Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)

Definition and objectives of study:
Trends in International mathematics and science study (TIMSS), is an international study aimed to focus on policies and educational systems, and examine the effectiveness of the methods applied , the methods taught, practical application, evaluation of learning and the provision of information to improve teaching and learning of mathematics and science. This is done under the supervision of the international association for evaluation of educational achievement (IEA).

In order to achieve justice and objectivity in the data of the participating countries, the study is conducted in science and mathematics at the same time in all the participating countries.

To ensure the highest level of quality and accuracy of the tests, it is to ensure that all assessment procedures in conformity with the standards set. Such procedures include the selection of a student samples, the translation of the test materials, the design of questionnaires and test booklets, and coding answers and analysis of results and preparation of final reports.

Through TIMSS assessment a data array of educational and home environment that affect the teaching and learning of mathematics and science is collected.

The TIMSS study provides a unique perspective on the competencies of students in mathematics and science, allowing depth research on the characteristics of the educational process that leads to learning on a global level in mathematics and science. The focus of this perspective is on the curriculum as it was supposed to be taught and as is actually being taught within the schools.

TIMSS 2007 was the last in a series of international studies of mathematics and science by the International association for the evaluation of education achievement (IEA), in which the State of Qatar participated for the first time.

TIMSS has a long history back to the first international study of mathematics (FIMS, 1964) and the first international study of science( FISS, 1970 - 1971 ) and the second international study of science (SISS 1983 / 1984).

TIMSS study target population is samples of all students in certain classes regardless to their ages. This design allows a more in-depth analysis of the factors that affect the quality of teaching and learning in a context of the comparison.

TIMSS 2007 focused on two groups of students:
- Fourth grade students.
- Eighth grade students.

In addition to answering the test booklets, the students are required to fill up short questionnaire to provide basic background information about students, their families and home, educational aspirations and attitudes towards mathematics and science.

The mathematics and science teachers who teach students who participated in the assessment are also required to answer a questionnaire asking about their qualifications, professional development, teaching practices and attitudes towards mathematics and science.

In addition, the school principals provide information on the organization of schools, teaching and plan of study in their school through school questionnaire.

What is measured by Thames TIMSS?
Based on previous IEA studies TIMSS uses curriculum approach as a key consideration in how to provide educational opportunities to students and how to translate these opportunities to student achievement.

TIMSS focused on three dimensions of the mathematics and science curriculum:

• The targeted curricula – curricula as defined at the national level or the level of the educational system.
• Implemented curricula: the curricula that will be interpreted and applied by teachers in the classroom.
• Applied curricula: the parts of the curricula that students learn.

These three dimensions allow dealing with a different set of questions.

For example, focus on the targeted curricula answer the question: What students are expected to learn in mathematics and science? Focus on Implemented curricula deals with questions such as:

What opportunities for students to learn mathematics and science?

More importantly, TIMSS provide answers to questions such as:

What mathematics and science concepts, processes and attitudes acquired by students?

What factors that lead to differences in student achievement in mathematics and science?

In this broad conceptual framework TIMSS applies questionnaires to obtain information about the targeted curricula, what has been effectively taught and mathematics and science test booklets to determine what students already learned in mathematics and science.

TIMSS uses sampling matrix method that divides students into groups which are subject to different sets of test questions. Because these questions are assigned randomly to students, a wide coverage of content domains is assured.

TIMSS tests were designed to provide accurate and credible estimates of the overall educational achievement of students.

The questions of mathematics and science in 28 blocks used to form a group of 14 test booklets, each booklet contains 4 blocks of mathematics and science (two blocks of each domain).

In the fourth grade answer to each of block of questions needs about 18 minutes. In the eighth grade it takes 15 minutes.

The TIMSS questions consists of multiple-choice questions and constructed response questions which require short answers to be given.

click here to view areas of content domain and cognitive domains for each subject.

The importance of TIMSS for Qatar:

• TIMSS provide comparative results of the position of the Qatari students in comparison to those in 69 participating countries.
• The ability to measure progress in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science compared with other countries at the same time.
• Follow-up to the relative influences of teaching and learning in fourth grade and compared with those influences in the eighth grade, where a group of students who are tested in fourth grade in a session, to be tested in the eighth grade (second cycle) at the following session. (TIMSS tests conducted periodically every 4 years).
• Access to the most important and the best means to better education and through the comparison of results of tests in the State of Qatar with the results of other States in the context of policies and educational systems in place that lead to high collection rates of the students.
• TIMSS 2007 were conducted during March 2007 for grade four and grade eight students in all Primary and preparatory schools of the Ministry of Education, independent and private Arabic.

Participating countries:
Sixty-seven countries, including five Gulf states were participated in TIMSS 2007. The following table shows the countries participating in TIMSS 2007

The international report of TIMSS 2007 was released in December 2008 and the national report is being prepared.

TIMSS study in the country context:
Ensuring the acquisition of all the children and the youth of Qatar of the knowledge and skills they need to participate in society and in the global labor market is the growing competition of the most important key objectives of the Supreme Education. It is worth mentioning that Qatar will participate in the TIMSS 2011. TIMSS 2010 pilot study well be conducted in 2010 and the main survey in 2011.

TIMSS Questions Forms
Sample tests eighth grade students in Math
Sample tests for eighth grade students in Science
Sample tests for fourth-graders in Math
Tests and models of fourth-graders in Science