TIMSS 2011

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2011

TIMSS 2011 assessed students enrolled in the fourth and eighth grades. To better match the assessment to the achievement level of students, some countries administered the fourth grade assessment to their sixth grade students and/or the eighth grade assessment to their ninth grade students.

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium (Flemish), Botswana, Canada (Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec), Chile, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Palestinian National Authority, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (with Abu Dhabi and Dubai as benchmarking systems), United States (with nine benchmarking states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina), and Yemen.

TIMSS 2011 was initiated at the first national research coordinators meeting in February 2009. Instrument development and field test activities were carried out between February 2009 and May 2010. Data collection for the main survey was carried out in October–December 2010 (southern hemisphere countries) and March–June 2011 (northern hemisphere countries).

The encyclopedia was published in September 2012, followed by the international mathematics report and international science report in December 2012. The international database and user guide were released in January 2013.

As the TIMSS and PIRLS international assessments were both conducted in 2011, this cycle provided a unique opportunity for international assessment at the fourth grade. Countries participating in both TIMSS and PIRLS at the fourth grade will be able to take advantage of a comprehensive assessment of mathematics, science, and reading, with a rich array of contextual background information.

TIMSS 2011 continues the long history of research in basic school subjects developed by IEA since the 1950s, and provides educational policymakers, administrators, teachers, and researchers with insights into educational processes within individual countries and across a broad international context. The cycle of studies enables countries to measure progress in educational achievement, monitor changes in the implementation of educational policy, and identify new issues relevant to reform efforts.

The TIMSS 2011 international mathematics and science results were announced to the public (jointly with the PIRLS 2011 international results) in an international press release on 11 December 2012 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The press release webpage contains video presentations, the international news release, and participant contact information. The international mathematics report executive summary and international science report executive summary provide an overview of the key study findings.

For more information, please contact the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center.

As with previous TIMSS assessments, TIMSS 2011 is coordinated by the international study center at Boston College, United States. The study co-directors are Dr Michael Martin and Dr Ina Mullis. Other members of the TIMSS 2011 consortium are the IEA Secretariat, the IEA Data Processing and Research Center, Statistics Canada, and the Educational Testing Service. The international coordination of the study is carried out in cooperation with the national research coordinators of participating countries.

TIMSS 2011 is funded by IEA through fees paid by participating countries, with support from the National Center for Education Statistics of the United States Department of Education.

The participation fees for the TIMSS 2011 project are assessed in two currencies. The fee is USD 22,500 and EUR 22,500 per year for one grade or USD 32,500 and EUR 32,500 per year for two grades, for each of the four years of the project (2009–2012).

Foy, P., Arora, A., & Stanco, G.M. (Eds.). (2013). TIMSS 2011 user guide for the international database. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

Martin, M.O., & Mullis, I.V.S. (Eds.). (2012). Methods and procedures in TIMSS and PIRLS 2011. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

Martin, M.O., Mullis, I.V.S., Foy, P., & Stanco, G.M. (2012). TIMSS 2011 international results in science. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Foy, P., & Arora, A. (2012). TIMSS 2011 international results in mathematics. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Minnich, C.A., Stanco, G.M., Arora, A., Centurino, V.A.S., & Castle, C.E. (Eds.). (2012). TIMSS 2011 encyclopedia: Education policy and curriculum in mathematics and science (Vols. 1–2). Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Ruddock, G.J., O'Sullivan, C.Y., & Preuschoff, C. (2009). TIMSS 2011 assessment frameworks. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Ruddock, G.J., O'Sullivan, C.Y., & Preuschoff, C. (2012). Quadro di riferimento di TIMSS 2011 [TIMSS 2011 assessment frameworks]. Frascati, Italy: INVALSI.

Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Ruddock, G.J., O'Sullivan, C.Y., & Preuschoff, C. (2012). TIMSS 2011 Marcos de la evaluación [TIMSS 2011 assessment frameworks]. Madrid: INEE.