TIMSS
The U.S. Department of Education recently released
Pursuing Excellence: A Study of U.S.
12th-Grade Mathematics and Science Achievement in International Context. The publication
presents data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The
comprehensive study assessed the mathematics and science knowledge of a half-million
students from 41 nations at three levels of schooling. The latest report is about students
who were assessed at the end of 12th grade in the United States and at the end of secondary
education in other countries. It includes four areas of performance: mathematics general
knowledge, science general knowledge, physics, and advanced mathematics. Because the high
enrollment rates for secondary education in the United States are typical of other TIMSS
countries, the general United States population is not being compared to more select groups
in other countries.
The following is a partial list of key findings from the report's Executive Summary.*
Achievement of All Students
A sample of all students at the end of secondary school was assessed in mathematics and science
general knowledge, defined as the knowledge of mathematics and of science needed to function
effectively in society as adults. U.S.12th-graders performed below the international average, and
their performance was among the lowest of the 21 TIMSS countries on the assessment of mathematics
and science general knowledge. The international standing of U.S. students was stronger at the 8th
grade than at the 12th grade in both mathematics and science among the countries that participated in
assessments at both grade levels. The U.S. international standing on the general knowledge component
of TIMSS was higher in science than in mathematics. The U.S. was one of three countries that did not
have a significant gender gap in mathematics general knowledge among students at the end of secondary
schooling. While there was a gender gap in science general knowledge in the United States, as in every
other TIMSS nation except one, the U.S. gender gap was one of the smallest.
Achievement of Advanced Students
The advanced mathematics assessment was administered to students who had taken or were taking
pre-calculus, calculus, or AP calculus in the United States and to advanced mathematics students in
other countries. The physics assessment was administered to students in the United States who had
taken or were taking physics or AP physics and to advanced science students in other countries.
Performance of U.S. physics and advanced mathematics students was among the lowest of the 16
countries which administered the physics and advanced mathematics assessments. In all three content
areas of advanced mathematics and in all five content areas of physics, U.S. physics and advanced
mathematics students' performance was among the lowest of the TIMSS nations. In both physics and
advanced mathematics, males outperformed females in the United States and most of the other TIMSS
countries. More countries outperformed the United States in physics than in advanced mathematics.
This differs from the results for mathematics and science general knowledge, as well as the results
at Grades 4 and 8, where more countries outperformed the United States in mathematics than in science.
The Regional Alliance is committed to helping school districts and states understand and use the TIMSS
results to improve math and science teaching and learning. For TIMSS support and services, contact
Mark Kaufman, (617) 547-0430, alliance@terc.edu. The resources section of the Regional Alliance Hub
ra.terc.edu also has information about TIMSS.
TIMSS: Interpretations and Resources
A videotelecast sponsored by the Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Consortia and Clearinghouse will
provide an overview of TIMSS, a look at practices that reflect "what's good" about math and science
education in the United States, and resources for educators that address issues raised by the study.
Satellite Information: Monday, May 11, 1998, 1:00 pmÐ3:00 pm EDT, Galaxy 3 (3R), Transponder 21, (H)
Horizontal, 95 Degrees West, Downlink Frequency 4120, (Color Pattern and Tones begin at 12:45 pm).