More Resources Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study (TIMSS)

America's fourth- and eighth-grade students significantly outperformed many of their international peers, scoring well above the international average in both mathematics and science, according to the latest results from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). In addition, U.S. eighth-graders improved their scores compared to previous years (1999 and 1995), with gains across most student groups, including boys, girls, and minority students. Scores for U.S. fourth graders remained static in mathematics and science.

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige expressed optimism with the TIMSS results, which measured students from up to 46 nations, including economically developed members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"Eighth-grade results from TIMSS confirm what we have seen domestically—that a greater emphasis on higher standards in the classroom leads to improved performance and a smaller achievement gap. However, the results also show that we have further to go, particularly in earlier grades, toward establishing a culture of excellence and achievement at all grade levels."

Paige noted that the TIMSS tests are closely linked to the curricula of the participating countries. "In that sense they are a good indicator of our schools' performance as well," he said. "We must remain committed to staying the course of reform to ensure that every student in every school has a real opportunity to learn."

The TIMSS results followed another international assessment released last week, the Program for International Student Achievement (PISA), which showed America's 15-year-olds performing below the international average in mathematics literacy and problem-solving. "Education does not happen in a vacuum, but in the world," Paige said. "We must redouble our efforts to prepare all of our students for a future that has never been more competitive and challenging. They must graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and in life."

The report on the U.S. TIMSS results, Highlights From the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003, was released today by the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences. The international results from TIMSS were released today by the Amsterdam-based International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).

Other key findings from TIMSS 2003

• In 2003, U.S. eighth-graders improved their average mathematics and science performances compared to 1995. The growth in achievement occurred primarily between 1995 and 1999 in mathematics, and between 1999 and 2003 in science. Moreover, the available data suggest that the performance of U.S. eighth-graders in both mathematics and science was higher in 2003 than in 1995 relative to the 21 other countries that participated in the studies.

• No measurable changes were detected in the average mathematics and science scores of U.S. fourth-graders between 1995 and 2003. Moreover, the available data suggest that the performance of U.S. fourth-graders in both mathematics and science was lower in 2003 than in 1995 relative to the 14 other countries that participated in the studies.

• U.S. fourth-grade girls showed no measurable change in their average performance in mathematics and science between 1995 and 2003. U.S. fourth-grade boys also showed no measurable change in their average mathematics performance, but showed a measurable decline in science performance over the same period.

• U.S. African American fourth-graders and eighth-graders and Hispanic American eighth-graders improved markedly in both mathematics and science between 1995 and 2003. Hispanic fourth-graders showed no measurable changes in either subject. As a result, the gap in achievement between White and Black fourth-and eighth-grade students in the United States narrowed between 1995 and 2003 in both mathematics and science. The gap in achievement between Black and Hispanic fourth-graders also narrowed in science over the same period.

In releasing the U.S. findings, Grover (Russ) Whitehurst, Director of the Institute for Education Sciences, said, "international assessments such as TIMSS provide important information about education in the United States and in other industrialized nations, and an external perspective on U.S. performance. For example, TIMSS not only shows that U.S. eighth-graders are making strides in mathematics and science when measured against their prior performance, but that they are also making gains relative to their international peers, with fewer countries outperforming them and more countries underperforming them."

TIMSS is organized under the auspices of the IEA and is directed in the United States by the NCES, with additional financial support from the National Science Foundation. The IEA is an international organization of national research institutions and governmental research agencies that focuses on research in education. TIMSS assesses students every four years to provide participating nations with regular information on their understanding of mathematics and science topics taught through school curricula. TIMSS also provides nations with information on students' classroom experiences, teachers' pedagogical approaches, and school administrators' policies and decision-making processes across the participating nations.

In 2003, TIMSS was administered at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels in participating nations. TIMSS was last administered at fourth grade in 1995, and at eighth grade in 1995 and 1999.

For further information on TIMSS or to download the report Highlights from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003, please visit NCES' TIMSS Web site at http://nces.ed.gov/timss.

The TIMSS report can also be ordered by calling toll-free 1-877-4ED-PUBS (1-877-433-7827), TTY/TTD 1-877-576-7734; e-mailing edpubs@inet.ed.gov; or making a request via the Internet at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html.

###

Top

Back to December 2004