How do the results of TIMSS 2007 compare with the results in other recent international studies, such as PISA 2006?
TIMSS and PISA differ in a number of important, but complementary ways. Direct comparisons are not very meaningful. While both international studies measure the mathematics and science achievement of students, they do this in somewhat different ways in different sets of countries for different sets of students. TIMSS focuses on the mathematics and science achievement of students in the fourth and eighth grades. The assessment draws its content directly from the school curriculum and is designed to assess how well students have learned what they have been taught. TIMSS emphasizes the links between achievement, mathematics and science curricula, and classroom practices. PISA aims to assess the mathematics and science literacy of students near the end of their compulsory schooling. The intent is to measure the “yield” of education systems–the skills and competencies acquired and applied in real-world contexts by students at age 15. The literacy concept emphasizes the mastery of processes
