Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) is a project of the International Association for the ‎Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), and is managed at an international level by the ‎International Study Center in Boston College.  Within each participating country, a National ‎Research Centre manages the study.  In Ireland, this role is filled by the Educational ‎Research Centre.  The Centre is supported in this work by a National Advisory Committee, ‎chaired by the Department of Education and Youth, and with representatives from the main ‎education stakeholders.

TIMSS is a digital assessment which assesses the ‎mathematics and science achievement of students in the Fourth and Eighth grades ‎‎(equivalent to Fourth Class and Second Year in Ireland). First conducted in 1995, TIMSS ‎takes place every four years. Ireland has participated in the 1995, 2011 (at primary level only), 2015, 2019, 2023, and 2027 cycles.

A major purpose of TIMSS is to provide background information that can be used to ‎improve teaching and learning.  The study collects detailed information about ‎curriculum and curriculum implementation, instructional practices, and school resources. The ‎assessment is based on comprehensive assessment frameworks developed collaboratively ‎with the participating countries.  These frameworks specify the knowledge, skills, ‎and understandings to be assessed.‎‎ More details on TIMSS, including the full Assessment Framework and international reported, can be found at https://timss.bc.edu/.

Reports and infographics for Ireland from TIMSS 2023 and earlier cycles are available at https://old.erc.ie/studies/timss/reports/