In addition to the following questions about TIMSS, more FAQs about international assessments are available at: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/international/faqs.asp.

• What areas of mathematics and science are assessed in TIMSS?
• How many U.S. schools and students participated in previous TIMSS cycles?
  
• How does TIMSS select a representative sample of students?
  
• Have there been changes in the countries participating in TIMSS?
  
• If the makeup of the countries changes across the years, how can one compare countries to the TIMSS scale average?
  
• How do the results of TIMSS compare with the results in PISA?
  
• How does the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students on TIMSS compare with achievement on NAEP?
  
• Can you directly compare TIMSS scores at grade 4 to scores at grade 8?
  
• On TIMSS, why do U.S. boys outperform girls in mathematics at grade 4 but not at grade 8, and U.S. boys outperform girls in science at grade 8 but not at grade 4? Why aren't differences between the sexes more consistent?
  
• When are TIMSS data collected?
  
• Where can I get a copy of the TIMSS U.S. Report?
  
• When is TIMSS scheduled to be administered next?
  

What areas of mathematics and science are assessed in TIMSS?

At grade 4, TIMSS focuses on three domains of mathematics:

• numbers (manipulating whole numbers and place values; performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; and using fractions and decimals),
• geometric shapes and measures, and
• data display.

At grade 8, TIMSS focuses on four domains of mathematics:

• numbers,
• algebra,
• geometry, and
• data and chance.

At grade 4, TIMSS focuses on three domains of science:

• life science,
• physical science, and
• Earth science.

At grade 8, TIMSS focuses on four domains of science:

• biology,
• chemistry,
• physics, and
• Earth science.

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