Asian Students Top Latest Global Math, Science Study
- Date:
- December 11, 2008
- Source:
- Boston College
- Summary:
- Students from Asian countries were top performers in math and science at both the fourth and eighth grade levels, according to TIMSS 2007, the world's largest assessment of student math and science achievement, with 425,000 students surveyed across 59 countries.
- Share:
Students from Asian countries were top performers in math and science at both the fourth and eighth grade levels, according to the most recent reports of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), released by the study's directors Michael O. Martin and Ina V.S. Mullis of Boston College.
In mathematics, at the fourth grade level, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore were the top performing countries, followed by Chinese Taipei and Japan. Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, England, Latvia, and the Netherlands also performed very well. In mathematics achievement at the eighth grade, Chinese Taipei, Korea, and Singapore were followed by Hong Kong SAR and Japan. There was a substantial gap in average mathematics achievement between the five Asian countries and the next group of four similarly performing countries, including Hungary, England, the Russian Federation, and the United States.
In science, students from Singapore and Chinese Taipei were top performers at both grade levels. In science achievement at the fourth grade, Singapore was the top performing country, followed by Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong SAR. Japan, the Russian Federation, Latvia, England, the United States, Hungary, Italy, and Kazakhstan also performed very well. At the eighth grade in science, Singapore and Chinese Taipei again had the highest average achievement, followed by Japan and Korea. England, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hong Kong SAR, and the Russian Federation also performed well. Countries and scores are listed below.
TIMSS is one of the world's most influential global assessments of student achievement in math and science. With more than 60 participants and 425,000 students assessed, TIMSS 2007 also is the largest study of student math and science achievement in the world. Each country sampled approximately 4,000 students in 150 schools.
The TIMSS 2007 report also provides data at the fourth and eighth grades for those countries that also participated in TIMSS 1995, 1999 and 2003.
"One of the great strengths of TIMSS is the ability to monitor progress in educational improvement over time," said TIMSS Directors Michael O. Martin and Ina V.S. Mullis of Boston College. "Such trend information is crucial in helping policy makers understand the impact of decisions about investment in education, curricular reform, and initiatives to improve instruction."
As with previous TIMSS reports, TIMSS 2007 data provide invaluable international benchmarks that can be used to help define world-class performance in mathematics and science at the middle or lower-secondary school level. Beyond comparisons in mathematics and science test scores, they said, the reports provide a wealth of information on educational policies and practices around the world, as well as on gender performance, home environment, curriculum and instructional approaches and teacher preparation in math and science.
About TIMSS
TIMSS, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, is the largest assessment of international student achievement in the world and was the first to provide data about trends in math and science achievement over time.
TIMSS is a project of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) headquartered in Amsterdam, and is directed by the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College in collaboration with a worldwide network of organizations and representatives from the participating countries.
TIMSS 2007 is the fourth in a continuing cycle of international mathematics and science assessments conducted every four years. TIMSS assesses achievement in countries around the world and collects a rich array of information about the educational contexts for learning mathematics and science.
The TIMSS 2007 report involved more than 60 participants: it contains science results for 37 countries and 7 benchmarking participants at the fourth grade and for 50 countries and 7 benchmarking participants at the eighth grade. Each country sampled approximately 4,000 students in 150 schools. Trend data are provided at the fourth and eighth grades for those countries that also participated in 1995, 1999, and 2003.
To inform educational policy in the participating countries, TIMSS also routinely collects extensive background information that addresses concerns about the quantity, quality and content of instruction. TIMSS 2007 offers detailed information about mathematics and science curriculum coverage and implementation, as well as teacher preparation, resource availability and the use of technology.
TIMSS 2007 Participants
Participating countries: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Republic of Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palestinian National Authority, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Yemen. Benchmarking entities include the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada; Dubai (United Arab Emirates); Basque Country in Spain, and Massachusetts and Minnesota in the United States.
The full TIMSS 2007 reports are available on-line at timss.bc.edu TIMSS 2007 Data Exhibits Summarizing Principal Achievement Results (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study)
Mathematics Achievement at the 4th Grade
Country Average Scale Score (TIMSS Scale Average 500)
- Hong Kong SAR 607
- Singapore 599
- Chinese Taipei 576
- Japan 568
- Kazakhstan 549
- Russian Federation 544
- England 541
- Latvia 537
- Netherlands 535
- Lithuania 530
- United States 529
- Germany 525
- Denmark 523
- Australia 516
- Hungary 510
- Italy 507
- Austria 505
- Sweden 503
- Slovenia 502
- Armenia 500
- Slovak Republic 496
- Scotland 494
- New Zealand 492
- Czech Republic 486
- Norway 473
- Ukraine 469
- Georgia 438
- Iran, Islamic Rep. of 402
- Algeria 378
- Colombia 355
- Morocco 341
- El Salvador 330
- Tunisia 327
- Kuwait 316
- Qatar 296
- Yemen 224
- Benchmarking Participants
- Massachusetts, US 572
- Minnesota, US 554
- Quebec, Canada 519
- Ontario, Canada 512
- Alberta, Canada 505
- British Columbia, Canada 505
- Dubai, UAE 444
Science Achievement at the 4th Grade
Country Average Scale Score (TIMSS Scale Average 500)
- Singapore 587
- Chinese Taipei 557
- Hong Kong SAR 554
- Japan 548
- Russian Federation 546
- Latvia 542
- England 542
- United States 539
- Hungary 536
- Italy 535
- Kazakhstan 533
- Germany 528
- Australia 527
- Slovak Republic 526
- Austria 526
- Sweden 525
- Netherlands 523
- Slovenia 518
- Denmark 517
- Czech Republic 515
- Lithuania 514
- New Zealand 504
- Scotland 500
- Armenia 484
- Norway 477
- Ukraine 474
- Iran, Islamic Rep. of 436
- Georgia 418
- Colombia 400
- El Salvador 390
- Algeria 354
- Kuwait 348
- Tunisia 318
- Morocco 297
- Qatar 294
- Yemen 197
Benchmarking Participants
- Massachusetts, US 571
- Minnesota, US 551
- Alberta, Canada 543
- British Columbia, Canada 537
- Ontario, Canada 536
- Quebec, Canada 517
- Dubai, UAE 460
Mathematics Achievement at the 8th Grade
Country Average Scale Score (TIMSS Scale Average 500)
- Chinese Taipei 598
- Korea, Rep. of 597
- Singapore 593
- Hong Kong SAR 572
- Japan 570
- Hungary 517
- England 513
- Russian Federation 512
- United States 508
- Lithuania 506
- Czech Republic 504
- Slovenia 501
- Armenia 499
- Australia 496
- Sweden 491
- Malta 488
- Scotland 487
- Serbia 486
- Italy 480
- Malaysia 474
- Norway 469
- Cyprus 465
- Bulgaria 464
- Israel 463
- Ukraine 462
- Romania 461
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 456
- Lebanon 449
- Thailand 441
- Turkey 432
- Jordan 427
- Tunisia 420
- Georgia 410
- Iran, Islamic Rep. of 403
- Bahrain 398
- Indonesia 397
- Syrian Arab Republic 395
- Egypt 391
- Algeria 387
- Colombia 380
- Oman 372
- Palestinian Nat'l Auth. 367
- Botswana 364
- Kuwait 354
- El Salvador 340
- Saudi Arabia 329
- Ghana 309
- Qatar 307
- Morocco 381
Benchmarking Participants
- Massachusetts, US 547
- Minnesota, US 532
- Quebec, Canada 528
- Ontario, Canada 517
- British Columbia, Canada 509
- Basque Country, Spain 499
- Dubai, UAE 461
Science Achievement at the 8th Grade
Country Average Scale Score (TIMSS Scale Average 500)
- Singapore 567
- Chinese Taipei 561
- Japan 554
- Korea, Rep. of 553
- England 542
- Hungary 539
- Czech Republic 539
- Slovenia 538
- Hong Kong SAR 530
- Russian Federation 530
- United States 520
- Lithuania 519
- Australia 515
- Sweden 511
- Scotland 496
- Italy 495
- Armenia 488
- Norway 487
- Ukraine 485
- Jordan 482
- Malaysia 471
- Thailand 471
- Serbia 470
- Bulgaria 470
- Israel 468
- Bahrain 467
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 466
- Romania 462
- Iran, Islamic Rep. of 459
- Malta 457
- Turkey 454
- Syrian Arab Republic 452
- Cyprus 452
- Tunisia 445
- Indonesia 427
- Oman 423
- Georgia 421
- Kuwait 418
- Colombia 417
- Lebanon 414
- Egypt 408
- Algeria 408
- Palestinian Nat'l Auth. 404
- Saudi Arabia 403
- El Salvador 387
- Botswana 355
- Qatar 319
- Ghana 303
- Morocco 402
Benchmarking Participants
- Massachusetts, US 556
- Minnesota, US 539
- Ontario, Canada 526
- British Columbia, Canada 526
- Quebec, Canada 507
- Basque Country, Spain 498
- Dubai, UAE 489
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Materials provided by Boston College. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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