What Do International Comparisons Really Tell Us? 1(4)

Abstract

Until recently, governments world-wide have shown limited interest in international comparisons of achievement. Nevertheless, studies carried out during the past 30 years have made an impact on educational policy and practice in some countries; some examples are given in this paper. The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which tested in 1995, has attracted both political and media interest across the world. TIMSS has raised many questions for educators and policymakers. This summarises the main results of the TIMSS survey of 13-year-olds and poses the question: why was the performance of students in England so much better in science than in mathematics? The results of TIMSS have, no doubt, given rise to similar questions in other countries.