TIMSS 2019 involved
Countries
Students worldwide
Australian students
Australian schools
Conducted every four 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 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study were released on 8 December 2020 at 8 pm AEDT.
Released 8 December 2020
Released 8 December 2020
Released 25 May 2021
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. Their 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 helps 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 common content 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.
More information about the IEA and TIMSS, including the international report and database, is available on the IEA's website for TIMSS.