TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) Home Page

Key Facts
When:	Four-yearly assessment since 1994.
Who:	Year 5 and Year 9 students.
What:	Mathematics and Science achievement.
How:	Conducted under the auspices of the IEA; managed within New Zealand by the Ministry of Education.
Where:	From 41 countries in 1994/95 to more than 60 countries in 2010/11.

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an educational research study on student achievement in mathematics and science around the world. It is designed to measure and interpret differences in national educational systems in order to help improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science worldwide. In 1994, TIMSS began the first study in a regular cycle of studies at four-year intervals. TIMSS assesses achievement in mathematics and science at middle primary (Year 5) and lower secondary (Year 9) levels, and collects background information on student, classroom and school contexts through questionnaires.

As well as providing countries with a snapshot of achievement at each cycle, participation at four-yearly intervals has allowed countries, including New Zealand, to measure trends in achievement by comparing performance across the cycles. New Zealand is currently analysing and publishing information from the fourth cycle of TIMSS, and participating in TIMSS 2010/11. More than 60 countries around the world are participating in TIMSS 2010/11. Note that TIMSS 2010/11 is called TIMSS 2011 internationally as Northern Hemisphere countries assess in 2011 while Southern Hemisphere countries assess in 2010.

TIMSS is conducted under the auspices of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), which is an independent international co-operative of national research institutions and government agencies. The Ministry of Education’s Comparative Education Research Unit manages the implementation of the TIMSS studies in New Zealand.

For more information please refer to the individual pages for each cycle: TIMSS 2010/11, TIMSS 2006/07, TIMSS 2002/03, TIMSS 1998/99, and TIMSS 1994/95. Links to these page are in the 'Downloads/Links' box on the right.

Publications

The Ministry of Education has published a number of research reports based on results from the 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 studies. These reports are listed on the TIMSS publication home page.

International Sites of Interest