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TIMSS 2010/11

TIMSS 2010/11 is the fifth in a cycle of studies designed to measure trends in science and mathematics achievement at the middle primary and lower secondary levels. For this cycle of TIMSS, New Zealand will test Year 9 students in 2010 and Year 5 students in 2011. The students will be tested towards the end of their school year; in Southern Hemisphere countries around November and in Northern Hemisphere countries around May.

Key findings

Key Facts: TIMSS 2010/11
When: November 2010 for Year 9 and October and November 2011 for Year 5 in New Zealand
Who: Year 5 and Year 9 students, their teachers and principals.
What: Assessment in mathematics and science, with background information also collected.
How: Under the auspices of the IEA; managed in New Zealand by the Ministry of Education.
Where: More than 60 countries from around the world plan to participate in TIMSS 2010/11.
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is conducted on a four-year cycle. The first study was administered in participating countries in 1994/95.

This fifth TIMSS assessment will coincide with the third assessment of Year 5 students in reading in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Many of the activities at the Year 5 level for PIRLS and TIMSS are therefore being combined internationally. (See PIRLS 2010/11 home page).

TIMSS 2010/11 is currently in the development phase. Development began with revising the assessment framework used in previous cycles of TIMSS. The framework outlines the assessment design and details the mathematics and science content and cognitive skills to be tested at the Year 5 and Year 9 levels. Countries are currently preparing for the field-testing of the data collection instruments. Information collected in the field test will be used to finalise the assessment materials, contextual questionnaires, and procedures to be used in the main survey.

New Zealand schedule:

  • Field test contextual questionnaires for Year 5 students (in association with PIRLS during PIRLS field test) in November 2009.
  • Field test Year 5 assessment materials in March 2010. 
  • Field test Year 9 contextual questionnaires and assessment materials in March 2010.
  • Main data collection for Year 9 in November 2010.
  • Main data collection for Year 5 in October and November 2011. 
  • International reporting for both Year levels is scheduled for December 2012.
 



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