The TIMSS Report
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is a tool used to measure trends in mathematics and science achievement in participating countries. It is conducted on a 4-year cycle and was developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). The study has, to-date, been offered in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 (results for the TIMSS 2007 to be released in Dec 2008). Countries participating receive data on the mathematics and science achievement of their students in relation to other participating countries. Students participating answer the same assessment items, making it possible to compare performance with their peers in participating countries.
The TIMSS Mathematics Assessment has been administered as follows:
| TIMSS 1995 |
Assessed grade 4, 8 and final year of secondary school with 42 participating countries |
| TIMSS 1999 |
Grade 8 with 38 participating countries |
| TIMSS 2003 |
Grade 4 and 8 with a total 46 participating countries in total for both grade levels |
| TIMSS 2007 |
Grade 4 and 8 with 63 participating countries |
The results from the 1995, 1999, and 2003 administered tests consistently show Singapore at the top of achievement while the US has ranked only slightly above the International average.
In the 2003 TIMSS study that showed Singapore as the world's math leader, the U.S. came in 15th out of 45 participating nations.
