The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study measures students' grasp of math concepts and skills in participating countries and jurisdictions every four years, with the next international assessment set for the coming school year.

Assessments are administered in the fourth and eighth grades. Countries and jurisdictions that chose to participate in the 2007 TIMSS are included below. Results are reported using four benchmarks -- advanced, high, intermediate and low. Compare percentages of students scoring at or above each benchmark for 2007.

Related: International Science Achievement

EIGHTH GRADE

FOURTH GRADE

International Eighth-Grade
Math Achievment (2007)

dummy, doesn't publish	Country or Jurisdiction		% at or Above Advanced	% at or Above High	% at or Above Intermediate	% at or Above Low
x	41Taiwan		45	71.8	86	95
x	24South Korea		40.9	71.9	90	98
x	8Singapore		40.8	70	88	97.9
x	32Hong Kong		31	64	85	94
x	26Japan		26	61	87	97.8
x	31Hungary		10	36	69.9	91.9
x	35England		8.9	35	69.8	90.9
x	12Russia		8.8	33	68	91.8
x	.5United States		6.9	31	67	92.9
x	21Lithuania		6.8	30	65.8	90.8
x	47Armenia		6.7	27	63	88
x	38Czech Republic		6.6	26.9	66	92.8
x	46Australia		6.5	24.9	61	89
x	19Malta		5.9	26.8	60.8	83.9
x	9Serbia		5.8	24.8	57.8	83.8
x	2Turkey		5.7	15.7	33	59
x	7Slovenia		4.9	25	65.9	92.7
x	10Scotland		4.8	23	57.9	85.9
x	42Bulgaria		4.7	20.8	49	74.9
x	13Romania		4.6	20.7	46.7	73
x	28Israel		4.5	19	48.7	75.9
x	27Italy		3.9	17.9	54	85.8
x	1Ukraine		3.8	15.9	46.9	76
x	4Thailand		3.7	12	34	66
x	6Sweden		2.9	20.9	60.9	90.7
x	20Malaysia		2.8	18	50	82
x	39Cyprus		2.7	17.8	48.8	78
x	25Jordan		1.9	11.8	35	61.9
x	44Bosnia and Herzegovina		1.8	10.9	42	77
x	22Lebanon		1.7	10.8	36	74.8
x	34Georgia		1.6	7	26	56
x	37Egypt		1.5	5.9	21.8	47.9
x	29Iran		1.4	5.8	20	51
x	17Norway		0.99	11.9	48.9	85.7
x	30Indonesia		0.98	4	19.8	48
x	3Tunisia		0.97	3.9	21.9	61.8
x	45Bahrain		0.96	3.8	19.9	49
x	5Syria		0.95	3.7	17	47.8
x	15Palestinian Authority		0.94	3.6	15	39.9
x	16Oman		0.93	2.9	14	41.9
x	40Colombia		0.92	2.8	11	39.8
x	18Morocco		0.91	1.9	13	41.8
x	43Botswana		0.9	1.8	7.8	32
x	48Algeria		0.89	0.9	7.9	41.7
x	23Kuwait		0.88	0.8	6	29
x	33Ghana		0.87	0.7	4.9	17
x	14Qatar		0.86	0.6	4.8	16
x	36El Salvador		0.85	0.5	3.7	20
x	11Saudi Arabia		0.84	0.4	3.6	18
x	International Median		2	15	46	75

International Fourth-Grade
Math Achievment (2007)

dummy, doesn't publish	Country or Jurisdiction		% at or Above Advanced	% at or Above High	% at or Above Intermediate	% at or Above Low
x	8Singapore		41	74	92.8	98.9
x	24Hong Kong		40	81	97	100
x	32Taiwan		24	66	92.9	99
x	20Japan		23	61	89	98.8
x	19Kazakhstan		19	52	81.8	95.9
x	10Russia		16.9	48.9	81.7	95.8
x	27England		16.8	48.8	79	94.9
x	17Latvia		11	44	81.9	97
x	16Lithuania		10.9	42.8	77.8	94.8
x	2United States		10.8	40	77.9	95.7
x	34Australia		9.9	35.9	71	91.9
x	23Hungary		9.8	35.8	67.6	88.9
x	35Armenia		8	28	60	87
x	14Netherlands		7.9	42.9	84	98.7
x	29Denmark		7.8	36	76	95.6
x	25Germany		6.9	37	78	96
x	21Italy		6.8	29	67.8	91.8
x	7Slovak Republic		5.9	26.7	63	88.8
x	13New Zealand		5.7	26.6	61	85
x	9Scotland		4	25.8	62	88.7
x	33Austria		3.9	26.9	69	93.9
x	6Slovenia		3.8	25.9	67.9	92
x	5Sweden		3.7	24	68	93.8
x	30Czech Republic		2.9	19	59	88.6
x	3Ukraine		2.8	17	50	79
x	12Norway		2.7	15	52	83
x	26Georgia		1	10	35	67
x	22Iran		0.9	3	20	53
x	36Algeria		0.8	2.9	14	41
x	31Colombia		0.7	2.8	9.9	31
x	15Morocco		0.6	2.7	9.7	26
x	4Tunisia		0.9	1.9	9.8	28
x	28El Slavador		0.8	1.8	6	22
x	18Kuwait		0.7	0.9	5	21
x	11Qatar		0.6	0.8	2	13
x	1Yemen		0.5	0.7	1	6
x	International Median		5	26	67	90

SOURCE » TIMSS is an international comparative assessment with the goal of improving the teaching and the learning of mathematics and science. The test consists of 28 sections covering mathematics and science (life, physical, and earth sciences). The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement coordinates and oversees assessments every four years to fourth- and eighth-graders and provides data about trends in achievement for these subject areas over time. Students' achievement is globally compared in a report for each subject area according to four standardized levels for easy comparison, or benchmarks: advanced, high, intermediate and low. For more information: TIMMS FAQ (National Center for Education Statistics) TIMSS 2007 International Science Report TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center National Center for Education Statistics International Activities

NOTES » There are a number of small differences in populations sampled for this study. For example, in some countries where instruction is taught in multiple languages the test was only administered to students taught in a single language. Other countries, including the United States, administered the test to 90% to 95% of the target population, whereas most countries were able to test above 95% of the target population. A full list of notes can be found in appendix A of the TIMSS 2007 International Science Report.

Staff contributors: Michael Corones, Noah Goodman