WHAT?

TIMSS, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, is designed to help countries all over the world improve student learning in mathematics and science. It collects educational achievement data at the fourth and eighth grades to provide information about trends in performance over time together with extensive background information to address concerns about the quantity, quality, and content of instruction.

WHY?

TIMSS provides important information for policy development, to foster public accountability, to allow areas of progress or decline in achievement to be identified and monitored, and to address concerns for equity.

WHO?

Approximately 50 countries from all over the world participate in TIMSS. A project of the IEA headquartered in Amsterdam, it is directed by the TIMSS International Study Center at Boston College in collaboration with a worldwide network of organizations and representatives from the participating countries.

WHEN?

The TIMSS 2003 data collection is complete, and the results released December 14, 2004. Conducted on a four-year cycle, the first round of TIMSS was in 1995 and the second in 1999. Preparations are underway for the next round of TIMSS, which will take place in 2007.