National, social and educational context
Understanding year 4 and year 8 maths and science achievement in Australia
TIMSS 2023 involved
64
Countries
656,302
Students worldwide
13,912
Australian students
559
Australian schools
Conducted every 4 years since 1995, TIMSS explores how well year 4 and year 8 students have mastered the factual and procedural knowledge taught in school mathematics and science classes.
Key findings
Results from the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study will be released at 8 pm AEDT, Wednesday 4 December 2024.
View the full Australian reports and data files for all cycles of TIMSS.
Participating in TIMSS
A nationally-representative sample of schools is randomly selected to participate in TIMSS. One class from each school is then randomly selected to complete the paper-based assessment of mathematics and science.
Participating students also complete a background questionnaire on their home context and attitudes towards learning mathematics and science. The students’ mathematics and science teachers and principals also answer detailed questionnaires that explore the teaching and learning context.
Australia’s participation in TIMSS is part of the National Assessment Program (NAP). The information collected through TIMSS help improve Australia’s maths and science curricula and, ultimately, the educational outcomes of all Australian students.
Measuring common curricula
TIMSS begins with a detailed analysis of national Year 4 and Year 8 mathematics and science curricula and then tests curriculum content common across participating countries, ensuring that comparisons between countries are as fair as possible.
The results reveal what is intended to be taught in science and mathematics (intended curriculum), how it is actually taught (implemented curriculum) and what students have learned (attained curriculum).
The international assessment
TIMSS is a project of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and is directed by the TIMSS International Study Center at Boston College in collaboration with a worldwide network of organisations and representatives from the participating countries.
Contact
General
TIMSS Information line: 1800 220 411
Email: timss@acer.org
Media comment
Phone: 0419 340 058
Email: communications@acer.org