Highlights from PIRLS and TIMSS 2011

Jack Buckley

National Center for Education Statistics

Washington, DC

December 11, 2012

OverviewWhat are PIRLS and TIMSS and which education

systems participate in them?

How are U.S. students performing compared to their international peers in: 4th-grade reading? 4th- and 8th-grade mathematics? 4th- and 8th-grade science?

How are students performing in participating U.S. states?

2

What are…?

3

• Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

• 4th-grade reading assessment

* In 1999, no grade 4 assessment.

TIMSSPIRLS

2001 2006 2011

1995 1999* 2003 2007 2011

• Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)

• 4th- and 8th-grade mathematics and science assessment

• Developed by the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College, under contract to the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA)

4

TIMSS participating education systems (in either/both grades)

44 education systems37 education systems47 education systems57 education systems74 education systems

2011

Participating states

5

• 9 states participated as separate entities to obtain scores in PIRLS or TIMSS or both

• Each participated as part of the nation and on its own• NCES funded participation at grade 8 of all states except Florida as

part of a study to statistically link NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and TIMSS (Florida received other Education Department funding)

PIRLS TIMSS grade 4 TIMSS grade 8

Florida FloridaNorth Carolina

FloridaNorth CarolinaAlabamaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIndianaMassachusettsMinnesota

U.S. national sample size

4th gradeSchools: 370

Students: 12,726

4th grade Schools: 369

Students: 12,569

8th gradeSchools: 501

Students: 10,477

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TIMSSPIRLS

U.S. state sample sizes(public schools only)

4th grade(FL)

Schools: 77

Students: 2,598

4th grade (FL, NC)

Schools: 46 – 77

Students:

1,792 – 2,661

8th grade(AL, CA, CO, CT, FL, IN, MA, MN, NC)

Schools: 53 – 82

Students:

1,712 – 2,614

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TIMSSPIRLS

SCIENCE

TIMSS 2011 science framework

9

TIMSS science

Content dimensions Grade 4Earth scienceLife sciencePhysical science

Grade 8BiologyChemistryEarth sciencePhysics

Cognitive dimensions

KnowingApplyingReasoning

What is on the TIMSS science assessment?

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GRADE 4 Percentage of 4th-

graders answering correctly:U.S.: 96%Int’l Avg.: 83%

What is on the TIMSS science assessment?

11

GRADE 4

Percentage of 4th-graders answering correctly:U.S.: 90%Int’l Avg.: 73%

What is on the TIMSS science assessment?

12

GRADE 8

Percentage of 8th-graders answering correctly:U.S.: 28%Int’l Avg.: 27%

What is on the TIMSS science assessment?

13

GRADE 8

Percentage of 8th-graders answering correctly:U.S.: 76%Int’l Avg.: 61%

14

U.S. average score (525) higher than the TIMSS scale average (500)

Higher than U.S.

Not measurably different than U.S.

Lower than U.S.

15

U.S. average score (525) lower than in 12 education systems

Higher than U.S.

Not measurably different than U.S.

Lower than U.S.

16

U.S. average (525) not measurably different than in 10 education systems

Higher than U.S.

Not measurably different than U.S.

Lower than U.S.

17

U.S. average score (525) higher than in 33 education systems

Higher than U.S.

Not measurably different than U.S.

Lower than U.S.

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*p < .05. Change in average scores is significant.NOTE: Education systems ordered according to average science score in 2011.

Average science scores of 8th-grade students increased from 2007 to 2011 in 9

education systems

Singapore

Korea, Rep. of

Minnesota-USA

Russian Federation

UNITED STATES

Quebec-CAN

Ukraine

Norway

Iran, Islamic Rep. of

Palestinian Nat'l Auth

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

23*

7*

15*

13*

5

13*

16*

8*

15*

16*

Change in average score

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*p < .05. Change in average scores is significant.NOTE: Education systems ordered according to average science score in 2011.

Average science scores of 8th-grade students decreased from 2007 to 2011 in 7

education systems

Hungary

Bahrain

Thailand

Jordan

Malaysia

Syrian Arab Republic

Indonesia

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10

-17*

-15*

-20*

-33*

-44*

-26*

-21*

Change in average score

TIMSS international science benchmarks

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Grade 4 Grade 8Advanced (625) Students can apply knowledge

and understanding of scientific processes and relationships and show some knowledge of the process of scientific inquiry.

Students communicate an understanding of complex and abstract concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science.

High (550) Students apply their knowledge and understanding of the sciences to explain phenomena in everyday and abstract contexts.

Students demonstrate understanding of concepts related to science cycles, systems, and principles.

Intermediate (475)

Students have basic knowledge and understanding of practical situations in the sciences.

Students recognize and apply their understanding of basic scientific knowledge in various contexts.

Low (400) Students have some elementary knowledge of life science and physical science.

Students can recognize some basic facts from the life and physical sciences.

Low Intermediate High Advanced0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

10093

73

40

10

79

52

21

4

United StatesInternational median

Benchmark

Percent at or above

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Percentages of U.S. 8th-graders reaching TIMSS science benchmarks were higher

than international medians in 2011

NOTE: All U.S. percentages are significantly higher than the corresponding TIMSS international median at the .05 level of statistical significance.

NOTE: Education systems with lower percentages of students reaching the Advanced benchmark than the percentage of U.S. students reaching the Advanced benchmark are not included in figure. 22

Higher than U.S. (p < .05)

Not measurably different than U.S. (p < .05)

Twelve systems had higher percentages of 8th-graders reaching Advanced than the U.S.

Singapore

Massachusetts-USA

Chinese Taipei-CHN

Korea, Rep. of

Japan

Minnesota-USA

Colorado-USA

Connecticut-USA

Russian Federation

England-GBR

Slovenia

Florida-USA

Finland

North Carolina-USA

Alberta-CAN

Israel

Australia

Indiana-USA

UNITED STATES

Hong Kong-GBR

New Zealand

Hungary

Turkey

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

40

24

24

20

18

16

14

14

14

14

13

13

13

12

12

11

11

10

10

9

9

9

8

Percentage reaching Advanced benchmark

Summary of change in average U.S. scores over time

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PIRLS Reading2006-2011

TIMSSMathematics2007-2011

TIMSS Science2007-2011

TIMSSMathematics2007-2011

TIMSSScience2007-2011

Grade 4

Grade 8

Change over time in U.S. average scores was statistically significant.

Change over time in U.S. average scores was not measurably different.