The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to that of students in other countries. TIMSS data have been collected from students at grades 4 and 8 since 1995 every 4 years, generally. In addition, TIMSS Advanced measures advanced mathematics and physics achievement in the final year of secondary school across countries. TIMSS Advanced data have been collected internationally three times, in 1995, 2008 and 2015. The United States participated in TIMSS Advanced in 1995 and 2015. TIMSS is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and conducted in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
The most recent TIMSS data collection was in 2015 and included students in grades 4, 8 and 12. Click for further information about TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015. In TIMSS 2015, more than 60 countries and other education systems, including the United States, participated in TIMSS at grades 4 and 8, and 9 participated in TIMSS Advanced. Results from the 2015 TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced were released on November 29th, and can be viewed on the Results page.
Coming up for TIMSS
TIMSS is in the process of transitioning to a digitally-based assessment called eTIMSS. Beginning in 2019 TIMSS items will be administered via computers or tablets. In addition to items typically found in a paper-and-pencil test, eTIMSS will include new innovative problem solving and inquiry tasks, known as PSIs. These PSIs are designed to simulate real world and laboratory situations where students can integrate and apply process skills and content knowledge to solve mathematics problems and conduct scientific experiments or investigations. The new PSI tasks involve visually attractive, interactive scenarios that present students with adaptive and responsive ways to follow a series of steps toward a solution. About half of the education systems, including the United States, are expected to participate in eTIMSS in the 2019 cycle, while the other half will administer TIMSS in a paper and pencil format as in previous assessments.
For more information about eTIMSS, you may refer to the TIMSS 2019 Framework located on the IEA website.
Test your mathematics and science knowledge by completing TIMSS items in the Dare to Compare challenge!
More information about TIMSS and related resources, including the TIMSS International reports, TIMSS assessment frameworks, and international data files, are available at the TIMSS International site.