 1 point
13  Czech Republic 534 Steady
14  Australia 533 Increase 9 points
15  Hong Kong 531 Decrease 26 points
15  Poland 531 Decrease 16 points
17  Hungary 529 Decrease 13 points
18  Ireland 528 Decrease 1 point
19  Turkey[a] 526 N/A
20  Croatia 524 Decrease 9 points
21  Canada 523 Decrease 2 points
22  Denmark 522 Decrease 5 points
22  Austria 522 N/A
24  Bulgaria 521 Decrease 15 points
24  Slovakia 521 Increase 1 point
26 Northern Ireland 518 Decrease 2 points
26  Netherlands 518 Increase 1 point
26  Germany 518 Decrease 10 points
29  Serbia 517 Decrease 8 points
30  Cyprus 511 Increase 30 points
30  Spain 511 Decrease 7 points
32  Italy 510 Decrease 6 points
33  Portugal 504 Decrease 4 points
34  New Zealand 503 Decrease 3 points
35  Belgium (Flemish) 501 Decrease 11 points
International average 500 Steady
36  Malta 496 N/A
37  Kazakhstan 494 Decrease 56 points
38  Bahrain 493 Increase 34 points
39  Albania 489 N/A
40  France 488 Increase 1 point
41  United Arab Emirates 473 Increase 22 points
42  Chile 469 Decrease 9 points
43  Armenia 466 N/A
44  Bosnia and Herzegovina 459 N/A
45  Georgia 454 Increase 3 points
46  Montenegro 453 N/A
47  Qatar 449 Increase 13 points
48  Iran 441 Increase 20 points
49  Oman 435 Increase 4 points
50  Azerbaijan 427 N/A
51  North Macedonia 426 N/A
52  Kosovo 413 N/A
53  Saudi Arabia 402 Increase 12 points
54  Kuwait 392 Increase 55 points
54  Morocco 374 Increase 17 points
56  South Africa[a] 324 N/A
57  Pakistan 290 N/A
58  Philippines 249 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Moscow Moscow (Russia) 595 N/A
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 545 Increase 27 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 524 Decrease 6 points
– Community of Madrid Madrid (Spain) 523 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 522 Decrease 3 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 418 Increase 3 points
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Fifth grade students

TIMSS 2015

In TIMSS 2015,[25] nationally representative samples of students in 57 countries and 7 benchmarking entities participated in the fourth grade assessment, the eighth grade assessment, or both.[26]

Eighth grade

Mathematics[27]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 621 Increase 10 points
2  South Korea 606 Decrease 7 points
3  Chinese Taipei 599 Decrease 10 points
4  Hong Kong 594 Increase 8 points
5  Japan 586 Increase 16 points
6  Russia 538 Decrease 1 point
7  Kazakhstan 528 Increase 41 points
8  Canada 527 N/A
9  Ireland 523 N/A
10  United States 518 Increase 9 points
10  England 518 Increase 11 points
12  Slovenia 516 Increase 11 points
13  Hungary 514 Increase 9 points
14  Norway[a] 512 N/A
15  Lithuania 511 Increase 9 points
15  Israel 511 Decrease 5 points
17  Australia 505 Steady
18  Sweden 501 Increase 17 points
International average 500 Steady
19  Italy 494 Decrease 4 points
19  Malta 494 N/A
21  New Zealand 493 Increase 5 points
22  Malaysia 465 Increase 25 points
23  United Arab Emirates 465 Increase 9 points
24  Turkey 458 Increase 6 points
25  Bahrain 454 Increase 45 points
26  Georgia 453 Increase 22 points
27  Lebanon 442 Decrease 7 points
28  Qatar 437 Increase 27 points
29  Iran 436 Increase 21 points
30  Thailand 431 Increase 4 points
31  Chile 427 Increase 11 points
32  Oman 403 Increase 37 points
33  Kuwait 392 N/A
33  Egypt 392 N/A
35  Botswana[a] 391 Decrease 6 points
36  Jordan 386 Decrease 20 points
37  Morocco 384 Increase 13 points
38  South Africa[a] 372 Increase 20 points
39  Saudi Arabia 368 Decrease 26 points
Benchmarking participants
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 543 Increase 11 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 522 Increase 10 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 512 Increase 34 points
– Florida Florida (United States) 493 Decrease 20 points
–  Norway[b] 487 Increase 12 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 442 Decrease 7 points
– Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (Argentina) 396 N/A
Science[28]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 597 Increase 7 points
2  Japan 571 Increase 13 points
3  Chinese Taipei 569 Increase 5 points
4  South Korea 556 Decrease 4 points
5  Slovenia 551 Increase 8 points
6  Hong Kong 546 Increase 11 points
7  Russia 544 Increase 2 points
8  England 537 Increase 4 points
9  Kazakhstan 533 Increase 43 points
10  Ireland 530 N/A
10  United States 530 Increase 5 points
12  Hungary 527 Increase 5 points
13  Canada 526 N/A
14  Sweden 522 Increase 13 points
15  Lithuania 519 Increase 5 points
16  New Zealand 513 Increase 1 point
17  Australia 512 Decrease 7 points
18  Norway[a] 509 N/A
19  Israel 507 Decrease 9 points
International average 500 Steady
20  Italy 499 Decrease 2 points
21  Turkey 493 Increase 10 points
22  Malta 481 N/A
23  United Arab Emirates 477 Increase 12 points
24  Malaysia 471 Increase 45 points
25  Bahrain 466 Increase 14 points
26  Qatar 457 Increase 38 points
27  Iran 456 Decrease 18 points
27  Thailand 456 Increase 5 points
29  Oman 455 Increase 35 points
30  Chile 454 Decrease 7 points
31  Georgia 443 Increase 23 points
32  Jordan 426 Decrease 23 points
33  Kuwait 411 N/A
34  Lebanon 398 Decrease 8 points
35  Saudi Arabia 396 Decrease 40 points
36  Morocco 393 Increase 17 points
37  Botswana[a] 392 Decrease 12 points
38  Egypt 371 N/A
39  South Africa[a] 358 Increase 26 points
Benchmarking participants
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 530 Increase 10 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 525 Increase 40 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 524 Increase 3 points
– Florida Florida (United States) 508 Decrease 22 points
–  Norway[b] 489 Decrease 5 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 454 Decrease 7 points
– Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (Argentina) 386 N/A
  1. ^ a b c d e f Ninth grade students
  2. ^ a b Eighth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics[27]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 618 Increase 12 points
2  Hong Kong 615 Increase 13 points
3  South Korea 608 Increase 3 points
4  Chinese Taipei 597 Increase 6 points
5  Japan 593 Increase 8 points
6 Northern Ireland 570 Increase 8 points
7  Russia 564 Increase 22 points
8  Norway[a] 549 N/A
9  Ireland 547 Increase 20 points
10  England 546 Increase 4 points
10  Belgium (Flemish) 546 Decrease 3 points
12  Kazakhstan 544 Increase 43 points
13  Portugal 541 Increase 9 points
14  United States 539 Decrease 2 points
14  Denmark 539 Increase 2 points
16  Lithuania 535 Increase 1 point
16  Finland 535 Decrease 10 points
16  Poland 535 Increase 54 points
19  Netherlands 530 Decrease 10 points
20  Hungary 529 Increase 14 points
21  Czech Republic 528 Increase 17 points
22  Bulgaria 524 N/A
23  Cyprus 523 N/A
24  Germany 522 Decrease 6 points
25  Slovenia 520 Increase 7 points
26  Sweden 519 Increase 15 points
27  Serbia 518 Increase 2 points
28  Australia 517 Increase 1 point
29  Canada 511 N/A
30  Italy 507 Decrease 1 point
31  Spain 505 Increase 23 points
32  Croatia 502 Increase 12 points
International average 500 Steady
33  Slovakia 498 Decrease 9 points
34  New Zealand 491 Increase 5 points
35  France 488 N/A
36  Turkey 483 Increase 14 points
37  Georgia 463 Increase 13 points
38  Chile 459 Decrease 3 points
39  United Arab Emirates 452 Increase 18 points
40  Bahrain 451 Increase 15 points
41  Qatar 439 Increase 26 points
42  Iran 431 Steady
43  Oman 425 Increase 40 points
44  Indonesia 397 N/A
45  Jordan 388 N/A
46  Saudi Arabia 383 Decrease 27 points
47  Morocco 377 Increase 42 points
48  South Africa[a] 376 N/A
49  Kuwait 353 Increase 11 points
Benchmarking participants
– Florida Florida (United States) 546 Increase 1 point
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 536 Increase 3 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 512 Decrease 6 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 511 Increase 43 points
–  Norway[b] 493 Decrease 2 points
– Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (Argentina) 432 N/A
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 419 Increase 2 points
Science[28]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 590 Increase 7 points
2  South Korea 589 Increase 2 points
3  Japan 569 Increase 10 points
4  Russia 567 Increase 15 points
5  Hong Kong 557 Increase 22 points
6  Chinese Taipei 555 Increase 3 points
7  Finland 554 Decrease 16 points
8  Kazakhstan 550 Increase 55 points
9  Poland 547 Increase 42 points
10  United States 546 Increase 2 points
11  Slovenia 543 Increase 23 points
12  Hungary 542 Increase 8 points
13  Sweden 540 Increase 7 points
14  Norway[a] 538 N/A
15  England 536 Increase 7 points
15  Bulgaria 536 N/A
17  Czech Republic 534 Decrease 2 points
18  Croatia 533 Increase 17 points
19  Ireland 529 Increase 13 points
20  Germany 528 Steady
20  Lithuania 528 Increase 13 points
22  Denmark 527 Decrease 1 point
23  Canada 525 N/A
23  Serbia 525 Increase 9 points
25  Australia 524 Increase 8 points
26  Slovakia 520 Decrease 12 points
26 Northern Ireland 520 Increase 3 points
28  Spain 518 Increase 13 points
29  Netherlands 517 Decrease 14 points
30  Italy 516 Decrease 8 points
31  Belgium (Flemish) 512 Increase 3 points
32  Portugal 508 Decrease 14 points
33  New Zealand 506 Increase 9 points
International average 500 Steady
34  France 487 N/A
35  Turkey 483 Increase 20 points
36  Cyprus 481 N/A
37  Chile 478 Decrease 2 points
38  Bahrain 459 Increase 10 points
39  Georgia 451 Decrease 4 points
39  United Arab Emirates 451 Increase 23 points
41  Qatar 436 Increase 42 points
42  Oman 431 Increase 54 points
43  Iran 421 Decrease 32 points
44  Indonesia 397 N/A
45  Saudi Arabia 390 Decrease 39 points
46  Morocco 357 Increase 93 points
47  Kuwait 337 Decrease 10 points
Benchmarking participants
– Florida Florida (United States) 549 Increase 4 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 530 Increase 2 points
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 525 Increase 9 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 518 Increase 57 points
–  Norway[b] 493 Decrease 1 point
– Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (Argentina) 418 N/A
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 415 Increase 4 points
  1. ^ a b c Fifth grade students
  2. ^ a b Fourth grade students

TIMSS 2011

TIMSS 2011[29] had 52 participating educational systems for the fourth grade and 45 for the eighth grade.[6]

Eighth grade

Mathematics[30]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  South Korea 613 Increase 16 points
2  Singapore 611 Increase 18 points
3  Chinese Taipei 609 Increase 11 points
4  Hong Kong 586 Increase 14 points
5  Japan 570 Steady
6  Russia 539 Increase 27 points
7  Israel 516 Increase 53 points
8  Finland 514 N/A
9  United States 509 Increase 1 point
10  England 507 Decrease 6 points
11  Hungary 505 Decrease 12 points
11  Australia 505 Increase 9 points
11  Slovenia 505 Increase 4 points
14  Lithuania 502 Decrease 4 points
International average 500 Steady
15  Italy 498 Increase 18 points
16  New Zealand 488 N/A
17  Kazakhstan 487 N/A
18  Sweden 484 Decrease 7 points
19  Ukraine 479 Increase 17 points
20  Norway 475 Increase 6 points
21  Armenia 467 Decrease 32 points
22  Romania 458 Decrease 3 points
23  United Arab Emirates 456 N/A
24  Turkey 452 Increase 20 points
25  Lebanon 449 Steady
26  Malaysia 440 Decrease 34 points
27  Georgia 431 Increase 21 points
28  Thailand 427 Decrease 14 points
29  Republic of Macedonia 426 N/A
30  Tunisia 425 Increase 5 points
31  Chile 416 N/A
32  Iran 415 Increase 12 points
33  Qatar 410 Increase 103 points
34  Bahrain 409 N/A
35  Jordan 406 Decrease 21 points
36  Palestine 404 Increase 37 points
37  Saudi Arabia 394 Increase 65 points
38  Indonesia 386 Decrease 11 points
39  Syria 380 Decrease 15 points
40  Morocco 371 Decrease 10 points
41  Oman 366 Decrease 6 points
42  Ghana 331 Increase 22 points
Ninth grade participants
–  Botswana[a] 397 N/A
–  South Africa[a] 352 N/A
–  Honduras[a] 338 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Massachusetts Massachusetts (United States) 561 Increase 14 points
– Minnesota Minnesota (United States) 545 Increase 13 points
– North Carolina North Carolina (United States) 537 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 532 Increase 4 points
– Indiana Indiana (United States) 522 N/A
– Colorado Colorado (United States) 518 N/A
– Connecticut Connecticut (United States) 518 N/A
– Florida Florida (United States) 513 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 512 Decrease 5 points
– Alberta Alberta (Canada) 505 N/A
– California California (United States) 493 N/A
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 478 Increase 17 points
– Alabama Alabama (United States) 466 N/A
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 449 N/A
Science[31]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 590 Increase 23 points
2  Chinese Taipei 564 Increase 3 points
3  South Korea 560 Increase 7 points
4  Japan 558 Increase 4 points
5  Finland 552 N/A
6  Slovenia 543 Increase 5 points
7  Russia 542 Increase 12 points
8  Hong Kong 535 Increase 5 points
9  England 533 Decrease 9 points
10  United States 525 Increase 5 points
11  Hungary 522 Decrease 17 points
12  Australia 519 Increase 4 points
13  Israel 516 Increase 48 points
14  Lithuania 514 Decrease 5 points
15  New Zealand 512 N/A
16  Sweden 509 Decrease 2 points
17  Italy 501 Increase 6 points
17  Ukraine 501 Increase 16 points
International average 500 Steady
19  Norway 494 Increase 7 points
20  Kazakhstan 490 N/A
21  Turkey 483 Increase 29 points
22  Iran 474 Increase 15 points
23  Romania 465 Increase 3 points
23  United Arab Emirates 465 N/A
25  Chile 461 N/A
26  Bahrain 452 N/A
27  Thailand 451 Decrease 20 points
28  Jordan 449 Decrease 33 points
29  Tunisia 439 Decrease 6 points
30  Armenia 437 Decrease 51 points
31  Saudi Arabia 436 Increase 33 points
32  Malaysia 426 Decrease 45 points
32  Syria 426 Decrease 26 points
34  Palestine 420 Increase 16 points
34  Georgia 420 Decrease 1 point
34  Oman 420 Decrease 3 points
37  Qatar 419 Increase 100 points
38  Republic of Macedonia 407 N/A
39  Lebanon 406 Decrease 8 points
39  Indonesia 406 Decrease 21 points
41  Morocco 376 Decrease 26 points
42  Ghana 306 Increase 3 points
Ninth grade participants
–  Botswana[a] 404 N/A
–  Honduras[a] 369 N/A
–  South Africa[a] 332 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Massachusetts Massachusetts (United States) 567 Increase 11 points
– Minnesota Minnesota (United States) 553 Increase 14 points
– Alberta Alberta (Canada) 546 N/A
– Colorado Colorado (United States) 542 N/A
– Indiana Indiana (United States) 533 N/A
– Connecticut Connecticut (United States) 532 N/A
– North Carolina North Carolina (United States) 532 N/A
– Florida Florida (United States) 530 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 521 Decrease 5 points
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 520 Decrease 6 points
– California California (United States) 499 N/A
– Alabama Alabama (United States) 485 N/A
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 485 Decrease 4 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 461 N/A
  1. ^ a b c d e f Ninth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics[30]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 606 Increase 7 points
2  South Korea 605 N/A
3  Hong Kong 602 Decrease 5 points
4  Chinese Taipei 591 Increase 15 points
5  Japan 585 Increase 17 points
6 Northern Ireland 562 N/A
7  Belgium (Flemish) 549 N/A
8  Finland 545 N/A
9  England 542 Increase 1 point
9  Russia 542 Decrease 2 points
11  United States 541 Increase 12 points
12  Netherlands 540 Increase 5 points
13  Denmark 537 Increase 14 points
14  Lithuania 534 Increase 4 points
15  Portugal 532 N/A
16  Germany 528 Increase 3 points
17  Ireland 527 N/A
18  Serbia 516 N/A
18  Australia 516 Steady
20  Hungary 515 Increase 5 points
21  Slovenia 513 Increase 11 points
22  Czech Republic 511 Increase 25 points
23  Austria 508 Increase 3 points
23  Italy 508 Increase 1 point
25  Slovakia 507 Increase 11 points
26  Sweden 504 Increase 1 point
27  Kazakhstan 501 Decrease 48 points
International average 500 Steady
28  Malta 496 N/A
29  Norway 495 Increase 22 points
30  Croatia 490 N/A
31  New Zealand 486 Decrease 6 points
32  Spain 482 N/A
32  Romania 482 N/A
34  Poland 481 N/A
35  Turkey 469 N/A
36  Azerbaijan 463 N/A
37  Chile 462 N/A
38  Thailand 458 N/A
39  Armenia 452 Decrease 48 points
40  Georgia 450 Increase 12 points
41  Bahrain 436 N/A
42  United Arab Emirates 434 N/A
43  Iran 431 Increase 29 points
44  Qatar 413 Increase 117 points
45  Saudi Arabia 410 N/A
46  Oman 385 N/A
47  Tunisia 359 Increase 32 points
48  Kuwait 342 Increase 26 points
49  Morocco 335 Decrease 6 points
50  Yemen 248 Increase 24 points
Sixth grade participants
–  Botswana[a] 419 N/A
–  Honduras[a] 396 N/A
–  Yemen[a] 348 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– North Carolina North Carolina (United States) 554 N/A
– Florida Florida (United States) 545 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 533 Increase 14 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 518 Increase 6 points
– Alberta Alberta (Canada) 507 Increase 2 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 468 Increase 24 points
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 417 N/A
Science[31]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  South Korea 587 N/A
2  Singapore 583 Decrease 4 points
3  Finland 570 N/A
4  Japan 559 Increase 11 points
5  Russia 552 Increase 6 points
5  Chinese Taipei 552 Decrease 5 points
7  United States 544 Increase 5 points
8  Czech Republic 536 Increase 21 points
9  Hong Kong 535 Decrease 19 points
10  Hungary 534 Decrease 2 points
11  Sweden 533 Increase 8 points
12  Slovakia 532 Increase 6 points
12  Austria 532 Increase 6 points
14  Netherlands 531 Increase 8 points
15  England 529 Decrease 13 points
16  Denmark 528 Increase 11 points
16  Germany 528 Steady
18  Italy 524 Decrease 11 points
19  Portugal 522 N/A
20  Slovenia 520 Increase 2 points
21 Northern Ireland 517 N/A
22  Ireland 516 N/A
22  Croatia 516 N/A
22  Australia 516 Decrease 11 points
22  Serbia 516 N/A
26  Lithuania 515 Increase 1 point
27  Belgium (Flemish) 509 N/A
28  Romania 505 N/A
28  Spain 505 N/A
28  Poland 505 N/A
International average 500 Steady
31  New Zealand 497 Decrease 7 points
32  Kazakhstan 495 Decrease 38 points
33  Norway 494 Increase 17 points
34  Chile 480 N/A
35  Thailand 472 N/A
36  Turkey 463 N/A
37  Georgia 455 Increase 37 points
38  Iran 453 Increase 17 points
39  Bahrain 449 N/A
40  Malta 446 N/A
41  Azerbaijan 438 N/A
42  Saudi Arabia 429 N/A
43  United Arab Emirates 428 N/A
44  Armenia 416 Decrease 68 points
45  Qatar 394 Increase 100 points
46  Oman 377 N/A
47  Kuwait 347 Decrease 1 point
48  Tunisia 346 Increase 28 points
49  Morocco 264 Decrease 33 points
50  Yemen 209 Increase 12 points
Sixth grade participants
–  Honduras[a] 432 N/A
–  Botswana[a] 367 N/A
–  Yemen[a] 345 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Florida Florida (United States) 545 N/A
– Alberta Alberta (Canada) 541 Decrease 2 points
– North Carolina North Carolina (United States) 538 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 528 Decrease 8 points
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 516 Decrease 1 point
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 461 Increase 1 point
– Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 411 N/A
  1. ^ a b c d e f Sixth grade students

TIMSS 2007

In TIMSS 2007,[32] 43 educational systems participated in the fourth grade and 56 educational systems in the eighth grade.

Eighth grade

Mathematics[33]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Chinese Taipei 598 Increase 13 points
2  South Korea 597 Increase 8 points
3  Singapore 593 Increase 12 points
4  Hong Kong 572 Decrease 14 points
5  Japan 570 Steady
6  Hungary 517 Decrease 12 points
7  England 513 N/A
8  Russia 512 Increase 4 points
9  United States 508 Increase 4 points
10  Lithuania 506 Increase 4 points
11  Czech Republic 504 N/A
12  Slovenia 501 Increase 8 points
International average 500 Increase 33 points
13  Armenia 499 Increase 21 points
14  Australia 496 Decrease 9 points
15  Sweden 491 Decrease 8 points
16  Malta 488 N/A
17  Scotland 487 Decrease 11 points
18  Serbia 486 Increase 9 points
19  Italy 480 Decrease 4 points
20  Malaysia 474 Decrease 34 points
21  Norway 469 Increase 8 points
22  Cyprus 465 Increase 6 points
23  Bulgaria 464 Decrease 12 points
24  Israel 463 Decrease 33 points
25  Ukraine 462 N/A
26  Romania 461 Decrease 14 points
27  Bosnia and Herzegovina 456 N/A
28  Lebanon 449 Increase 16 points
29  Thailand 441 N/A
30  Turkey 432 N/A
31  Jordan 427 Increase 3 points
32  Tunisia 420 Increase 10 points
33  Georgia 410 N/A
34  Iran 403 Decrease 8 points
35  Bahrain 398 Decrease 3 points
36  Indonesia 397 Decrease 14 points
37  Syria 395 N/A
38  Egypt 391 N/A
39  Algeria 387 N/A
40  Morocco 381 Decrease 6 points
41  Colombia 380 N/A
42  Oman 372 N/A
43  Palestine 367 Decrease 23 points
44  Botswana 364 Decrease 2 points
45  Kuwait 354 N/A
46  El Salvador 340 N/A
47  Saudi Arabia 329 Decrease 3 points
48  Ghana 309 Increase 33 points
49  Qatar 307 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Massachusetts Massachusetts (United States) 547 N/A
– Minnesota Minnesota (United States) 532 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 528 Decrease 15 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 517 Decrease 4 points
– British Columbia British Columbia (Canada) 509 N/A
– Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Country (Spain) 499 Increase 12 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 461 N/A
Science[34]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 567 Decrease 11 points
2  Chinese Taipei 561 Decrease 10 points
3  Japan 554 Increase 2 points
4  South Korea 553 Decrease 5 points
5  England 542 N/A
6  Hungary 539 Decrease 4 points
6  Czech Republic 539 N/A
8  Slovenia 538 Increase 18 points
9  Hong Kong 530 Decrease 26 points
9  Russia 530 Increase 16 points
11  United States 520 Decrease 7 points
12  Lithuania 519 Steady
13  Australia 515 Decrease 12 points
14  Sweden 511 Decrease 13 points
International average 500 Increase 26 points
15  Scotland 496 Decrease 16 points
16  Italy 495 Increase 4 points
17  Armenia 488 Increase 27 points
18  Norway 487 Decrease 7 points
19  Ukraine 485 N/A
20  Jordan 482 Increase 7 points
21  Malaysia 471 Decrease 39 points
21  Thailand 471 N/A
23  Serbia 470 Increase 2 points
23  Bulgaria 470 Decrease 9 points
25  Israel 468 Decrease 20 points
26  Bahrain 467 Increase 29 points
27  Bosnia and Herzegovina 466 N/A
28  Romania 462 Decrease 8 points
29  Iran 459 Increase 6 points
30  Malta 457 N/A
31  Turkey 454 N/A
32  Syria 452 N/A
32  Cyprus 452 Increase 11 points
34  Tunisia 445 Increase 41 points
35  Indonesia 427 Increase 7 points
36  Oman 423 N/A
37  Georgia 421 N/A
38  Kuwait 418 N/A
39  Colombia 417 N/A
40  Lebanon 414 Increase 21 points
41  Egypt 408 N/A
41  Algeria 408 N/A
43  Palestine 404 Decrease 31 points
44  Saudi Arabia 403 Increase 5 points
45  Morocco 402 Increase 6 points
46  El Salvador 387 N/A
47  Botswana 355 Decrease 10 points
48  Qatar 319 N/A
49  Ghana 303 Increase 48 points
Benchmarking participants
– Massachusetts Massachusetts (United States) 556 N/A
– Minnesota Minnesota (United States) 539 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 526 Decrease 5 points
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 526 Decrease 7 points
– British Columbia British Columbia (Canada) 507 N/A
– Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Country (Spain) 498 Increase 9 points
– Emirate of Dubai Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 489 N/A

Fourth grade

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

TIMSS 2003

In TIMSS 2003,[35] there were 26 educational systems for the fourth grade and 48 for the eighth grade.[36]

Eighth grade

Mathematics[37]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 605 Increase 1 point
2  South Korea 589 Increase 2 points
3  Hong Kong 586 Increase 4 points
4  Chinese Taipei 585 Steady
5  Japan 570 Decrease 9 points
6  Belgium (Flemish) 537 Decrease 21 points
7  Netherlands 536 Decrease 4 points
8  Estonia 531 N/A
9  Hungary 529 Decrease 3 points
10  Malaysia 508 Decrease 11 points
10  Latvia 508 N/A
10  Russia 508 Decrease 18 points
10  Slovakia 508 Decrease 26 points
14  Australia 505 Decrease 20 points
15  United States 504 Increase 2 points
16  Lithuania 502 Increase 20 points
17  Sweden 499 N/A
18  Scotland 498 N/A
19  Israel 496 Increase 30 points
20  New Zealand 494 Increase 3 points
21  Slovenia 493 Decrease 37 points
22  Italy 484 Increase 5 points
23  Armenia 478 N/A
24  Serbia 477 N/A
25  Bulgaria 476 Decrease 35 points
26  Romania 475 Increase 3 points
International average 467 Decrease 20 points
27  Norway 461 N/A
28  Moldova 460 Increase 9 points
29  Cyprus 459 Decrease 17 points
30  Republic of Macedonia 435 Decrease 12 points
31  Lebanon 433 N/A
32  Jordan 424 Decrease 4 points
33  Iran 411 Decrease 11 points
33  Indonesia 411 Increase 8 points
35  Tunisia 410 Decrease 38 points
36  Egypt 406 N/A
37  Bahrain 401 N/A
38  Palestine 390 N/A
39  Chile 387 Decrease 5 points
39  Morocco 387 Increase 50 points
41  Philippines 376 Increase 31 points
42  Botswana 366 N/A
43  Saudi Arabia 332 N/A
44  Ghana 276 N/A
45  South Africa 264 Decrease 11 points
Ninth grade participants
–  England[a] 498 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 543 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 521 N/A
– Indiana Indiana (United States) 508 N/A
– Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Country (Spain) 487 N/A
Science[38]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 578 Increase 10 points
2  Chinese Taipei 571 Increase 2 points
3  South Korea 558 Increase 9 points
4  Hong Kong 556 Increase 26 points
5  Estonia 552 N/A
5  Japan 552 Increase 2 points
7  Hungary 543 Decrease 9 points
8  Netherlands 536 Decrease 9 points
9  United States 527 Increase 12 points
9  Australia 527 Decrease 13 points
11  Sweden 524 N/A
12  Slovenia 520 Decrease 13 points
12  New Zealand 520 Increase 10 points
14  Lithuania 519 Increase 31 points
15  Slovakia 517 Decrease 18 points
16  Belgium (Flemish) 516 Decrease 19 points
17  Russia 514 Decrease 15 points
18  Latvia 512 N/A
18  Scotland 512 N/A
20  Malaysia 510 Increase 18 points
21  Norway 494 N/A
22  Italy 491 Decrease 2 points
23  Israel 488 Increase 20 points
24  Bulgaria 479 Decrease 39 points
25  Jordan 475 Increase 25 points
International average 474 Decrease 14 points
26  Moldova 472 Increase 13 points
27  Romania 470 Decrease 2 points
28  Serbia 468 N/A
29  Armenia 461 N/A
30  Iran 453 Increase 5 points
31  Republic of Macedonia 449 Decrease 9 points
32  Cyprus 441 Decrease 19 points
33  Bahrain 438 N/A
34  Palestine 435 N/A
35  Egypt 421 N/A
36  Indonesia 420 Decrease 15 points
37  Chile 413 Decrease 7 points
38  Tunisia 404 Decrease 26 points
39  Saudi Arabia 398 N/A
40  Morocco 396 Increase 73 points
41  Lebanon 393 N/A
42  Philippines 377 Increase 32 points
43  Botswana 365 N/A
44  Ghana 255 N/A
45  South Africa 244 Increase 1 point
Ninth grade participants
–  England[a] 544 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 533 N/A
– Indiana Indiana (United States) 531 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 531 N/A
– Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Country (Spain) 489 N/A
  1. ^ a b Ninth grade students

Fourth grade

Mathematics[37]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 8 years
1  Singapore 594 Decrease 31 points
2  Hong Kong 575 Decrease 12 points
3  Japan 565 Decrease 32 points
4  Chinese Taipei 564 N/A
5  Belgium (Flemish) 551 N/A
6  Netherlands 540 Decrease 37 points
7  Latvia 536 N/A
8  Lithuania 534 N/A
9  Russia 532 N/A
10  England 531 Increase 18 points
11  Hungary 529 Decrease 19 points
12  United States 518 Decrease 27 points
13  Cyprus 510 Increase 8 points
14  Moldova 504 N/A
15  Italy 503 N/A
16  Australia 499 Decrease 47 points
International average 495 Decrease 34 points
17  New Zealand 493 Decrease 6 points
18  Scotland 490 Decrease 30 points
19  Slovenia 479 Decrease 73 points
20  Armenia 456 N/A
21  Norway 451 Decrease 51 points
22  Iran 389 Decrease 40 points
23  Philippines 358 N/A
24  Morocco 347 N/A
25  Tunisia 339 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Indiana Indiana (United States) 533 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 511 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 506 N/A
Science[38]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 8 years
1  Singapore 565 Increase 18 points
2  Chinese Taipei 551 N/A
3  Japan 543 Decrease 31 points
4  Hong Kong 542 Increase 9 points
5  England 540 Decrease 11 points
6  United States 536 Decrease 29 points
7  Latvia 532 N/A
8  Hungary 530 Decrease 2 points
9  Russia 526 N/A
10  Netherlands 525 Decrease 28 points
11  Australia 521 Decrease 41 points
12  New Zealand 520 Decrease 11 points
13  Belgium (Flemish) 518 N/A
14  Italy 516 N/A
15  Lithuania 512 N/A
16  Scotland 502 Decrease 34 points
17  Moldova 496 N/A
18  Slovenia 490 Decrease 56 points
International average 489 Decrease 35 points
19  Cyprus 480 Increase 5 points
20  Norway 466 Decrease 64 points
21  Armenia 437 N/A
22  Iran 414 Decrease 2 points
23  Philippines 332 N/A
24  Tunisia 314 N/A
25  Morocco 304 N/A
Benchmarking participants
– Indiana Indiana (United States) 553 N/A
– Ontario Ontario (Canada) 540 N/A
– Quebec Quebec (Canada) 500 N/A

TIMSS 1999

In 1999,[39] TIMSS only focused on the eighth grade in 38 educational systems; there was no study done for the fourth grade in that year.[40]

Eighth grade

Mathematics[41]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Singapore 604 Decrease 39 points
2  South Korea 587 Decrease 20 points
3  Chinese Taipei 585 N/A
4  Hong Kong 582 Decrease 6 points
5  Japan 579 Decrease 26 points
6  Belgium (Flemish) 558 Decrease 7 points
7  Netherlands 540 Decrease 1 point
8  Slovakia 534 Decrease 13 points
9  Hungary 532 Decrease 5 points
10  Canada 531 Increase 4 points
11  Slovenia 530 Decrease 11 points
12  Russia 526 Decrease 9 points
13  Australia 525 Decrease 5 points
14  Finland 520 N/A
14  Czech Republic 520 Decrease 44 points
16  Malaysia 519 N/A
17  Bulgaria 511 Decrease 29 points
18  Latvia (Latvian) 505 Increase 12 points
19  United States 502 Increase 2 points
20  England 496 Decrease 10 points
21  New Zealand 491 Decrease 17 points
International average 487 Decrease 26 points
22  Lithuania 482 Increase 5 points
23  Italy 479 N/A
24  Cyprus 476 Increase 2 points
25  Romania 472 Decrease 10 points
26  Moldova 469 N/A
27  Thailand 467 Decrease 55 points
28  Israel 466 Decrease 56 points
29  Tunisia 448 N/A
30  Republic of Macedonia 447 N/A
31  Turkey 429 N/A
32  Jordan 428 N/A
33  Iran 422 Decrease 6 points
34  Indonesia 403 N/A
35  Chile 392 N/A
36  Philippines 345 N/A
37  Morocco 337 N/A
38  South Africa 275 Decrease 79 points
Science[42]
Rank Country Average
scale score 		Change
over 4 years
1  Chinese Taipei 569 N/A
2  Singapore 568 Decrease 39 points
3  Hungary 552 Decrease 2 points
4  Japan 550 Decrease 21 points
5  South Korea 549 Decrease 16 points
6  Netherlands 545 Decrease 15 points
7  Australia 540 Decrease 5 points
8  Czech Republic 539 Decrease 35 points
9  England 538 Decrease 14 points
10  Finland 535 N/A
10  Slovakia 535 Decrease 9 points
10  Belgium (Flemish) 535 Decrease 15 points
13  Slovenia 533 Decrease 27 points
13  Canada 533 Increase 2 points
15  Hong Kong 530 Increase 8 points
16  Russia 529 Decrease 9 points
17  Bulgaria 518 Decrease 47 points
18  United States 515 Decrease 19 points
19  New Zealand 510 Decrease 15 points
20  Latvia (Latvian) 503 Increase 18 points
21  Italy 493 N/A
22  Malaysia 492 N/A
23  Lithuania 488 Increase 12 points
International average 488 Decrease 28 points
24  Thailand 482 Decrease 43 points
25  Romania 472 Decrease 14 points
26  Israel 468 Decrease 56 points
27  Cyprus 460 Decrease 3 points
28  Moldova 459 N/A
29  Republic of Macedonia 458 N/A
30  Jordan 450 N/A
31  Iran 448 Decrease 22 points
32  Indonesia 435 N/A
33  Turkey 433 N/A
34  Tunisia 430 N/A
35  Chile 420 N/A
36  Philippines 345 N/A
37  Morocco 323 N/A
38  South Africa 243 Decrease 83 points

TIMSS 1995

In TIMSS 1995,[43] there were 41 educational systems in five grades (third, fourth, seventh, eighth, and the final year of secondary school).[6]

Eighth grade

Mathematics[44]
Rank Country Average
scale score
1  Singapore 643
2  South Korea 607
3  Japan 605
4  Hong Kong 588
5  Belgium (Flemish) 565
6  Czech Republic 564
7  Slovakia 547
8   Switzerland 545
9  Netherlands 541
9  Slovenia 541
11  Bulgaria 540
12  Austria 539
13  France 538
14  Hungary 537
15  Russia 535
16  Australia 530
17  Ireland 527
17  Canada 527
19  Belgium (French) 526
20  Thailand 522
20  Israel 522
22  Sweden 519
International average 513
23  Germany 509
24  New Zealand 508
25  England 506
26  Norway 503
27  Denmark 502
28  United States 500
29  Scotland 498
30  Latvia (Latvian) 493
31  Spain 487
31  Iceland 487
33  Greece 484
34  Romania 482
35  Lithuania 477
36  Cyprus 474
37  Portugal 454
38  Iran 428
39  Kuwait 392
40  Colombia 385
41  South Africa 354
Science[45]
Rank Country Average
scale score
1  Singapore 607
2  Czech Republic 574
3  Japan 571
4  South Korea 565
4  Bulgaria 565
6  Netherlands 560
6  Slovenia 560
8  Austria 558
9  Hungary 554
10  England 552
11  Belgium (Flemish) 550
12  Australia 545
13  Slovakia 544
14  Russia 538
14  Ireland 538
16  Sweden 535
17  United States 534
18  Germany 531
18  Canada 531
20  Norway 527
21  New Zealand 525
21  Thailand 525
23  Israel 524
24  Hong Kong 522
24   Switzerland 522
26  Scotland 517
26  Spain 517
International average 516
28  France 498
29  Greece 497
30  Iceland 494
31  Romania 486
32  Latvia (Latvian) 485
33  Portugal 480
34  Denmark 478
35  Lithuania 476
36  Belgium (French) 471
37  Iran 470
38  Cyprus 463
39  Kuwait 430
40  Colombia 411
41  South Africa 326

Fourth grade

Mathematics[46]
Rank Country Average
scale score
1  Singapore 625
2  South Korea 611
3  Japan 597
4  Hong Kong 587
5  Netherlands 577
6  Czech Republic 567
7  Austria 559
8  Slovenia 552
9  Ireland 550
10  Hungary 548
11  Australia 546
12  United States 545
13  Canada 532
14  Israel 531
International average 529
15  Latvia (Latvian) 525
16  Scotland 520
17  England 513
18  Cyprus 502
18  Norway 502
20  New Zealand 499
21  Greece 492
22  Thailand 490
23  Portugal 475
24  Iceland 474
25  Iran 429
26  Kuwait 400
Science[47]
Rank Country Average
scale score
1  South Korea 597
2  Japan 574
3  United States 565
3  Austria 565
5  Australia 562
6  Netherlands 557
6  Czech Republic 557
8  England 551
9  Canada 549
10  Singapore 547
11  Slovenia 546
12  Ireland 539
13  Scotland 536
14  Hong Kong 533
15  Hungary 532
16  New Zealand 531
International average 524
17  Norway 530
18  Latvia (Latvian) 512
19  Israel 505
19  Iceland 505
21  Greece 497
22  Portugal 480
23  Cyprus 475
24  Thailand 473
25  Iran 416
26  Kuwait 401

Additional initiatives

The TIMSS 1999 Video Study[48] 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
Race 2023[49] 2019[50] 2015[51] 2011[52] 2007[53] 2003[54] 1999[54] 1995[54]
Score Score Score Score Score Score Score
Asian 580 591 585 568 549 — — —
White 516 548 541 530 533 525 525 516
Multiracial 495 540 521 513 506 — — —
US Average 488 515 518 509 508 504 502 500
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander — 495 — — — — —
Hispanic 456 486 492 485 475 465 457 443
American Indian/Alaska Native 483 477 — — — — —
Black 443 445 462 465 457 448 444 419
Science
Race 2023[49] 2019[49] 2015[55] 2011[52] 2007[53] 2003[54] 1999[54] 1995[54]
Score Score Score Score Score Score Score
Asian 584 577 573 556 543 — — —
White 545 543 559 557 553 551 552 547 544
Multiracial 526 542 547 536 534 522 — — —
US Average 513 517 522 530 525 520 527 515 534
Hispanic 482 491 493 502 493 480 482 462 446
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 498 — — — — —
American Indian/Alaska Native 481 497 — — — — —
Black 466 445 469 470 455 463 438 422

Fourth grade

Mathematics
Race 2019[49] 2015[56] 2011[52] 2007[53] 2003[54] 1995[54]
Score Score Score Score Score Score
Asian 586 605 583 582 — —
White 559 559 559 550 542 541
Multiracial 554 565 554 534 — —
US Average 535 539 541 529 518 545
American Indian/Alaska Native 515 527 — — — —
Hispanic 508 515 520 504 492 493
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 500 502 — — — —
Black 494 495 489 482 472 457
Science
Race 2019[49] 2015[57] 2011[52] 2007[53] 2003[54] 1995[54]
Score Score Score Score Score Score
Asian 581 598 570 573 — —
White 565 570 568 567 565 572
Multiracial 561 571 559 550 — —
US Average 539 546 544 539 536 565
American Indian/Alaska Native 519 530 — — — —
Hispanic 508 518 517 502 498 503
Black 497 501 490 488 487 462
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 495 503 — — — —

All average country scores

TIMSS and other international math and science studies

Hanushek and Woessmann[58] 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,[59] or IEA's Rosetta Stone.[60]

Wu (2003, 2010)[61] 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,[62] while PISA attempts to assess mathematics embedded in descriptions of situations encountered outside of the classroom, see PISA examples.[63]

Participating countries

Country Years
 Albania 2019, 2023
 Algeria 2007
 Argentina 2015[a]
 Armenia 2003, 2007, 2011, 2019, 2023
 Australia 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Austria 1995, 2007, 2011, 2019, 2023
 Azerbaijan 2011, 2019, 2023
 Bahrain 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Belgium 1995,[b] 1999,[c] 2003,[c] 2011,[c] 2015,[c] 2019,[c] 2023[b]
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007, 2019, 2023
 Botswana 2003, 2007, 2011,[d] 2015[e]
 Brazil 2023
 Bulgaria 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Canada 1995, 1999, 2003,[f] 2007,[g] 2011,[h] 2015, 2019, 2023
 Chile 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Chinese Taipei 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Colombia 1995, 2007
 Croatia 2011, 2015, 2019
 Cyprus 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Czech Republic 1995, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Denmark 1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Egypt 2003, 2007, 2015
 El Salvador 2007
 England 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Estonia 2003
 Finland 1999, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 France 1995, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Georgia 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Germany 1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Ghana 2003, 2007, 2011
 Greece 1995
 Honduras 2011[d]
 Hong Kong 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Hungary 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Iceland 1995
 Indonesia 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
 Iran 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Iraq 2023[i]
 Ireland 1995, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Israel 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023
 Italy 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Ivory Coast 2023
 Japan 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Jordan 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023
 Kazakhstan 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Kosovo 2019, 2023
 Kuwait 1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Latvia 1995,[j] 1999,[j] 2003, 2007, 2019, 2023
 Lebanon 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
 Lithuania 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Macau 2023
 Malaysia 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023
 Malta 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Moldova 1999, 2003
 Montenegro 2019, 2023
 Morocco 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Netherlands 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 New Zealand 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 North Macedonia 1999, 2003, 2011, 2019, 2023
 Northern Ireland 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Norway 1995, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019,[k] 2023
 Oman 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Pakistan 2019
 Palestine 2003, 2007, 2011, 2023
 Philippines 1999, 2003, 2019
 Poland 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Portugal 1995, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Qatar 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Romania 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2023
 Russia 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019
 Saudi Arabia 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Scotland 1995, 2003, 2007
 Serbia 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Singapore 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Slovakia 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Slovenia 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023
 South Africa 1995, 1999, 2003, 2011,[e] 2015,[k] 2019,[k] 2023
 South Korea 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Spain 1995, 2003,[l] 2007,[l] 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Sweden 1995, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023
  Switzerland 1995
 Syria 2007, 2011
 Thailand 1995, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2015
 Tunisia 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
 Turkey 1999, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Ukraine 2007, 2011
 United Arab Emirates 2007,[m] 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 United States 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
 Uzbekistan 2023
 Yemen 2007, 2011
  1. ^ as Buenos Aires (benchmarking only)
  2. ^ a b French and Flemish separated
  3. ^ a b c d e Flemish only
  4. ^ a b 6th and 9th grade only
  5. ^ a b 9th grade only
  6. ^ as Ontario and Quebec (benchmarking only)
  7. ^ as Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec (benchmarking only)
  8. ^ as Alberta, Ontario and Quebec (benchmarking only)
  9. ^ represented by Kurdistan Region
  10. ^ a b in Latvian
  11. ^ a b c 5th and 9th grade only
  12. ^ a b as Basque Country (benchmarking only)
  13. ^ as Dubai (benchmarking only)

See also

  • International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement
  • Numeracy
  • Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), an educational ranking among OECD nations
  • Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
  • Scientific literacy

Notes

  1. ^ "TIMSS and PIRLS Home". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Archived from the original on Feb 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "About TIMSS 2023". TIMSS International Study Center. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  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. ^ a b c d "TIMSS 2011 Participating Countries". Retrieved 21 Nov 2016.
  7. ^ "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 International Reports – TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College".
  11. ^ "TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia".
  12. ^ "Methods and Procedures in TIMSS 2019".
  13. ^ "TIMSS 2019 International Database".
  14. ^ "Tools | IEA.nl". www.iea.nl.
  15. ^ "Data Visualizer".
  16. ^ "TIMSS 2023 Assessment Frameworks". www.timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  17. ^ a b "TIMSS 2023 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science". www.timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  18. ^ "TIMSS 2023 International Results in Mathematics and Science". www.timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  19. ^ "TIMSS 2023 Mathematics Grade 8". timss2023.org. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  20. ^ "TIMSS 2023 Science Grade 8". timss2023.org. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  21. ^ a b "TIMSS 2019 Mathematics Grade 4". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  22. ^ a b "TIMSS 2019 Science Grade 4". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  23. ^ "TIMSS 2019 Mathematics Grade 8". timss2019.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  24. ^ "TIMSS 2019 Science Grade 8". timss2019.org. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  25. ^ "TIMSS 2015 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  26. ^ "About TIMSS 2015 – TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  27. ^ a b "Distribution of Mathematics Achievement – TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Distribution of Science Achievement – TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 International Results". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  29. ^ "TIMSS 2011 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  30. ^ a b "TIMSS 2011 Mathematics" (PDF).
  31. ^ a b "TIMSS 2011 Science" (PDF).
  32. ^ "TIMSS 2007 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  33. ^ a b "TIMSS 2007 Mathematics" (PDF).
  34. ^ a b "TIMSS 2007 Science" (PDF).
  35. ^ "TIMSS 2003 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  36. ^ center, international study. "TIMSS 2003 Countries Participating". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  37. ^ a b "TIMSS 2003 Mathematics" (PDF).
  38. ^ a b "TIMSS 2003 Science" (PDF).
  39. ^ "TIMSS 1999 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  40. ^ "TIMSS 1999 Participants". timssandpirls.bc.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  41. ^ "TIMSS 1999 Mathematics" (PDF).
  42. ^ "TIMSS 1999 Science" (PDF).
  43. ^ "TIMSS 1995 - IEA". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  44. ^ "TIMSS 1995 Mathematics (8th grade)" (PDF).
  45. ^ "TIMSS 1995 Science (8th grade)" (PDF).
  46. ^ "TIMSS 1995 Mathematics (4th grade)" (PDF).
  47. ^ "TIMSS 1995 Science (4th grade)" (PDF).
  48. ^ "TIMSSVIDEO".
  49. ^ a b c d e "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  50. ^ "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  51. ^ "TIMSS - Mathematics for Grades 4 and 8: Student Race/Ethnicity and School Poverty". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  52. ^ a b c d "Highlights From TIMSS 2011: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context" (PDF).
  53. ^ a b c d "Highlights From TIMSS 2007: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context" (PDF).
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Highlights From the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study: TIMSS 2003" (PDF).
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References

  • Hanushek, Eric A.; Woessmann, Ludger (2015), The knowledge capital of nations, CESifo, ISBN 978-0-262-02917-9.
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